A Short Narrative of an Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbets, Perform'd by Mr. John Howard Surgeon at GuilfordSt. André, Nathanael
History
A Short Narrative of an Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbets, Perform'd by Mr. John Howard Surgeon at Guilford
St. André, Nathanael
Factitious disorders; Fraud; Obstetrics -- Early works to 1800; Toft, Mary, 1703-1763
On _Wednesday_ the 23d Instant, I set out again for _Guilford_, with Mr.
_D’Anteny_, being resolved to bring the Woman to Town, if there was
any further prospect of more Rabbets. We arrived there at one in the
Afternoon, and we found Mr. _Howard_ standing at his Door, who told us,
that she had been delivered of two more Rabbets since I had seen her, and
that he hoped all was over, being he did not perceive in the _Uterus_
any Motion as usual. I visited her several times that Day, and proceeded
in every respect as before; her Pains, which, when I saw her the first
Time, were mixed with intervals of Quiet and Rest, now were constant
and fixed on the right Side of her Belly; her Pulse was more irregular;
she described her Pain as if very coarse brown Paper was tearing from
within her. Toward eight a Clock that Evening she voided a Piece of one
of the Membranes of a _Placenta_, rolled up like Parchment; when it was
extended, it measured about six Inches over. The next Morning, as I was
packing up some of the Rabbets to bring to Town with me, Mr. _Howard_
was sent for over, and Mr. _D’Anteny_, Dr. _Hampe_, and my self attended
him. We found her in exquisite Torture, and after seven or eight Minutes,
she was again disburthen’d of a Membrane, in Structure, Shape and Size
exactly like the former. This was the first part that I saw come from her
with some effusion of Blood. She did not seem in the least relieved after
this Operation, her Pulse continued irregular, her Tongue white, and her
Urine deeply stained with a _Mucus_, and livid _Blood_.
Mr. _Ahlers_ having been at _Guilford_, by his Majesty’s Order, (as Mr.
_Howard_ told us) to enquire into the Truth of this Fact, was fully
convinced of it, as he himself declared, having assisted the greatest
part of _Sunday_ the 20th instant, at the Delivery of some of the 16th
Rabbet, which he brought to Town with him. But as on this Occasion
his Behaviour has been represented here different from what it was at
_Guilford_, I cannot better vindicate that Gentleman’s Character, than
by subjoyning the following Affidavits, which were taken in the presence
of Mr. _D’Anteny_, and Doctor _Hampe_. And that the Truth, so far as it
relates to this Point, may be known, I think he is strictly obliged, in
Justice to the Publick, forthwith to give an Account of what he saw and
transacted there; as I here have done.
_London_, Monday _Nov. 28. 1726_.
N. ST. ANDRÈ.
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