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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    [ i82,] * the Mother^s Back, that the Operator fhould Aide ‘ his Hand, with the Back to the Child’s Bread, and ‘ introduce a Fini^er to the Side of the Neck, ob- * liquely upwards, till the End thereof reaches to the ‘ Back of the Child’s Head ; then by thrufting with ‘ the Finger the Chin will be preffed tov/ards the ‘ Child’s Bread, or towards the Shoulder if neceflary, * while with the Fingers of the other Hand, placed ^ on each Side the Neck, I extract the Child. Whence ‘ feveral Mifehiefs may be avoided.’ For, fird, nei- tber the Jaw nor Mouth of the Child can this way be injured. Secondly, The Danger of tearing the Perinaeum, or putting the Woman to greater Pain by introducing the Hand into the Vagina, in order to get the Fin-» gers fo high up as the Child’s Mouth, are likewife avoided. Thirdly, The Introdutdion of the Finger on the Side of the Child’s Neck, as I dired, gives lefs Pain to the Woman, than when it is forced betwixt the Os Pubi? and Neck ; by which the Operator’s Finger would be more comprefied, whence greater Force would be required from him. Fourthly, Becaufe my Method of applying the Fin¬ ger to the Back of the Child’s Head, brings the Fore¬ head down with lefs Biffculty^ as you acknov/ledge *, and is fo much eafier, and more fafely performed *, whereby the Danger of exerting half the Force at the Chin may be avoided: Pherefore why do you diredl your Pupils to try the other lefs certain Method ? I am aifo as much at a Lofs to know why you advifethem to • pufn up and pull down at the fame Time, or alternately* What Bufinefs the word alternately has in this Place I can’t tell: becaufe unlefs the Operator pull with one Hand at the Erne time that he thrufts with the other, the Child’s Flead may return to its former Situation, Sed:. 31. You tell us {d)^ ‘ When before the Mem- ‘ branes are broke the Child is felt through them, {d) P. 329.