A letter to William Smellie, M.D., containing critical and practical remarks upon his Treatise on the theory and practice of midwifery / By John Burton, M.D. Wherein the various gross mistakes and dangerous methods of practice mentioned and recommended by that writer, are fully demonstrated. And generally corrected.

  • Burton, John, 1710-1771.
Date:
MDCCLIII. [1753]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to William Smellie, M.D., containing critical and practical remarks upon his Treatise on the theory and practice of midwifery / By John Burton, M.D. Wherein the various gross mistakes and dangerous methods of practice mentioned and recommended by that writer, are fully demonstrated. And generally corrected. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [ i66- ] * with hi’s Left hand taking one of the Crochets, intro- ‘ duce it along his Right-hand, with the Point towards ‘ the Child’s Head, and fix it above the Chin, in the ‘ Mouth, back Part of the Neck, or above the Ears, ‘ or in any Place where it would take firm Hold. Hav- ‘ ing fixed the Inftrument, let him, in the thirteenth ‘ Place, withdraw his Right-hand, and with it take ‘ hold on the End or Handle of the Crochet ; then, ‘ fourteenthly, introduce his Left-hand to feize the ^ Bones at the Opening of the Skull (as above dircded) ‘ that the Head may be kept fteady, and pull along ‘ with both Hands.’ All rhefe painful Operations of mtrcducing the Hand. along the Childds Head, betwixt it and the Uterus—of in¬ troducing and fixing the Crochet with, at hefi, an uncertain Hold—of withdrawing one Hand, and introducing the other, may be avoided: For my Extradfor being in- troduced, the Wings expanded, as mentioned inSe6t.2 2. and ‘ one of each Wings being fixed againfl; the Centre ‘ or ftroneeft Part of each Os Brcematis, as diredted ‘ in my Treatife {Jo), which is done in courfe, when ‘ the End of the Capfula is acrcfs the Suture, as may ‘ be felt by the Finger that is within the Vagina or ‘ Uterus *, then the Operator rnufl keep the End of one ‘ Finger on the Outfide of each of the Os Bregmatis, * fo'that the Bones may be firmly held betwixt the ‘ V/ings and Ends of the Fingers *, by this means the ‘ Operator will find if the Bones and Integuments give ‘ way when great P'orce is applied, which, if the Child ^ has been long dead, or if there be an Hydrocephalus, ‘ they fometimes will do.’ But then in that State, when the foie Obfiaclc to Delivery has been the Bulk of the Head, fublata caufa tollitus effedtus, and fo the Child will be brought out with very little Force, if any Afnftance fliould be wanting to be added to the Mother’s Efforts, in which Cafe the above Hold will be fuffi- cient. Scctj IC7. p. 23 -1.. ‘ The