Report on the state of the lying-in hospitals, in Europe : to the managers of the Preston Retreat, and to the Obstetrical Committee of the College of Physicians / by James Bryan.

  • Bryan, James, 1810-1881.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the state of the lying-in hospitals, in Europe : to the managers of the Preston Retreat, and to the Obstetrical Committee of the College of Physicians / by James Bryan. 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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    Experience has confirmed this truth, and to its operation must be attributed the infrequency of infanticide among us. 6th. The inmates, after confinement, may leave the hospital as soon as they are in a fit state to do so; and at hours in which they will be least exposed to observation ; taking with them such clothes and under such precautions as may be necessary. The locality of the hospital is favourable to this object, as the gate does not open on a main street, but into a court with two outlets.—One on the via Repetta, which is more of a thoroughfare, the other on a small un- inhabited square which leads to streets little frequented. To the hospital are attached a physician, an obstetrical surgeon, two midwives and other attendants who are under the direction of a prioress. The government of the Pio Luogo, resides in a body composed of a residing prelate, a priest, and a knight of known probity, under the title of a deputy.” Such are the regulations of this hospital; and they are much the same as those of many others in Italy. It is probable that we do not require an institution with the same laws. From Rome I proceeded to Naples, where I found nothing to in- terest me in the way of Lying-in Hospitals. Returning to Paris, and from thence to London, I visited again the hospitals of these two great capitals. As before mentioned, I consider the hospitals of London nearer the models which we want, and will therefore proceed to give a short account of these institutions. LONDON. London contains four establishments, exclusively appropriated to the reception of lying-iu women. Two of these are situated near the centre of the city, and the others are in the suburbs. In one of these hospitals, the mortality, during the ten years intervening, from 1788 to 1798, was in the proportion of 1 to 288 ; and during the ten years following, it was 1 in 231 ; and from 1808 to 1819, it was but 1 in 274, The best institution of this description for in-door patients, is probably the City of London Lying-in Hospital, City Road. This hospital, a front view of which I present to the Board, was opened in 1773 ; since which lime it is said that it has suffered from epi-