Anomalies and Curiosities of MedicineGould, George M. (George Milbrey)
Science
Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine
Gould, George M. (George Milbrey)
Abnormalities, Human; Medicine -- Anecdotes
Woodson tells the story of a negress who was four months pregnant, and
who, on being seized with severe uterine pains in a bath, succeeded in
seizing the fetus and dragging it out, but inverting the uterus in the
operation. There is a case recorded of a girl of eighteen, near her
labor, who, being driven from her house by her father, took refuge in a
neighboring house, and soon felt the pains of child-birth. The
accoucheur was summoned, pronounced them false pains, and went away. On
his return he found the girl dying, with her uterus completely inverted
and hanging between her legs. This unfortunate maiden had been
delivered while standing upright, with her elbows on the back of a
chair. The child suddenly escaped, bringing with it the uterus, but as
the funis ruptured the child fell to the floor. Wagner pictures partial
prolapse of the womb in labor.
It would too much extend this chapter to include the many accidents
incident to labor, and only a few of especial interest will be given.
Cases like rupture of an aneurysm during labor, extensive hemorrhage,
the entrance of air into the uterine veins and sinuses, and common
lacerations will be omitted, together with complicated births like
those of double monsters, etc., but there are several other cases that
deserve mention. Eldridge gives an instance of separation of the
symphysis pubis during labor,--a natural symphysiotomy. A separation of
3/4 inch could be discerned at the symphysis, and in addition the
sacroiliac synchondrosis was also quite movable. The woman had not been
able to walk in the latter part of her pregnancy. The child weighed 10
1/2 pounds and had a large head in a remarkably advanced stage of
ossification, with the fontanelles nearly closed. Delivery was
effected, though during the passage of the head the pubes separated to
such an extent that Eldridge placed two fingers between them. The
mother recovered, and had perfect union and normal locomotion.
Sanders reports a case of the separation of the pubic bones in labor.
Studley mentions a case of fracture of the pelvis during instrumental
delivery. Humphreys cites a most curious instance. The patient, it
appears, had a large exostosis on the body of the pubes which, during
parturition, was forced through the walls of the uterus and bladder,
resulting in death. Kilian reports four cases of death from perforation
of the uterus in this manner. Schauta pictures such an exostosis.
Chandler relates an instance in which there was laceration of the liver
during parturition; and Hubbard records a case of rupture of the spleen
after labor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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