Hints to Husbands: A Revelation of the Man-Midwife's MysteriesMorant, George
Philosophy
Hints to Husbands: A Revelation of the Man-Midwife's Mysteries
Morant, George
Midwifery -- Popular Works; Midwives; Obstetrics
language of Dr. Conquest--a metropolitan accoucheur physician of much
eminence--a man who, from the long and successful practice of his
profession, has deservedly acquired wealth and distinction--a man,
therefore, who can afford to be honest--a man who, unlike Archdeacon
Paley, can afford to keep a conscience. With those, therefore, who put
their trust in authority rather than in the light of their own
reason--that is to say, with nine hundred and ninety-nine persons out of
every thousand--the opinions of such a man as Dr. Conquest cannot fail to
have more than ordinary weight."[80]
In the foregoing pages we have sought to place before our readers, in the
clearest light, the opinions of Roussel and other eminent men, touching
the practice of man-midwifery; opinions the force and truth of which,
based as they are upon principles of the purest morality, and the sound
doctrines of physical science, cannot be controverted or denied. We have
shown that the Royal College of Physicians, so lately as the year 1827,
designated the practice of _man_-midwifery as "an art foreign to the
habits of gentlemen of enlarged academical education," and one which might
safely be entrusted to discreet matrons. We have, in confirmation of these
opinions, quoted the sentiments expressed by Sir Anthony Carlisle, late
President of the College of Surgeons, who styles the boasted "art" "a
pretence," and accoucheurs "mere nurses." We have proved, by the admission
of men-midwives themselves, that the great majority of cases of midwifery
would do well under the eye of a nurse, and that skilled midwives would be
a benefit in every community. We have before our eyes the example of
France with her schools of midwifery; and against the arguments and
dispassionate opinions of men of the highest rank in the medical
profession, mooted as they have been at various times, and in different
countries, yet all tending to the same conclusion, we find absolutely
nothing but the self-interested doctrine of an anomalous class[81] of
medical men, whose policy it is, for the furtherance of their own selfish
views, to decry the powers of nature, and to abrogate the employment of
females in the sanctuary of child-birth; a doctrine which suffers its
disciples, regardless of all delicacy, and in defiance of the contempt of
their professional brethren, to prey upon the weakness and natural
timidity of the sex, and with presumptuous indecency to arrogate to
themselves duties proper only to women; a doctrine which, while it deals
an irreparable blow[82] at the very heart of every family, threatens with
destruction virtue, modesty, and honour.
Husbands, fathers, countrymen, THINK OF THESE THINGS!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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