Anomalies and Curiosities of MedicineGould, George M. (George Milbrey)
Science
Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine
Gould, George M. (George Milbrey)
Abnormalities, Human; Medicine -- Anecdotes
There are many cases of stricture or complete occlusion of the vagina,
congenital or acquired from cicatricial contraction, obstructing
delivery, and in some the impregnation seems more marvelous than cases
in which the obstruction is only a thin membranous hymen. Often the
obstruction is so dense as to require a large bistoury to divide it,
and even that is not always sufficient, and the Cesarean operation only
can terminate the obstructed delivery; we cannot surmise how conception
could have been possible. Staples records a case of pregnancy and
parturition with congenital stricture of the vagina. Maisonneuve
mentions the successful practice of a Cesarean operation in a case of
congenital occlusion of the vagina forming a complete obstruction to
delivery. Verdile records an instance of imperforate vagina in which
rectovaginal wall was divided and the delivery effected through the
rectum and anus. Lombard mentions an observation of complete occlusion
of the vagina in a woman, the mother of 4 living children and pregnant
for the fifth time. Thus, almost incredible to relate, it is possible
for a woman to become a mother of a living child and yet preserve all
the vaginal evidences of virginity. Cole describes a woman of
twenty-four who was delivered without the rupture of the hymen, and
Meek remarks on a similar case. We can readily see that, in a case like
that of Verdile, in which rectal delivery is effected, the hymen could
be left intact and the product of conception be born alive.
A natural sequence to the subject of impregnation without entrance is
that of artificial impregnation. From being a matter of wonder and
hearsay, it has been demonstrated as a practical and useful method in
those cases in which, by reason of some unfortunate anatomic
malformation on either the male or the female side, the marriage is
unfruitful. There are many cases constantly occurring in which the
birth of an heir is a most desirable thing in a person's life. The
historic instance of Queen Mary of England, whose anxiety and efforts
to bear a child were the subject of public comment and prayers, is but
an example of a fact that is occurring every day, and doubtless some of
these cases could be righted by the pursuance of some of the methods
suggested.
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