Outlines of the theory and practice of midwifery / by Alexander Hamilton, M.D. F.R.S. ; Professor of midwifery in the university, and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh.

  • Hamilton, Alexander, 1739-1802.
Date:
1794
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Outlines of the theory and practice of midwifery / by Alexander Hamilton, M.D. F.R.S. ; Professor of midwifery in the university, and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    the expe&ations of the phyfician are often baffled. Thus the pra&ice of phyfic cannot be regulated by certain rules : it depends much on the ftate of the body in health, and the very different changes introduced by difeafe : To ftudy it properly, all thefe ought to be confidered ; and it is this part which is commonly called the Theory of Medicine. In a fubjeft fo difficult and obfeure as the animal econo- my, it is not furprifmg that the pra&itioner fhould be often embarraffed ; and that, inftead of certainty, he fhould fome- times be obliged to determine his condutt by probability, or by a loofe and uncertain analogy. But the views of the furgeon are lefs obfeure : he is often confined to cafes where manual dexterity only is neceffary, and lias, very generally, the objefts of confederation fubjecl:- ed to his fenfes ; and, where they are out of the reach of fenfe the fymptoms are more plain, the inductions fewer, and the conclufions more certain. In this part, then, theo- ry is lefs neceffary, and only ufeful as it feems to connect the feveral fafts : Pra&ice is particularly proper to acquire that firmnefs and conftancy of mind, and that manual dex- terity, fo effential to the fuccefs and character of a furgeon. Midwifery, which may be defined The art of facilitat- ing the birth of children, is to be confidered in much the fame light as the other parts of furgery. Theory is lefs ef- fential to it, as it chiefly confifts in an operation which re- quires a dexterity, only to be learned by praftice. But tak- en in a more enlarged fenfe, Midwifery may be defined, The art of facilitating the birth of children, and of managing pregnant and puerperal women. A part of it, therefore, has ftill a relation to the pra&ice of phyfic ; and, as fuch, muft be involved in the fame difficulties and obfeurities. In this view, then, two objefts arc chiefly to be attended to: I. The operation itfelf, with every thing relative to it. II. The ftate of the woman after delivery. To obtain a proper knowledge of the firft of thefe, it is neceffary that the ftruclure and functions of the parts them- felv4s|