Observations on the Caesarean section, craniotomy, and on other obstetric operations : with cases / by Thomas Radford.

Date:
1880
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the Caesarean section, craniotomy, and on other obstetric operations : with cases / by Thomas Radford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    ON THE NECESSITY OV THE CESAREAN SECTION AS AN OBSTETRIC OPERATION. In an ill-directed controversial ardour, Mr. Simmons, in his remarks addressed to Dr. Hull, declared that the Caesarean section was universally and inevitably fatal, and proposed a compound operation of symphyseotomy and craniotomy to supersede it. It was not long afterwards before he had an opportunity of putting in practice his highly lauded operation. He was consulted in the notable case of Elizabeth Thompson, whose pelvis (now in my possession) is extremely distorted. An examination of it must have brought conviction to his mind that some other means must be adopted in order to deliver her. It is to be presumed he renounced his proposed operation, as he discarded his patient, who was afterwards brought to the Manchester Lying-in Hospital, and delivered by the Caesarean section. Dr. Hull, at this time, endeavoured to settle the disputed question of the necessity of this operation; and the soundness and justice of his opinions were generally approved of by the profession. If this question had still remained undisturbed, it would have been unnecessary for me to interfere with this part of the subject. Within a few years, however, not only the necessity, but likewise the propriety, of its performance has been denied, and opprobrious epithets employed (unworthy of the talented physician who used them), which, although totally unfounded, not only cast odium on the operation, but also reflect most unjustly on the character of those obstetri- cians who have conscientiously recommended it and boldly performed it. More recently, it has been declared by an obstetric physician, that the induction of abortion, the induc- tion of premature labour, craniotomy, or these two Last operations combined and applied according to the degree of
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