The eclectic practice of medicine : diseases of children / by Wm. Byrd Powell and R.S. Newton.

  • Powell, W. Byrd (William Byrd), 1799-1866.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The eclectic practice of medicine : diseases of children / by Wm. Byrd Powell and R.S. Newton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    nerves of motion and sensation, and reject the whole doctrine, that the agency of the male is requisite in the work of pro creation. Notwithstanding the almost independent existence of the mother and fetus from each other, it is admitted on all hands, even by those who deny the doctrine under consideration, that the existence of the fetus produces nausea and vomiting in the mother—that it produces a longing or desire for unu- sual, and frequently, for the most filthy species of food, as putrid fish and bacon skin from a soap kettle. If the con- nection between the mother and fetus is so indirect and insig- nificant, that impressions upon the former cannot affect the latter, how does it happen that the latter can so powerfully affect the former ? In all other known instances a rule will work both ways. Dr. Dewees, who repels the doctrine, says, Nothing con- tributes more certainly to the safety and future good health of the child, than cheerfulness of mind; or, at least, equanimity on the part of the mother: this fact was well known to the ancients ; and they acted upon it accordingly, by giving great attention to the little wants of the pregnant women. Again, he says, It would appear that the woman has an important duty to perform, during the whole period of utero-gestation ; that her offspring may not suffer, in either body or mind by her imprudence, etc. Again, he -continues, She may entail [by neglect of duty] a frail constitution of body, or perpetual feebleness of mind, or even fatuity itself. Now, suppose a person, who is ignorant of the anatomical relations in question, to read these extracts, would he not con- clude that the connection between the mother and her fetus was peculiarly direct and intimate ? Of all the tasks that men are called upon to perform, that of being consistent in the defense of error is the greatest—■ truth will occasionally peep through the fogs of error with the brightness of the sun's rays through broken clouds. In our judgment, the confessions contained in the above extracts are fatal to his defense of the negative of the question under con- sideration. We are not contending that hopes, fears, and frights pro- duce all the calamities that are known to happen to fetuses,