Dr. Conquest's outlines of midwifery : intended as a text-book for students, and a book of reference for junior practitioners.

  • Conquest, Dr.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Conquest's outlines of midwifery : intended as a text-book for students, and a book of reference for junior practitioners. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    allowing the extremity of the instrument to follow the index-finger of the left hand downwards, about an inch below the clitoris, till it arrives at a semi- circular prominence, about a third of an inch before reaching the upper edge of the orificium vagina?. It then usually slips into the urethra; but sometimes into one of the large lacuna? found at its entrance. [As the clitoris possesses great erotic sensibility, it ought not and need not be manipulated in the manner recommended by the majority of writers on midwifery. Perhaps the best mode of introducing the catheter is to place the patient on her left side, with the knees drawn up. In this position the mea- tus can be very readily discovered, and the bed is not so apt to be soiled with the urine. — J. M. W.] Under the circumstances already alluded to, and in some cases of protracted labour, such is the elon- gation and distortion of the canal that a flexible male catheter is requisite. And here it may be noticed, that such is the al- teration in the relative situation of parts in procidentia and inversio uteri, that, although the catheter must be introduced and carried forwards to the pubes with the point directed in the usual course, yet, when it has reached the symphysis, its handle must be so ele- vated towards the abdomen that the extremity of the instrument should be directed towards the knees. Under other circumstances, such as the bladder being over the pubes, when the abdomen is pendulous, the handle must be as much depressed immediately after the point has cleared the symphysis pubis.