Page:The Works of William Harvey (part 2 of 2).djvu/19

 ON PARTURITION. 537

ness the Queen, and in order that its symmetry and useful- ness might not be impaired by foal-bearing, the grooms, as is the custom, had infibulated the animal with iron rings. This mare (by what chance I know not, nor could the grooms in- form me) was got with foal; and at length, when no one sus- pected anything of the kind, she foaled in the night, and a living foal was found the next morning by the mother's side. When I heard of the circumstance I went immediately to the place, and found the sides of the vulva still fastened together by the rings, but the whole pudendum on the left side so thrust and torn away from the pelvis by the almost incredible efforts of the foetus, that a gap sufficiently wide was made to admit of its escape. Such is the force and vigour of a full- grown and healthy foetus.

But, on the contrary, if the foetus is diseased or feeble, or is born before the full term, it must be considered more an abor- tion than a regular birth, the foetus being expelled rather than born ; and thus for some days after birth it neither properly takes the breast nor gets rid of its excretions.

And yet the following example will show that the uterus also contributes towards delivery. A poor washerwoman had long suffered from procidentia uteri to such an extent that a tumour hung between the thighs as large as the fist. As no remedies had been applied, the prolapsed part became so rough and wrinkled as to take on th,e appeararance of the scrotum, and in this state she suffered less than at the commencement of her illness. When consulted on her case, I ordered her to keep her bed for several days, to employ fomentations and oint- ments, and after the uterus was returned, to keep it in its place by means of pessaries and bandages, until by the use of strengthening applications it should be fixed firmly in its place. This plan was followed by some success ; but she soon suffered a relapse, when compelled by her circumstances to follow her usual occupations, and continue long in the erect position. She bore, however, her inconvenience with patience, the uterus at times protruding, at others not doing so. At night she could usually reduce it, and it remained for some time in its proper place. After the lapse of a few days she returned, and com- plained that the uterus was so swelled from the use, as she thought, of the remedies, and especially of the fomentations, that

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