The medical evidence relative to the duration of human pregnancy, given in the Gardner peerage cause, before the Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords in 1825-6 : with introductory remarks and notes / by Robert Lyall.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. Committee for Privileges
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The medical evidence relative to the duration of human pregnancy, given in the Gardner peerage cause, before the Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords in 1825-6 : with introductory remarks and notes / by Robert Lyall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Tliat woman invariably quickened at tlie termination of the sixteenth week, in this instance and four others. You were not yourself present at the time of the quickening’.,.— Certainly not. You had that from her recollection of the fact?—Upon her recol- lection of the fact, and upon her having since, for my personal satis- faction, repeated it. How many years ago?—She has borne those six children within nine years ; she bears children rather quickly [fre([uently]. Cross-examined by Mr. Adam, How long did you attend the medical school at Edinburgh?—The usual term of three years, before undergoing examinations. You state that the instances you have cited took place in the course of the last nine years ; how long ago did the first of them take place? —Perhaps between six and seven years. How long, at that time, had you been in the practice of mid- wifery yourself?—About eight years. You have said that the children upon these occasions were of unusual size? — In three cases to which I have referred of unusual size. Supposing it possible a child should be born after a gestation of ten months, should you expect that child to be of unusual size, from your experience ?—I do not think it necessarily follows that the child should be so, for I have reason to suppose some circumstances may protract the duration of pregnancy, without there being any actual addition to the bulk of the child. You have stated but one cause, so far as your experience goes, which could protract the duration of pregnancy, that is the loss of blood F—I am aware there are other causes assigned. That is the only cause you yourself assign ?—I think there is another cause I have seen operate frequently to the protraction of labour several days. What is that ?—Any powerful mental emotion ; any physical cause bringing about the death of the child ; that of course does not apply to living children ; except that, powerful mental emotions will some- times protract. Have you known any instances of that?—I have known many instances. Have you known many instances of mental agitation protracting the period of labour ?—My remark principally applies to the period of labour, those causes operating before the commencement, or immediately before the commencement. Is that a common circumstance in your professional experience, to find that mental agitation or distress protracts the ])eriod of labour?—By no means common. Is it very uncommon?—U is not uncommon for the process of labour to be interfered with and protracted some hours, cerainly not.