A dissertation on infanticide, in its relations to physiology and jurisprudence / [William Hutchinson].
- Hutchinson, William, M.D., active 1821.
- Date:
- 1821
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A dissertation on infanticide, in its relations to physiology and jurisprudence / [William Hutchinson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![SEC. II.] ON INFANTICIDE. He will then examine whether the infant be alive or dead, in order that, should the former appear to be the case, the best means in his power for its preservation may be immediately employed, at the same time that he is having it removed to a more proper place, should it be in a situation unfavourable to the object of his exertions. He will also remark its sex, and general external ap¬ pearances ; and, if it be clothed, whether it is so in the usual way of such an infant, or only en¬ veloped in some common garment. From this time until his final examination of it, he should not suffer it to be out of either his own presence, or that of known persons, whose due care of it, and whose testimony, may be relied on. Whenever sensible proofs of absolute death are not present, the body should be subjected to the means best calculated to excite it to vigo¬ rous life : these are, external warmth and gentle friction over the surface of the body, especially about the chest and arm-pits, whipping the soles of the feet with small rods ; the application of alcohol, or some other analogous stimulating substance, to the nostrils; the injection of a small quantity of such substances into the rec¬ tum ; electricity, or galvanism ; and, especially, inflation of the lungs with air.* * It seems necessary to describe here the manner in which this inflation of the lungs should be effected, as it has often been attempted without success, even by me¬ dical practitioners. If the mouth or nostrils of a new-born child be blown into, without the use of some previous measures, the stomach is more likely to become inflated than the lungs. In order to secure success in this operation, the external orifices of the nostrils should be closed by the fingers of an assistant; the practitioner should grasp the upper part of the wind-pipe, not so forcibly as to compress it much, just about the thyroid and cri¬ coid cartilages, (that is, at the protuberance vulgarly called jd dam's apple,) with his thumb and fore-finger, and gently thrust it backwards and a little upwards ; he will B 2](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30347543_0011.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
