A lecture on atresia vaginae / by N. Hard.

  • Hard, N. (Nicholas), 1818-1851.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A lecture on atresia vaginae / by N. Hard. 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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    ATRESIA VAGINAE. Gentlemen.— I like the good old practice of greeting the medical class at each annual session with an introductory discourse. I am sorry to observe that this practice, fraught with so many pleasant asso- ciations, should have fallen into such disrepute—should have met with so much neglect. There seems, moreover, to be some solid advantages in the plan of devoting an hour in the first interview with the class, in the discussion of some topic of general interest, not embraced in the course of daily instructions. I remember, when a student, the lively interest with which wo looked for each annual introductory, and the heartfelt gratification these greetings, afforded. Who does not feel, in his heart, to thank the illustrious Rush for penning and publishing hie admirable volume of introductory essays'? Who can rise from their perusal without a clearer head, and a better heart? We shall endeavor to uphold this usage of the olden time,'* and shall call your attention*, at present, to a class of accidents and diseases not very fully discussed by lecturers or in books— INJURIES OF THE VAGINA DURING PARTURITION; AND THE RESULTING INFLAMMATIONS, ADHESIONS, AND 0BL ITERATIONS OF THAT CANAL. Notwithstanding the immense distension of the vagina durin the passage of the fetal head, and the long continued pressuie to which it is sometimes subject, still, inflammation from these causes is not of frequent occurrence. So wisely is this organ adapted to euffor distension, displacement, pressure, and contusion, that in a majority of difficult labors, and even when the pans have been irritated with instruments, serious results seldom follow; the parts soon regaining their natural condition. On the other hand, violent inflammation, accompanied with sloughing of the vaginal walls, has been known to follow a speedy and natural labor. As a genera] rule, unquestionably such results are most likely to occur after lingering labors, where the fetal head has remained for a long time in the excavation, and especially when instruments have been resorted to to effect the delivery. But the possibility of this accident supervening upon natural labors, should teach u* never to neglect informing ourselves of the condition of the vagina in puerperal women.