Lecture introductory to the course on obstetrics, and diseases of women and children : in the University of Pennsylvania, for the session of 1836-7 / by Hugh L. Hodge.

  • Hugh Lenox Hodge
Date:
1836
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lecture introductory to the course on obstetrics, and diseases of women and children : in the University of Pennsylvania, for the session of 1836-7 / by Hugh L. Hodge. 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.)

    11/24
    liarites, and be able, in some degree at least, to follow the changes which are ever occurring, in that most susceptible and, at the same time, most interesting, of all animated beings. So extensive is the business of the Obstetrician; but you all know that to the chair which I have the honor to occupy in this University, has been confided the Diseases of Females and of Children. Hence an additional series of duties will be found in investigating the connection between the physio- logical character of the female system and the pathological changes to which it is liable—in observing how even common diseases are modified in women and how many are almost peculiar to them—at least, most intimately associated with their peculiar organization. The diseases of infants open another large field for investigation, as their systems, their mode of living, their age, and their great delicacy and sensibility modify, in a great degree, the results of diseased irritations and therapeutic] agents, on their tender frames. From this general view of the nature of obstetric science, it must be immediately manifested that it is one of great extent, of peculiar character, and of immense importance: that it is not of easy attainment—not an art which may be fortuitously acquired by any one, however ignorant, or practised with impunity to the interest of society, by those who have no knowledge of the medical profession. The idea has been too long entertained that any one can practice midwifery—that because our Creator has wonderfully adapted the means to an end, and established parturition as a natural process, that therefore the most ordi- nary attentions which can be paid 1o a suffering female by the most aged and decrepid of her sex, are abundantly sufficient for her comfort and safety. The reverse of all this is true. In no department of the profession, will you, gentlemen, find more demands made on your time, your talents, your know- ledge, your dexterity, than in that of obstetrics. In none, will those high traits of moral and intellectual character which must always mark the eminent physician, and the distinguish- 2