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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    thefe theories ; but they are now exploded, and the catamenia are fuppofed to arife from an uni^ verfal plethora, or a topical congetiion : Thefe opinions we fhall proceed to examine. From a fuperficial view of the feveral phenome- na, it would appear probable that the menfes are occafioned by plethora. But this idea of itfelf is vague, and will not account for all the appear- ances. By plethora we underftand, a larger quanti* ty of blood than is adapted to the capacity of the veffels, either of the whole fyftem, or of any par- ticular part. This may depend on the increafe of the abfolute quantity of the fluids; or on a con- ftri&ion of the veffels. It is the former of thefe that feems to be meant by the advocates for a general plethora; and the chief arguments feem to be derived from the debility, inactivity, and fwelling of the breafts. The two former, though often depending on plethora, may be produced By many other caufes; fo that no argument can be drawn for them. The laft by no means fhows an increafed quantity of the fluids in general ; it feems much connected with the ftate of the ute- rus, and takes place in ftates of the fyftem very difadvantageous for a general fulnefs. We may, with fome confidence, therefore, reject: an opinion that has many direct arguments againfl it. For many of the fymptoms are not to be explained by plethora; or by any other fuppofition. A