Facts and cases in obstetric medicine, with observations on some of the most important diseases incidental to females / by John T. Ingleby.

  • Ingleby, J. T. (John Thomas), 1794-1845.
Date:
1836
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Facts and cases in obstetric medicine, with observations on some of the most important diseases incidental to females / by John T. Ingleby. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    the present day. He observes, that “ the rules given by different writers for the management of labours attended with convulsions, seem to have been founded on less cer- tain principles, and to have been less confirmed by expe- rience, than those which have been given for almost any other cases that can occurand again, “ there is yet room for improvement in our knowledge of the causes, effects, and treatment of convulsions, depending on preg- nancy and parturition.” Dr. Dewees describes three forms of convulsion, viz. the hysterical, the epileptic, and the apoplectic. Velpeau describes a fourth, or the tetanic. Baudelocque describes the cataleptic also; and to these another might be added, and termed the anaemic, embrac- ing that distinct class of convulsions which depend upon large effusions of blood. It is more common, however, to consider the disease as arising from irritability on the one hand, and plethora on the other; and, provided we ac- quire accurate ideas of the state of the brain, we shall not be misled by names. Puerperal convulsions, properly so called, differ most essentially from convulsions which occur from hysteria, and will be found sufficiently distinct from this affection, for all purposes of practice. Hysterical spasms, or partial convulsions, to which nervous and highly excitable women are very liable, (usually during the term of pregnancy, but rarely during labour,)* are accompanied with a spasmodic state of the trunk and extremities, globus, palpitation, distension of stomach and flatulent eructations, and other symptoms of hysteria; but neither with stertor or coma, * Hamilton says, that regular hysterics seldom happen during a late period of pregnancy, and never during labour; a statement to which an exception may be made.— See Practic.al Remarks on Con- vulsions, in the 5 th volume of the Annals of Medicine, p. 313.