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[TREATISE ON MIDWIFERY

AND THE

DISEASES

OF

WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

WITH EEMEDIES.

BY

A. I. COFFIN, M.D.,

PEOFESSOE OF MEDICAL BOTANY.

AUTHOE OF " THE BOTANIC GUIDE TO HEALTH," " TWELVE LECTUBES
ON MEDICAL BOTANY," " TEEATISE ON THE GENEEATIYE
SYSTEM."

"BELIEVE ONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE TO JUSTIFT HIS OPINION."

SEVENTEENTH EDITION.

LONDON :

PUBLISHED BY A. I. COFFIN & CO.,
AT 134, HIGH HOLBORN, W.C.

1878.

ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL.

PREFACE.

On looking over the past, and seeing the successful
result of our labours, the wide circulation of our
works, and the good they are doing, we feel suffi-
ciently compensated for the trouble and annoyance
we have been put to in establishing our system in
this country.

When we look at the manner in which our little
treatise has been received by the public we feel more
pleasure than is experienced by the miser when
counting his gold, or by the soldier when " seeking
the bubble reputation, even in the cannon's mouth."

We feel glad that we have been able to point out a
way by which protracted misery and suffering may
be avoided.

Our fair readers will see by the testimonials in the
Appendix that the principles promulgated in this
work are based on truth. We could have given more
estimony had space permitted. One of the most
recent and striking cases is that of Mrs. Ellis, who
was attended by one of our assistants.

iv

PREFACE,

We thank our friends for their confirmation of the
truth of the positions we have taken, and hope that
this edition, like those which have gone before it,
will be the means of alleviating the sufferings of
females in the critical and important hour of labour,
and enabling them to cure their children when sick.
With ever^'^good wish for the future wellbeing of our
fair patrons, we subscribe ourselves,

Their humble and devoted Servant,

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE TO THE EIRST EDITION.

TO THB

FEMALES OF GREAT BRITAIN.

In again appearing before you in the capacity of an
author, an apology might be necessary, were it not
for the kind reception of our former Avorks ; and
even now we almost shrink from the task, under
the conviction that many of the positions and ideas
contained in the following pages will be opposed
to the long-established opinions, and contrary to the
usual manner in which females of this country have
been educated. But, as in the case of our Guide
TO Health, we still shall venture on, and if inthig
short journey we are as successful as in our former
eftbrts, we shall be more than rewarded.

One of the grand errors of society is, and has
been, the mal-education — or the entire neglect of
education — of the females of this country. In fact,
so generally ignorant are they of all they ought to

vi

PREFACE.

know, that on the slightest and most trivial occasion,
the doctor must be consulted, and that, too, many
times, upon subjects with which she herself only
should be cognisant ; and every little change in ap-
pearance or constitution is, by the doctor, magnified
to an importance that continues or perpetuates those
errors, the results of which are always beneficial to
the family physician.

The duty appears to have devolved upon us to tear
away these impediments from the minds of our fair
readers, and if possible to induce every mother to pro-
perly instruct and direct her daughter in all things
that is requisite for her to know. Were she thus
properly informed, there would be but little use for
that class of men called doctors. And why should
she not know ? Why not understand herself, and
everything pertaining to herself? Also in the
rearing of children, in which, by accordance with
the laws of nature, and pursuing her unvarj-ing
dictates, little difficulty is experienced in relieving
their wants and removing their maladies. But
Avhen art is substituted for nature, where everything
is recommended that comes in direct contact with
their mutual wants, and the healthy action of their
systems ; and when at the same time the mothers
are taught to believe all this to be right, it is not to
be wondered at that so many die in infancy, from
the numerous maladies to which it is said they arc
subject ; yet the most of those afflictions have been

PEEFACE.

vii

brouglit on by a want of the proper knowledge o
feeding, clothing, and nursing the child.

Our observations of the superior knowledge of the
operations and requirements of nature, possessed
by the Indian women, have inspired us with con-
fidence to attempt to explain, and properly instruct
the ladies of this country on those important sub-
jects. We are willing and desirous, that every
word, and every idea we advance, shall be examined
by those to whom they are addressed, and if they
find anything not sufficiently explained, or what
they believe to be error, we shall at all times hold
ourself ready to improve or retract. But before
this be done, let everything be well testfed, remem-
bering that each portion of this treatise is based
upon our own experience.

Whilst the faculty have, from time immemorial,
mystified with technicalities all that has been written
upon the subject of this book — whilst they have
found it to their advantage to keep everything in
the dark — we shall expose and explain all to the
understanding of all.

The practice of midwifery, in every part of God's
fair earth, except where it is said science and civili-
sation prevail, is directed by the laws, and under
the sole superintendence, of nature. In those dis-
tricts there seldom or ever occurs a death, either
with the mother or child ; and in many places
there is not any attendant, either as nurse or mid-

vni

PREFACE.

wife ; and what is still better, the mother suffers
little or no pain. We hope our readers will bear
in mind that that which is true in one thing in
nature is also true in all ; and if we can convince
our fair readers that it is possible to bear children
without its being considered a diseased state of the
system, in one country, we hope to convince them
that it might be so in all. We fully beheve in the
power of a superintending Providence, and there-
fore do not think that anything can he wrong in
nature. But if the practice of medicine, as con-
nected -with women in child-bearing, or in the
rearing of those children, be necessary or con-
sistent, then are we at a loss to know what nature
means. We are gravely told that no woman is
competent to attend in cases of mid^vifery ! " It is
our opinion that all women should be so instructed
that they would be competent to render all the
assistance needed ; in fact, we consider them as the
only proper persons to attend on those occasions ;
and if the history of midwifery were fully known —
if it be true that out of seventy thousand c;ises of
labour which took place in the lying-in hospital at
Paris, all were natural, and required no assistance,
except twelve, of Avhat use were the doctors ?

In tho following pages we shall endeavour to
explain all that is necessary to enable every woman
to render the requisite aid to her friend or neigh-
bour, and we hope so plainly and clearly, that the

PREFACE.

end we have in view may be idealised, viz., to induce
the females of this country to think and act for
themselves and their children, so that they honour
their own judgment, and bid defiance to the pre-
judices and opposition raised by those who feel
that their craft is in danger.

We shall arrange our ideas in as few characters,
and under as few heads as possible, suffice it that
we write sufficiently to be understood. We shall
also divest it, as we have done our Guide to
Health, of all technicalities, so that the mother
who kno"\^'S how to provide for the hunger of her
child, by supplying it with food, may also under-
stand its diseases, and with equal success remove
them.

That this humble effort may meet with the appro-
bation and success of our Guide to Health —
that, like it, it may wend its way into the private
libraries of those for whom it is written, is the
sincere wish of,

Ladies, your humble and devoted Servant,

THE AUTHOE.

January, 1849.

TREATISE ON MIDWIFERY,

AND THE

DISEASES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

The study of Midwifery is a subject of the deepest
interest, and has, in all ages, claimed the attention
of the most distinguished of the medical pro-
fession. In civilised society it has for a long
period been in an imperfect state, and although
vast improvements have of late years taken place,
by the labours of men of genius and learning,
which are considered important, yet in our
opinion the most of those changes have been
deviations from nature, and the more abstruse the
practice, the more have the eyes of those most
interested been blinded, and the practitioners in
this, as in other parts of the profession, have
created a monopoly.

As we have done in our " Guide to Health," we
shall endeavour to do in this work, that is, to
render plain and easy to the females of this
country their own system, the nature of the form
of disease to which they are subject, and the treat-
ment and course of conduct they should pursue, in

12

TREATISE ON

the most interesting period of their existence.
We shall not go into all the complicated details of
modern writers, but simply state what we consider
enough to answer the object we have in view,
viz., to explain to the female what the God of
nature designed her to know, — herself, — and to
explode the idea, so prevalent amongst women,*
that the doctor only can understand her case ;
we shall, therefore, as we have ever before done,
divest this little treatise of technicalities, as far
as this difficult subject will allow, and although
we shall not lay claim to any particular discovery,
or even any improvement in the art (for nature
cannot be improved upon), yet we flatter ourselves
that we shall be instrumental in inducing the
females of this country to return to nature, there-
by adding a vast amount to the sum of human
happiness, and, we hope, a small share to the
stock of common knowledge. The directions and
advice laid down in this Avork are from our own
experience and observation, we shall therefore
say, if there are errors, they are ours, and if
truths, M'c found them simply in the book of
nature.

OF THE MENSES.

About the age of fourteen or fifteen, or what is
generally called the ago of puberty, this peculiar
phenomenon first appears, viz., the menstrual flux.

Midwifery.

13

At this time the blood beo-ins to circulate with
increased force, the breasts to swell, and the girl
suddenly becomes the woman, forgetting her
childish amusements, and assuming a different
position in society. Here we may remark that
this change frequently occurs without the girl
having any previous information or instruction of
its approach, which neglect oftentimes leads to
serious results. The discharffe continiies from
three to four days, and then the vessels gradually
contract themselves ; at the end of three or four
weeks they again open, and discharge the like
quantity of blood. This evacuation continues to
return periodically, until about the forty-fifth
year ; in some women it continues longer, and in
others ceasing soon after the fortieth. In warmer
climates menstruation generally commences much
earlier, and ends sooner ; %ve have known females
menstruate in their eleventh year, and cease at
thirty or thirty-five. The cause, says one author,
of this periodical evacuation, peculiar to females
of the human species only, has been a curious and
perplexing subject of inquiry in all ages. In the
infancy of medicine, when fancy, more than judg-
ment, influenced the theorj^, it is not surprising
that the most chimerical reasons should have been
given to account for an appearance so striking and
imporiant. Thus it was attributed to the influence
of the moon, from its periodical appearance ; to a
ferment in the fluids, when fermentation was
introduced to account for every phenomenon.
Men, in other views respectable, have exerted all
their ingenuity in defence of these theories ; but

14

TREATISE ON

they are now exiDloded, and, in our opinion, as
foolish a position is taken — the menses are
supposed to arise from a universal plethora, or a
topical congestion ; these opinions we shall
proceed to examine.

From a superficial view of the several pheno-
mena, it would appear probable that the menses
are occasioned by plethora (full habit), but the
idea is vague, and will not account for all the
appearances. By plethora we understand a larger
quantity of blood than is adapted to the capacity
of the vessels, either of the whole system, or any
particular part. This may depend on the increase
of the absolute quantity of the fluids, or on a
constriction of the vessels. It is the former of
these that seem to be meant by the advocates for
a general plethora, and the chief arguments
appear to be derived from the debility, inactivity,
and swelling of the breasts. The first two, though
often depending on plethora, may be produced by
many other causes, so that no argument can be
drawn from them ; the last by no means shows an
increased quantity of fluids in general, but rather
seems connected with the state of the womb, and
takes place in conditions of the system very dis-
advantageous for a genei'al fulness. We may,
with some confidence, however, regard this
opinion, although there are many arguments
against it ; for many of the symptons are not to
be explained by plethora, or any other supposition.
Dr. Richard Mead, more than a century ago,
gave perhaps the best and most sensible definition
of the cause of this discharge; ho says, "the

MIDWIFERY.

15

common cause of the stoppage of the menstrual
discharo-es is the blood's lentor, or siziness,
whereby this fluid becomes incapable of forcnig
the sphincters, or muscles, of the ducts destined
by nature for this evacuation. For it is not from
the bursting arteries of the womb, which is the
common opinion, that the blood issues every
month, but from vessels peculiarly appropriated to
this office ; and this lentor, or thickness of the
blood, changes the lively colour of the face into a
greenish pale and wan complexion.

Another, and somewhat probable opinion of the
cause is, that the menses depend on a topical
(local) congestion. This opinion was, for some
time, delivered at the University by the ingenious
Dr. CuLLEN, and is supported by plausible argu-
ments, and by its consistency with many other
appearances of the human body. We shall give
a short view of it, which may enable those who
have not seen it to form some judgment for them-
selves. CuUen says — "that the growth of the
body depends upon the increase of the quantity of
the fluids, giving occasion to the distention of the
vessels, thus producing the gradual evolution and
full growth of the whole system. This evolution
does not happen equally in every part of the body
at the same time, but successively, according to
the diflerent size and density of the several vessels,
determined by the original stamina. Thus the
upper parts of the body first acquire their natural
size, and then the lower extremities. By the same
constitution it seems to be determined that the
womb of the human species should not be con-

IG

TREATISE ON

siderably evolved until the rest of the body is
nearly arrived at its full bulk. But as the vessels
of every part, by their distention and growth,
increase in density, and give thereby more resist-
ance to their further growth, at the same time, by
the same resistance, they determine the blood in
greater quantity into the parts not yet equally
evolved. By this means the whole of the system
must be successively evolved, until every part is
brought to that degree of distention which it is
necessary to produce, viz., a balance in respect of
density and resistance with one another. Upon
these principles there will be a period in the
growth of the body when the vessels of the womb
will be distended until they are in equilibrium
Avith the rest of the system, and their constitution
may be such that the distention may proceed so
far as to open their extremities terminating in the
cavity of the womb, so as to pour out blood there ;
or it may happen that a certain degree of disten-
tion may be sufficient to irritate and increase the
action of the vessels, and thereby to produce an
effort to discharge, which may force the extremities
of the vessels with the same effect of pouring out
blood." In either Avay ho accounts for the first
appearance of the flow of the menses, or the first
discharge of blood from the womb in women. lu
doing this he does not suppose any more of the
general plethora in the system than what is con-
stantly necessary to the successive evolution of
the several parts of it ; and he proceeds upon the
supposition that the evolution of each particular
part must especially depend upon the plethora, or

MIDWIFERY.

17

increased congestion in its proper vessels. Thus
he supposes it to happen with respect to the womb ;
but as its plethoric state, he observes, produces an
evacuation of blood from its vessels, this evacua-
tion must empty those vessels more especially, and
put them again into a relaxed state, with respect
to the rest of the system. This emptied and
relaxed state of the vessels of the womb will give
occasion to a new congregation of blood in them,
until they are again brought to that degree of
distention that may either force their extremities,
or produce new eftbrts, which may have the same
effect. Thus an evacuation of blood from the
womb being once begun by the causes before
mentioned, it must, by the operation of the same
causes, return after a certain period, and continue
to do so until particular circumstances occasion a
considerable change in the constitution of the
womb. But after all this fine-spun theorj^,
which is no doubt in part correct, what deter-
mines the periods of these changes or returns
to be nearly in the space of a month? ''Ah!
(says Dr. Cullen) ive cannot exactly ex^olain, but
we suppose it to depend upon a certain balance
between the vessels of the womb, and those
of the other parts of the body." This may
determine the first period, but it cannot be under-
stood that a considerable increase or diminution of
the quantity of blood in the whole system will have
so much influence in increasing or diminishing
the quantity distributed to the womb. But per-
haps it may be urged, that when the menstrual
discharge has been repeated for some time, the

18

TREATISE ON

poiver of habit, which so readily takes place in the
animal system, may have a great share in deter-
mining the periodical motions of the womb, though
in the meantime considerable changes may have
happened with respect to the whole system. The
theory of Cullen, though liable to many objections,
yet may appear as rational as any opinion that has
been advanced ; for we shall never be able clearly
to investigate the secret principles upon which
this, and many other phenomena of the animal
economy, equally intricate and mysterious, depend ;
and the attempting to find out separate and minute
causes for all those appearances has, from time
immemorial, misled the faculty in their " causes
and direst That menstruation exists, and that it
has existed from all time, is certain ; and that the
use of it is to prepare, or, in other words, to render
the female capable of conception and procreation,
is certain ; and to write whole volumes on the
latent, or abstract causes, is, in our opinion, not
only a waste of time, but, as we have before
observed, calculated to render mysterious that
which ought to be plain, and to mislead the mind
on one of the most important and deeply interest-
ing subjects with which we are concerned. Are
not the females of every country subject to the
same ? The uncivilised are deprived, or in other
words not blinded with, these abstract theories of
causes, yet are they more healthful, and less liable
to derangement of their system, looking only to
nature for their guide.

MIDWIFERY.

19

IRREGULARITIES OF THE MENSES.

The menses, as we heretofore remarked, generally
commence at the age of from thirteen to fifteen
years ; that they sometimes do not appear for one,
two, or even more years after this period, and
that too without much or any inconvenience. A
retention of them altogether, is considered a state
of disease ; the patient is pale and sallow, with
loss of appetite, nervous debility, and in fact a
general languor. In what is called civilised
society, if mothers were acquainted with the
proper remedies, and not so much enamoured of
the family doctor, they would in most cases re-
move the difficulty ; for where menstruation does
not commence at the proper season, there is, in
our opinion, but one cause, and that is general
clehilitij, which, in a greater or less degree, impairs
the action of the arterial system ; but the cause
of this general debility is what the mother ought
to know, and it is for this we are induced to write,
although sometimes, from our knowledge of the
state of society, and the existence of so much
prejudice, arising from a mistaken education, Ave
almost fear for the fate of our little undertakinff,
and we may as well here confess, that we have
delayed the work, for the sole purpose of having
our opinions m9re generally known, through the
medium of our " Guide to Health ; " our ideas on
this subject, being so counter to the long-received
opinions of the female public, that this adventure

20

TREATISE ON

might, in the language of our work, miscarry —
or if admitted to its full time, would be still
BORN ! But, as before obsen'ed, the extensive
circulation of our " Guide," and the general satis-
faction it has given, has encouraged us to go on.
From this somewhat lengthy digression Ave now
return to the subject of our chapter. In almost
all cases of general debility, which we hold to be
the primary cause, there is a weak or bad digestion ;
and let whatever symptoms exist, we assure our
fair reader that this must first be remedied ; here
perhaps we may be told " the patient eats well,"
and that scarcely any food comes amiss ; yes, but
the food does not do its office, and consequently
something must be done to assist the efforts of
nature, — ^we would recommend the following
compound, viz., take of centaury, barberry-bark,
ground ivy, pulverised cubebs, powdered cloves,
raspberry-leaves, and clivers, of each half an
ounce, steep them in one quart of water, boil and
strain it, then add to the decoction one half tea-
spoonful of cayenne ; let the patient tiike three
tablcspoonsful four times a day, put a hot brick
to the feet, and while taking the medicine keep
out of the night air ; if this does not succeed in
the course of a fortnight, give lobelia and valerian,
of each half a teaspoonful, cayenne a quarter, in
a strong tea of raspberry leaves, and repeat the
dose every half hour, until the patient vomits
thoroughly ; during the operation of the emetic,
give freely of the composition lea. Should this
treatment not succeed, administer a vapour bath,
and another emetic as above. We have seldom

MIDWIFEEY.

21

known the second emetic to fail, and in several
instances menstruation has commenced during its
operation. In all cases of this description tight
lacing is to be ahandoned.

SUPPRESSED MENSES.

When any interruption takes place after the
menses have once been established, it is termed
suppression ; in other words, when menstruation
has begun, and continued regularly for a season,
it may cease and become irregular, both as to
quantity and period. This is literally an obstruc-
tion, and is sometimes attended with the most
painful effects, for by this suppression the system
loses its wonted activity, and, as in the foregoing
case, becomes languid. The causes producing this
state of things are numerous, but they all end in a
loss of the balance of circulation ; exposure to
colds, ani sudden chills after being overheated,
which often occurs when young ladies attend balls,
and large parties, where during part of the evening,
they are exercising so as to induce a rapid circu-
lation, and consequently, a free perspiration, and
then suddenly exposing themselves to the cool
air, coming from a highly rarefied state of the at-
mosphere, in nine cases out of ten their bodies
tightly laced, and not unfrequently menstruating
at the same time ; this not only suddenly stops

22

TREATISE ON

the discharge; but often lays the foundation of a
rapid decline, or induces pulmonary consumption.
Those of our readers who have attended our lec-
tures, ^Yl\\ remember that in all densely crowded
rooms we had first the precaution to take off our
coat, and that after the lecture, however warm
the air outside, not only put the one coat on, but
added another, at the same time putting a piece
of ginger-root, or other stimulant into the mouth ;
this precaution, in almost every case, prevented
us from taking cold, besides, tve are never tight
laced! In the first stage as described above, in
most cases a good sweat would remove it :
take a half-pint of yarrow-tea, hot and sweetened,
add to it a quarter of a teaspoonful of cayenne
pepper, and put a hot brick t^. the feet, these
will no doubt have the desired ''^ect ; but should
the obstruction continue, then take tansey, hore-
hound, bogbean, clivers, juniper-berric?; and agri-
mony, of each half an ounce, boil them in one
quart of water, strain it, and Avhile hot, add half
an ounce of gum-myrrh, pounded, and half ajt^-A-
spoonful of cayenne pepper ; take a wineglassful
of this three times a day for a week or so, and if
the patient does not improve, and exhibit vigorous
symptoms, give an emetic, and the vapour bath,
as described in the preceding article. If the
patient is labouring under an obstruction of longer
standing, such as a sparing or painful menstrua-
tion, you may commence by giving a strong tea
of red raspberry-loaves, with a teaspoonful of the
composition powder, and once or twice a day the
stomach bitters, using occasionally an injection

MIDWIFERY.

23

made of lialf a pint of red raspberry-leaf tea,
half a teaspoonful of lobelia, a quarter of valerian,
and a quarter of cayenne pepper, once or twice
a week, and just before the time or period, give
an emetic, and the vapour-batli.

EXCESS OF MENSTRUATION.

The next case to consider is an excess of the
menstrual discharge, which also has its causes in
an obstruction of the circulation ; the faculty have
divided this, as ttey do everything else, except
their fees, into '^^ i/o distinct forms of disease,
active and pafdve, and even state that it is of
the utmost importance to understand this distinc-
tion, in defecting the treatment. To give our
readers perhaps the clearest possible idea of this
obijci action, for it is an ohstruction, though not
located in the same way as in the case of sup-
pressed menses, it will be only necessary to state,
that at one period when we had an hospital, Walnut
Grove Infirmary, Troy, under our own .direction,
two females came to be treated ; one with an
entire stoppage, which had existed for scA^en
months, and tlie other with profuse menstruation,
or an excessive flooding from time to time ; in the
two cases there did not seem, from external
appearance, to be juuch choice, both were very
weak and feeble ; we took the cases under our

24

TEEATISE ON

treatment, and how do you think we treated them?
We suppose the faculty would think us mad ; but
our readers will remember that we have long be-
lieved, that however varied the forms, or seem-
ingly complicated the symptoms, yet there is but
one cause of disease, and the treatment of these
two females will, we think, in some degree estjib-
lish our theory, that disease is an unit ; it has
been said by some, that in our " Guide to Health,"
we omitted giving minute directions in some forms
of disease ; to this seeming omission, we reply,
that having laboured to convince all our readers of
the great fact of there being only one cause of dis-
ease, the only important object for them to keep in
view, is to restore the lost equilibrium, by which
means nature obtains the ascendancy ; and that it
was a truth we thought established, that if nature
gained the day, it made but little difference what
we called the disease. We may here remark, that
we Avish our readers to bear in mind, that in pro-
portion as they act up to this principle, in the
same proportion will be their success in curing ;
as in the male, so in the female, the same principle
is to bo observed. In the two cases, one of ob-
structed, and the other profuse, menstruation, we
placed them in the same room, and commenced
the followinsr course of treatment : for two davs
we gave them freely of the composition powder, in
a strong tea of raspberry-leaves, we then adminis-
tered a vapour-bath, and followed it by a lobelia
emetic, with the valerian and cayenne popper, as
before described, every other day, and in the mean
time gave daily three or four times, a quarter of a

MIDWIFERY.

25

teaspoonful of the stomach bitters, in a strong tsca
of raspberry-leaves ; directing the nurse to admi-
nister an injection composed of a decoction of oak-
bark, valerian, and cayenne pepper, to each. This
course of treatment was followed about three
weeks, when they were both relieved ; one com-
manced menstruation, and the other became more
regular, and no longer troubled with flooding ;
the ages of those two young women were nineteen
or twenty, and the treatment throughout, was
exactly alike, both in quantity and quality, and
the result was the same, /or they loere both cured.
We did not prescribe cold medicines, with bleed-
ing to the one, nor stupefying opiates to the other,
which is the practice laid down in the books of
the faculty.

TURN OF LIFE.

From the forty-second to the forty-sixth year, or
at that time commonly called the " turn of life,"
the menstrual discharge becomes irregular, both as
to quantity and period. Now in the healthy young-
woman, when menstruation begins, she is not at
all aware of it, neither is it altogether requisite
she should, being a necessary operation of nature,
which we hold should not be attended with incon-
venience to the healthy individual ; so in like
manner should the term cease without any serious
consequences ; but from the great importance

B

26

TREATISE ON

placed upon this event by the doctors, and the
great ease with which they can say to their
patients, when they cannot cure them, Oh !
madam, I think it is the change of hfe with you,"
which, from the behef among old women that it is
a period when sickness cannot be avoided, elicits
praise for sagacity in discovering the cause, and
obtains the willing fee for their ignorance. The
North American Indian woman knows nothing
about the "turn of life," and she has nothing im-
portant to reckon from that date. The truth is
that many women about this time of life get worn
out, either by bearing children, the cares of a
family, or some other cause, and feel that some-
thing is required to support and sustain them ; the
fire of life is getting low, and all that is required
is to assist nature by giving stimulants and tonics,
and reoulatino- the general svstem. TTe have
found the white poplar-bark, with composition
and bitters, generally to answer all these pur-
poses.

FLUOR ALBUS, OR WHITES.

This is a discharge of serous or mucous matter,
of a whitish colour, from the vagina. Iks source
is probably from the glands of the mouth of the
womb, and along the passage ; it is of a debili-
tating and disagreeable nature, but only requires
proper treatmeut to be speedily removed. '\^ hilst

MIDWIFERY.

27

the faculty usually recommend purging and cool-
ing medicines, we say avoid both, particularly if
the patient is pregnant, as it is more commonly
present at this time, esi^ecially when there has
been previously a luiscarriage. We would pre-
scribe a strong tea of raspberry-leaves, to a pint of
which half an ounce of pulverised gum-myrrh may
be added ; this to be used by way of injection, a
small syriugeful being thrown up the passage
morning and evening ; at the same time it is good
to AA-ash the parts with cold water. Make a de-
coction as follows : — Horehound, tansey, clivers,
cubebs, ground ivy, white pond lily-root, and
raspberry-leaves, of each half an ounce, steeped
in a quart of water, strain, and add half a tea-
spoonful of cayenne pepper ] take a Aviueglassful
three or four times a day. If the bowels are
costive, half an ounce of mountain flax may be
added to the above, but be careful not to purge
the patient.

BARRENNESS, OR STERILITY,

Is probably the result of weakness from some of
the foregoing causes ; and there are, no doubt,
some cases where the elastic power is lost, or that
action which is requisite in coition to enable the
vessels to absorb the male semen ; the only
remedy for that is to apply such medicines as will

28

TREATISE ON

give a general healthy tone to the system, avoid-
ing all excesses.

FALSE CONCEPTION.

This signifies that the foetus, at an early stage, is
deprived of life, and the placenta remaining in
the -womb, its bulk is increased in consequence of
absorption ; and when it passes in this state it is
called a false conception. The only treatment we
have found requisite in such a state is to keep
the patient warm and calm for a few days, and
administer the composition powder and stomach
bitters freely ; we have never lost a patient under
this treatment.

OF CONCEPTION.

Our readers will remember it is not our inten-
tion to write a book which they cannot under-
stand, for that would only be doing what has been
done too frequently, assisting in the cause of
medical monopoly. We shall, therefore, only say,
under the ditierent heads, such things as will con-
tribute to the real information of those for whom
we write ; and although our cxperienco and ob-
servation have led us to a ditlerent conclusion
from those who have written before us, wo shall

MIDWIFERY.

29

give our readers one advantage over our oppo-
nents— tliey shall understand us, and will tliere-
foro be able to judge whether our opinions or
theories are true or not. The theory of conception
is as intricate and obscure as the cause of the
periodical evacuations of the menses, and there
are many circumstances relating to generation
which will probably ever remain a mystery. Some
of the hypotheses on the subject we will refer to.
First, of those who think that the rudiments of
the foetus, or child, are contained in the female ;
second, of ihose who are of opinion that they
exist in the male ; third, of those who imagine
the foetus results from an union of both. Each of
these theories has had its supporters and anta-
gonists, which is not surprising Avhen we consider
the obscurity of the subject, as well as the extent
of learning which has been brought into the field.
The illustrious Harvey, who discovered the cir-
culation of the blood, belongs to the first class ;
Leuwenhoek, who perceived living animals, or
bodies Avhich resemble them, in the male semen,
supported the second ; and BuFFON, whose in-
genuity and acuteness are remarkably distinguish-
able, is the chief supporter of the third opinion.
These illustrious men all loft off where they
began, without being able to establish their
opinions satisfactorily, so as to gain an ascendancy,
it remaining, as we before remarked, a mystery.
We can, by examination after a certain stage, find
the child in embryo, and know that after the
germ is conveyed into the womb, impregnation
has taken place, The ovimi, or bag which con-

30

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tains in its cavity the embryo, and watery fluids
in whicli the child floats, soon after its introduc-
tion, adheres to some part of the internal surface
of the womb ; the embryo, or unformed foetus,
with the placenta, umbilical cord, membranes, and
waters, in early pregnancy, constitute the ovum,
which then appears like a thickened fleshy mass ;
the external membrane and other parts which
are afterwards separate and distinct, being all
mingled together. In the process of pregnancy,
the surface of the external membrane becomes
thinner from stretching, the cavity which contains
the rudiments of the child becomes more appa-
rent, and then a thick vascular part on the out-
side of the chorion (membrane) called jylacenfo,
or after-birth, can be readily distinguished from
the membranous part of the ovum.

The external membranous part of the ovum is
originally composed of three coats ; the internal,
or that next the fcetus, is called " amnion ; " the
next is the " tnie chorion,'''' and the external is
called the '\false chorion;'''' but it is probable that
it derives an extraordinary membrane from the
Avomb, which constitutes the external covering of
the ovum. Though the bag, or external parts of
the conception, at first form a largo proportion of
the ovum, in comparison to the embryo or child,
in advanced pregnancy, the proportions are re-
versed. An ovum, between the eighth and ninth
week, is nearly about the size of a hen's egg,
whilst the embryo scarcely exceeds the weight of
a scruple ; at three months the ovum is increased
beyond the magnitude of the egg of a goose, and

MIDWIFERY. 31

the weiglit above eight ounces ; but the foetus
does not then amount to three ounces ; at six
months the foetus weighs twelve or thirteen
ounces, and the placenta and membrane only seven
or eight ; at eight mouths the foetus weighs some-
thing more than five pounds, and the ovum little
more than one pound ; at birth, the child weighs
from six to nine pounds, which it I'arely exceeds ;
but the placenta seldom increases much in bulk
from the seventh month.

Having given the above description, we shall
next take a short view of the germ. It is the
opinion of some, that all the parts of an animal
exist in the germ, though their extreme minute-
ness and fluidity for some time conceal them from
our sight. In a state of progression, some ai*e
much earlier seen than others. The embryo, in
its original state, is probably entirely fibrous and
nervous ; and these fibrous parts seem to contain,
in a small scale, all the others which are after-
wards to be finally evolved. Of the fibrous, the
heart and liver ; of the nervous, the brain and
spinal chord. The head and its appendages first
appear ; then the viscera of the chest ; next the
abdominal ; at length the extremities gradually
shoot out, the superior first, then the inferior, and
by slow and invisible gradation, the beautiful
and admirable structure of the whole complicated
system is evolved. The foetus at four weeks is
nearly the size of a common fly, it is soft, muci-
laginous, seems to hang by its belly, and its
bowels are only covered with a transparent mem-
brane. At six weeks the consistence is still

32

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gelatinous, the size about that of a small bee, the
head larger than the rest of the body. At twelve
weeks it is near three inches long, and its forma-
tion pretty distinct. (See the works of Drs.
Hunter, Harvey, De Graaf, Malpighi, Haller,
&c.) At four months the foetus measures about
five inches ; at five months between six and seven
inches ; at six months the foetus is perfect in all
its external parts, and commonly between eight
and nine inches ; at seven months it is eleven or
twelve inches ; at eight months about fourteen or
fifteen, and at full time from eighteen to twenty-
five inches. These calculations are not always
borne out, in consequence of there being so many
causes to affect the child, by affecting the circula-
tion of the mother, as it is only through that
source it exists.

THE NAVEL-STEIKG.

The child is connected to the placenta, or after-
birth, by the umbilical cord, or navel-string, which
may be defined as-— a long vascular rope, composed
of two arteries and a vein, covered with coats
derived from the membranes, and distended with
a quantity of viscid gelatinous substance, to which
the l)ulk of it is chiefly owing, and which in our
opinion is thus distended for two causes, first, that
the arteries and vein may have more room, and,
second, that at the birth of the child, the com-

MIDWIFERY.

33

pressiou would in many cases prove fatal to the
child, by stopping the circulation, if the arteries
Avere not protected. The cord always arises from
the centre of the child's belly, and leads to the
cake or placenta ; its diameter is about the thick-
ness of an ordinary finger, and its length sufficient
to admit the birth of the child with safety, the
placenta always adhering until after the birth,
unless torn ofi^ by the cord being entangled around
the child. The use of the cord is to connect the
child to the cake, to convey the nutritious fluids
from the mother to the child, and to return what
is not employed.

THE PLACENTA.

The placenta, cake, or after-birth, is a thick, soft,
vascular mass, connected to the child by the cord
above described, and to the womb by means of the
spongy membrane, as already explained ; it varies
in shape and size, being thickest at the centre, and
gradually becoming thinner towards the edges.
Its substance is chiefly vascular (full of blood-
vessels), and probably, in some degree, glandular ;
it is supplied with blood by means of the uterine
arteries, and conveys the same to the child through
the cord above described. We shall again advert
to this subject, under the head labour ; but before
Ave come to that we Avill notice a few of the
changes and appearances Avhich take place during

34

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pregnancy, as sometimes innocent young women
have suffered wrongfully from suspicion, but if all
tlae symptoms were properly explained, it might
lead us to suspend our judgment, until Ave Avere at
least better informed than by mere conjecture.

CHANGES OF THE WOMB THROUGH
IMPREGNATION.

Although the womb gradually increases in size,
from the moment of conception until the full time,
and although its distention is proportionate to that
of the ovum, with regard to its contents, it is,
strictly speaking, never completely distended.
The gravid uterus, or impregnated womb, is of
different sizes in different women, and will vary
according to the bulk of the child. Though con-
siderable changes are occasioned by the gradual
enlargement of the womb, it is difficult to judge of
pregnancy, from appearances in the early months :
and although the progressive increase of the
abdominal tumour, from the stretching of the
fundus, affords a more decisive mark of the ex-
istence of pregnancy than any other, yet even in
these symptoms, the most able physicians are
sometimes deceived. We remember an incident
that occurred whilst we were engaged in study :
our professor was called to attend a young woman,
of a highly respectable family ; she was labouring,

MIDWIFERY.

35

as we supposed, under the incipient stage of ab-
dominal dropsy, and was treated by the doctor
accordingly ; in the absence of our teacher, we
occasionally attended the case, and were struck
with the healthy action of the circulation, as
indicated by the pulse ; we mentioned the same
to the doctor, who replied, that it was a great
puzzle to him. She was in this state for several
months, continuing to increase in size, and to all
appearance growing worse ; consultations were
held, at which the opinions of several medical men
of eminence were obtained, the whole of which
ended in tapping being recommended. This she
resolutely opposed, and all the entreaties of her
friends, added to the strong recommendations of
the doctors, had no effect with her, until at length
she became very bad. Several medical men were
present, and they came to the conclusion that she
must die, when an old experienced physician was
sent for, at the last moment, who on the instant
declared her to he in labour ; he ordered the room
to be cleared, and in thirty minutes she was
delivered of a fine healthy full-grown girl. The
family, as may be supposed were astounded, and
even the mother, who had resided with her all the
time, had been kept in total ignorance. Another
instance, the opposite of this, occurred some few
years ago in London ; a respectable tradesman's
wife, a friend of ours, who had borne two or three
children, supposed herself pregnant, menstruation
ceased, and the abdomen gradually enlarged, she
was as before, labouring under all the symptoms of
hreeding ; she consulted her accoucheur, who pre-

36

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scribed for her as usual, up to the period of the full
time she enlarged. She however passed the period
of parturition, and no symptoms of labour appear-
ing, was of course alarmed, and at length it was
thought she was labouring under the dropsy.
Medicine, however, had no effect upon her, and she
continued in this situation for twenty-two months,
when her abdomen gradually retui-ned to its
natural size, and she has continued to enjoy good
health ever since. Several things were remarkable
in her case ; during the whole twenty-two months
she did not menstruate, their was no obstruction
of the urinary passages, and she informed us she
had no knowledge of any change until she was
restored to her usual size. The doctor who
attended her during the whole course was subject
to the same mistake as herself ; in fact it was a
delusion from the first onset, but the end was a
reality, his fee being £28. From these cases it
will be seen how important it is that we should not
come to any positive conclusion, especially where
character, and ofttimes future happiness depends.
But there is one evidence, which it is said may be
relied upon, of the positive existence of pregnancy,
r.nd that is the motion of the chikl. In this, how-
ever, medical men, as well as the patient, have
been very frequently deceived. The particulars of
one case wo will relate : — In 182G, a young
woman, H. A., twenty-two years of age, put her-
self under our treatment, after having been attended
by two or three medical men, for obstructed men-
struation, and general nervous debility. Her
abdomen was very nnich enlarged, and, what was

MIDWITERY.

37

more singulai', there was a strong action, like that
of a full-grown child in the ■\A'omb. We confess
frankly, that on the first examination, Ave believed
her to be pregnant, but in the course of treatment,
we found that the motion was caused by a muscular
contraction of the womb. We commenced by
giving her the warm bitters, in a strong tea of
raspberry-leaves, and in two days a vapour-bath,
and an emetic of lobelia ] also an injection, made
in the following manner : — half a teaspoonful of
lobelia herb, and a quarter each of valerian-root
and cayenne, in half a pint of strong raspberry-
leaf-tea ; in the course of one month, by pursuing
this treatment, giving an emetic about twice a
week, and an injection every night, causing her
to take raspberry-leaf-tea and pepper through the
day, she began to menstruate, and all the symptoms
which indicated pregnancy, gradually disappeared.
She was some years afterwards married, and bore
several children.

THE MANNER OF CIRCULATION BE-
TWEEN THE MOTHER AND CHILD

Has been a subject of dispute by the physicians
of the old school, but it is now generally allowed
that the communication between the parent and
child is carried on entirely by means of the
placenta, whose spongy surface adheres to the
internal surface of the womb, and receives the

38

TREATISE ON

finer part of the arterial blood from the mother
by absorption. Others, however, are of opinion
that the communication to the placenta is direct
from the small arteries of the uterus or womb ;
but it is again contended that no bloodvessels
between them have yet been clearly shown by
the experiments of any physiologist ; nor has any
coloured injection been forced from the womb
into the interior vessels of the cake. But we do
not suppose the generality of our readers will be
interested with all the minute speculations of old
and new experimentalists, as with the principal
facts of the case. This much is certain that if
the placenta is torn prematurely from the surface
of the womb, before it has sufficient time
to contract, in order to close the mouths of the
uterine arteries of the mother, excessive flooding
takes place, and serious consequences follow ; and
we may here remark, that should the after-birth
not readily pass, strong force is not to be applied
to the cord, for several reasons. First, as soon as
the womb sufficiently contracts, it will be freed
from the surface naturally ; secondly, if too much
force is applied to the cord, the cake may be torn,
and a part of it remain ; and thirdly, by forcing
it away, as we have before remarked, flooding is
almost certain to follow. We have never found
the following treatment to fail : — when the after-
birth adheres, we usually apply to the bowels a
cloth steeped in a tea of hops, as hot as the patient
can bear it ; put a hot brick to the feet in a cloth
wet with vinegar, and give the patient a cupful of
strong rasj)beriy-Ieaf-tea, with half a toaspoonful

MIDWIFERY.

39

of cajenno pepper, and as soon as an equilibrium
is restored, and the patient begins to sweat, the
cake will be expelled without inconvenience. It is
strongly recommended by the faculty, to pass the
hand into the womb, and not to pull upon the cord:
this is attended with great pain, and ofttimes with
serious consequences. In an extensive practice
for many years, we have never been compelled to
resort to such means. If, however, the case is
obstinate, injections may be thrown up the bowels,
of a half teaspoonful of lobelia, a quarter each of
valerian and cayenne, in half a pint of strong
raspberry-leaf-tea, and this will have a two-fold
beneficial effect, as it will, by its loarming influence
cause the womb to contract, and remove the
adhesion, and at the same time empty the bowels,
thus precluding the necessity of a purge.

The placenta is not only the connecting medium
between the mother and child, intended for
conveying and returning the nutritious fluid from
the one to the other, but also changes and prepares
it, in a particular manner, for circulating through
the minute vessels of the delicate foetus ; for whilst
the child remains with the mother, it cannot
receive the oxygen through its own lungs, and is
therefore entirely dependent upon this means for
its existence and growth ; besides, this mode of
circulation in a great measure preserves the child
from disease. The finer part of the blood of the
mother, transmitted, as before described, through
the placenta, and conveyed along the umbilical
cord, entering the child, and by its large veins and
arteries being conveyed to its extremities, for their

40

TREATISE ON

support and increase, after having performed its
office, and made the necessary deposits, is again
returned to the mother through the cord, thus
performing the same function as the liver in the
human body.

THE POSITION OF THE CHILD

Is commodiously adapted to the cavity of the
womb (see plate I.) ; it describes an oblong or oval
figure, its several parts being collected together in
such a manner as to occupy the least possible space.
The spine is rounded, the head reclines forward
towards the knees which are drawn up to the
belly, whilst the heels are drawn backwards towards
the breech, and the hands and arms are folded round
the knees and legs, the whole being suspended in
the waters of the womb, showing how admirable is
the arrangement of the Great Architect, both for
the convenience and comfort of the mother, and
the safety of the child during its confinement.
Another view for admiration is the formation of
the foetus ; for whilst its head is considerably
lai-ger in proportion to the rest of the body, yet
so ])cculiarly is it constructed, being soft and
yieUling, and the parts not yet united, so that tlie
bulk of the head may be diminished in every
direction, and its passage consequently rendered
more easy. The bones of the body are also
remarkably flexible, all the prominent points, such,

MIDWIFERY.

41

for instance, as the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees,
and pelvis, being of a soft cartilaginous consistence.
In passing, we may here make a few remarks on
deformities, or what are generally termed by the
faculty —

MONSTERS.

It is said that any considerable deviation from the
natural structure is a monster, whether such devia-
tion be consistent with life or not ; such as have
supernumerary parts, or those whose parts are
defective. BufFon proposed the arrangement of
monsters into three classes : the first included
monsters from excess ; the second, monsters from
defect ; and the third, those in which there is a
misplacement of the organs. In the first are
classed those which have supernumerary limbs or
fingers, or even two bodies joined in various ways.
In the second, children born with a hare-lip, or
who are deficient in some one part. In the last
place, those monsters belong to the third class, in
which there is a general transposition of organs —
when, for example, the heart, the spleen, &c., are
on the right side, and the liver on the left ; those
boi-n with hernia, or rupture of ditferent kinds,
likewise belong to this class. Various attempts
have been made to account for their unnatural
formations : some, as Mallcbrache, attributed them
to the influence of the mother's imagination on
the foetus in the womb ; others, as Maupertius,
thought that her passions communicated to her

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TREATISE ON

humours irregular motions, which acting with
violence on the delicate body of the embryo,
disturbed its structure. Disease, while the child
is in the uterus, is considered by some a much
more probable cause of such affections.

Another author says — " It is very difficult to
give an explanation of these deviations ; " nor
indeed is it to be expected, whilst the process of
generation is itself so great a mystery. We, how-
ever, think we shall be able to give some reasons,
at least, for deformities. Those of our readers,
who have, during the last seven years, heard us
from the platform, will perhaps anticipate to what
we are about to allude. We have endeavoured at
all times, in our writings and oral instructions, to
impress upon the females the necessity of avoiding
any derangement of their system by tiglit lacing ;
we have spared no means to show its absurdity, as
well as its physical evil, by diagrams, morbid
specimens, and relation of facts ; and now, as wo
are making our best respects to the females,
exclusively, we beg to be pardoned, if, in our
zeal to do them cood — in endeavouring to make
them respect themselves — we write both homely
and plainly to them. The use and application
of what are generally called stays, has been a
soitrce of complaint even amongst some of the
more ancient writers. Buchan complained of
them and their evil effects in his time ; and wo
do not know of one practice that wo consider a
greater evil to the female sex than this, parti-
cularly in married women, and those who are
bearing children. It is often remarked to us that

MIDWIFERY.

43

they look so vulgar when not laced up, particu-
larly during pregnancy. We beg to differ with
them on this point, and are confident that we
have the tkinhing part of society in our fa-s'our.
lu the first place, your system has conceived a
being, literally committed to your care, and for
which you are responsible to a considerable ex-
tent ; and every perversion of your system, and
every obstruction, has a greater or less effect
upon the child. But this is not all ; the extensive
injury inflicted upon the most important organs
of the body, the great danger arising from im-
peded circulation, renders this practice highly
reprehensible. We remember one lady telling us
that when she took off" her stays at night, the
poor little child commenced its movements, with
continued activity, for two hours without inter-
mission, almost like the gambols of a young-
animal, which, after being pent up all the day,
has been let loose at night. As previously men-
tioned, the most serious consequences result from
such a course ; many children are brought into the
world with an impaired constitution, others are
even entirely destroyed, and many of the cases of
deformity are accounted for from this practice. In
a large town in Yorkshire, one woman bore seven
children, all deformed, and most of them died at
birth ; this woman, on being questioned upon the
subject, said it was her oivn opinion that it
resulted from tight lacing. Another fact, and we
consider it a very important one, is, that those
women who have followed this practice whilst
pregnant, have generally difficult labours; for as

44

TRKATISE OX

their own circulation is more or less obstructed,
the expansion to those parts, which we shall more
fully describe under the head of labour, does not
take place, and they become hard and rigid.
Let us, then, induce you to imitate your
neighbours, the French Avomen, who, so soon as
they find themselves pregnant, immediatehj cast
off their stays, allowing their bodies to assume
the form indicated by nature to be most congenial
to that situation ; and it is a recorded fact that
the difficult labours in France are much smaller
in number than in the same proportion in Eng-
land. The French doctors, however, take to them-
selves the credit ; not perceiving, or at least not
admitting, that it results from the common-sense
practice of the females.

Amongst the Indians of North America no such
practice as tight lacing exists ; directions for
making stays are not to be found in nature, and
as the Indian women follow out only the dictates
of nature, they suffer less, and bear a hardier set
of children than their more cultivated Avhite
sisters. The science of knowing yourselves is not
so deep and complicated as those who live by
your infirmities would make you believe ; since
the unlearned Indian woman knows evervthinf;
that it is necessary for her to know, and that, too,
without the assistance of the doctor, and his classic
books.

One of the most curious ciises of monstrosity
Avas forwarded some years ago to the School of
Medicine in Paris, and has been drawn up with
nnich accuracy by M, Dupuytren, an extract from

MIDWIFERY.

45

which we shall now give. M. Bissien, a young
man thirteen years of age, complained from his
infancy of pain in his left side, and lower part
of the abdomen ; this side had been prominent,
and contained a tumour from the earliest period
of life. He was seized with fever at the age of
thirteen, when the tumour increased in size and
became very painful ; some days after, he passed
a quantity of purulent and offensive matter by
stool ; at the expiration of three months he be-
came much emaciated, he voided by stool a ball
of hairs, and in a short time after, died of con-
sumption. On opening his body, there were found
in a cavity in contact with the large intestines
and communicating with them, some balls of
hair and an organised mass, which presented in
its forms, a great number of features of resem-
blance with the human foetus, and on dissection,
no doubt could be entertained of its nature.
There was discovered in it, the trace of some of
the organs of sense, a brain, a spinal marrow
very large nerves, muscles converted into a sort
of fib rous matter, a skeleton consisting of a ver-
tebral column, a head and pelvis, and limbs in an
imperfect state ; lastly, a very short umbilical
cord attached to the outer intestine, and an artery
and vein branching off at each of their extre-
mities, where they were in contact with the foetus,
and with the individual which contained it. The
absence, however, of a great number of the
organs necessary to the maintenance of life, esta-
blished it one of those monsters not destined to
live beyond the moment of birth. This fo-tus

46

TREATISE ON

was evidently contemporary Avith. the body to
wlaicli it was attached, and from whence it
received its nourishment ; at last, the period fixed
by Nature for expulsion being arrived, and the
expulsion being impracticable, the bag became in-
flamed, the inflammation extended to the intes-
tines, which it finally opened into, pus and hair
were voided by stool, and the patient died of
Avasting or consumption. The drawings of diffe-
rent parts of the body of this foetus taken by
M. Cuvier and M. Jadelot render this interestinor
case most complete. They are published in the
first volume of the ti'ansactions of the Academical
Society, Paris.

Having gone thus far in what we term our
general description of the womb, and the forma-
tion of the foetus, we shall now proceed to give an
outline of what are considered the most common
diseases to which females are subject. We might
give you a thousand speculations of a Denman, a'
Bufi^on, a Burns, &c., but as we Avish to keep in
vicAV our promise made some mouths ago, that we
Avould write a Treatise on MidAA-ifery, and the
Diseases of Women and Children, Avhich, like our
" Guide to Ilealth," could be read and understood
by all, Ave shall not adorn our pages Avith much of
their splendid nonsense, for everything is nonsense
that cannot be understood, at least to those parties
more immediately concerned.

MIDWIFERY.

47

DISEASES BEFORE AND AFTER
PARTURITION.

We now come to give a description of what is
called by tlie fiiculty, the pathology of parturition,
and diseases before and after birth, consequent as
they say, upon pregnancy, in which we shall most
seriously diffej-, and it is upon approaching these
points that Ave expect to be condemned.

Pregnancy is a state appointed by the Great
Architect of the Universe as the means of per-
petuating our species, hence we infer it is a natural
process ; in fact, the last subject we had under
consideration, is, in every sense of the word, more
of an unnatural, and consequently unhealthy state.
One of the most common evidences of the existence
of pregnancy, is a retention or stoppage of the
menses, Avhich is in general looked upon as a cer-
tain sign ; but, nevertheless, there are frequent
cases where the menstruation continues for two,
three, and four months after conception has taken
place, and, in some few instances, continues
monthly during the whole time, and that, too,
without any inconvenience to either parent or
child ; we are not aware that anything need be
done, more than keeping the system in as regular
and healthy a condition as possible ; on the con-
trary, we have known one woman who bore six
children, and during the whole period, never
menstruated once, conceiving before she had
weaned her last child. We only mention these

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things to save any uneasiness that might occur,
should any of our readers be in a like situation.
It is said by some of the medical authors, that
Avhat they call the art of midwifery, is the most
complicated of any part of the profession ; hence
they are constantly crying out against females
acting in the capacity of midwives, one of them
remarking, " it is a disgrace to society that it is
permitted," whilst we think it is a disgrace to
society that men and strangers too, are admitted on
such occasions into your bed-chambers ; they have,
in fact, by rendering it complicated and mysterious,
fairly made the female part of society believe what
an unlearned Indian woman would laugh at, as she
herself never requires any assistance at all; and yet
there seldom or ever occurs among them a case
of sickness during pregnancy, much less a difficult
labour, and still less a death, either of the mother
or child ; we are aware that some of our fair
readers will say, " You do not mean to compare
us to the women of the wood ? You cannot for
a moment suppose that the slender forms of the
white women can be compared to the hardy Indian
women ? " That, ladies, is just the cause why we
are compelled to take up the pen, and come in
direct opposition to the long-established errors of
society, for if you were like the Indian women,
strong and healthy (and surely you would have
no objection to be so), then there would be no
necessity for us to write ; but again let us inform
you that this kind of management, attonded by
the same success, is not confined to the Indian
women, but we also sec the same in Ireland, and

MIDW1FER\\

49

among the peasantry of Franco, anJ, in fact, we
have, from long observation, come to this con-
clusion,— that the further society is removed from
the influence of the medical profession, the less
disease they suffer ; and the more they follow the
laws and dictates of Nature, the less xvill he their
sufferings during pregnancy.

SICKNESS AND LOATHING.

This is a degree of feverish indisposition, nauseat-
ing sickness, or vomiting, generally in the morn-
ing and after taking food ; the appetite is so
whimsical, that the most extravagant and un-
accountable substances are wished for. " The
sickness from breeding," says an author, " is often
so severe as to resemble sea-sickness, and it is as
little in our power to relieve it." Many have
ascribed those early symptons to the stoppage of
the menses, but as far as our own experience
goes, we have found that regulating the stomach,
and keeping the bowels open by injections, have
never failed to remove it. We recommend the
following : — Take white poplar-bark, agrimony,
centaury, raspberry-leaves, yarrow, and rhubarb,
of each a quarter of an ounce, steep in two quarts
of water, strain, and add while hot two tea-
spoonsful of powdered cinnamon, half a tea-
spoonful of cayenne pepper, and let the patient take
one tablespoon ful every three hours until the

0

50

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symptoms are removed ; if this should not relieve,
give an emetic, and repeat it if necessary. We
have attended several females vfho suffered ex-
tremely with their former children, but on taking
the above, were entirely free from all sickness
dui-ing the remainder of their pregnancy. Avoid
bleeding and drastic medicines, as they only
debilitate, and finally render the labour more
difficult. It is said by the writers of the old
school, that as pregnancy advances, the disorders
to which they are subject are more serious and
more sudden, and one reason assigned is, that
the enlargement of the womb by the growth of
the child, presses upon the other organs, and
thereby deranges the system. Why ! are not all
parts of the female body adapted to the require-
ments of its functions ? We believe so, of a
truth ; and there can be no possible difference in
the mechanical structure of Indian females from
those of the white, yet no such s\nnptoms exist
amongst them, — in fact, the old Indian women say,
when one of the tribe is pregnant, " that she has a
nine months' lease of her /t/<?," and not as our
modern authors assert, that life is rendered more
precarious.

THE HEARTBURN

Is a very connnon attendant to some females at
this period, when suffering from a weak state of
the nervous system ; to relieve it, take four ounces

MIDWIFERY.

51

of white poplar-bark, steep it in one quart of water,
strain, and while at a boiling heat, dissolve half
an ounce of powdered myrrh, and a quarter of a
teaspoonful of cayenne pepper ; let the patient
drink freely of this throughout the day ; give also
an iujection of raspberry-leaf-tea, with half a tea-
spoonful each of lobelia and composition powder,
and a quarter of valerian, which administer every
night. Costiveness, which is very common, may
be relieved by this prescription ; but again we
repeat, under any circumstances do not use strong
purges, as they only in the end increase the diffi-
culty. A A^apour-bath may be given every night,
or after the injection, put a hot brick wrapped in a
cloth wet with Adnegar to the feet. Where much
general debility exists, the patient is often labour-
ing under what is called THE FALLING OF
THE WOMB, which sometimes is veiy distressing ;
to relieve this, take of the stomach bitters one tea-
spoonful four times a day, and inject, with a female
syringe, into the passage, the following decoction :
— Easpberry-leaves and ground ivy, half an ounce
of each, steeped in one pint of water, and to
the decoction while hot, add one teaspoonful of
valerian.

DIFFICULTY AND PAIN IN PASSING
THE URINE.

The cause of this, is the pressure of the womb
upon the neck of the bladder, and is generally

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removed after about four or five months. One
important point to be observed, is in strictly at-
tending to tbe calls of nature, and they who are
so troubled should never take long journeys, or
attend crovv^ded meetings, when the circumstances
will subject them to disagreeable restrictions ;
avoid fatigue either in walking or other exercise ;
reclining upon a bed or sofa when there is much
pain, will generally afford relief ; as a remedy use
a strong decoction of clivers, juniper-berries, cen-
taury, bogbean, and yarrow, say one ounce of
each, to two quarts of water, well steeped, strain,
and add half a pound of honey, and one teaspoon-
ful of cayenne pepper ; take two-thirds of a wine-
glassful of this four times a day. A hot brick
applied to the feet will be of great service.

SWELLING OF THE LEGS AND FEET

Sometimes exists ; it is very inconvenient and
painful to the patient, and not unfrequently ex-
tends to the thighs and belly. One of the principal
causes, as in the preceding affections, is owing to
the pressure of the womb ; another may be a
plethoi-ic, or full habit ; the faculty reconnnend
small hleedings and gentle purgatives ; we par-
ticularly caution our friends against anything
depletive in such a state, or in fact under any
circumstances ; therefore even in a full habit we

MIDWIFERY.

53

would recommend stimulants and tonics ; our
treatment would be, to make a strong decoction
as described in the preceding article, using the
vapour-bath at night, and a hot brick to the feet,
rubbing the legs and feet well with the common
tincture of gum-myrrh and cayenne ; or take half
a pint of good vinegar, add one teaspoonful of
cayenne and one of common salt ; bathe, or rub
the parts well. Avoid excessive exercise, or re-
maining too long on the feet at one time, and
should there be considerable pain, the recumbent
position will be requisite for its removal.

PAINS IN THE BACK, COLIC, AND
CRAMPS

Sometimes attend pregnancy. These, medical
authors say, are consequent upon the enlarge-
ment of the womb ; the two first being most
troublesome in its first stages, while the last is
most severe at an advanced period of pregnancy.
They are often brought on by suddenly exposing
the body to cold. Composition-powder, taken in
doses of half or a teaspoonful three times a day,
will generally remove them. An injection, at
night, of half a teaspoonful each of lobelia and
composition-powder in warm water is of great use
in assisting to effect a cure.

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CONVULSIONS

May occur during gestation or labour, and their
appearance is frightful, the symptoms alarming,
and the event always dangerous, and sometimes
fatal, if not properly attended to. There is little
or no warning to the patient, hence they are the
more to be dreaded ; violent headache being the
only prelude to their approach. This severe affec-
tion is most to be dreaded in the advanced stage
of pregnancy. The causes are generally great
nervous irritability, which is excited by sympathy
from the state of the womb. Popular authors on
this subject say that " if any treatment can pre-
vent the threatening catastrophe, immediate and
copious bleeding, occasionallij repeated, must
chiefly be relied upon ! " We would ask, in the
name of science and common sense Avhat effect
copious bleeding, occasionallij repeated,'' would
have upon the healthy female in a pregnant stiite 'i
Would not a sudden copious hemorrhage from the
lungs, stomach, or the womb, pi-oduce premature
labour or miscarriage ? And are we to be told
that, in cases of convulsion, such treatment is to
bo adopted to restore the patient, and prevent mis-
carriage, Avhich would inevitably produce the same
symptoms in the healthy subject? What train of
reasoning is necessary, females of England, to
convince you that that which will destroy you in a
healthy state, Avill cure you when diseased ? This,
we think, is science with a vengeance ! We arc

MIDWIFERY.

55

not disposed to be harsh, or to wantonly condemn
others, but it appears to us that this course is cal-
culated to mislead, and that the consequences are
evil. Our mode of treatment in the above case
would be such, and we know from experience it
will succeed, as the healthy woman could receive
without any injury to her system. Take burdock-
seed, valerian-root, raspberry-leaves, centaury,
gum-myrrh, powdered, clivers, and white poplar-
bark, of each one ounce, steep in three quarts of
water, strain, and add whilst hot half an ounce of
bruised cloves, and one teaspoonful of cayenne
pepper; give a wineglassful four times a day; should
an attack come on, give an emetic of half a tea-
spoonful each of lobelia herb and seed and valerian-
root in a cupful of composition tea, having the
patient in bed, with a hot brick to the feet, and
one on each side, wrapped in cloths wet wath
vinegar ; repeat the emetic if necessaiy, after
which give an injection in the usual way, keeping
the patient calm and quiet. This may be repeated
until the symptoms are relieved. In case of a
sudden attack, use the acid tincture of lobelia, by
pouring a tablespoonful into the mouth, whilst the
patient is in a convulsed state, and as soon as it
reaches the base of the brain it Avill immediately
restore animation ; you may then proceed to
administer the emetic as before directed.

56

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FLOODING

Occasionally takes place during pregnancy, and
generally precedes abortion. It is defined by the
faculty as a vague or ii-regular issue of blood from
the womb, subject to no periodical returns, but
liable to recur from very slight occasional causes.
It arises in consequence of a separation of some
j)ortion of the placenta from the vi^omb. Floodings
must always be looked upon as dangerous, from
the increased size of the bloodvessels, but seldom
prove fatal to the mother before the sixth or
seventh month of pregnancy, yet there is always
apprehension for the safety of the child in the
early period. One case we will particularise,
together with the treatment adopted, though it
comes more directly under the head of abortion.

We were sent for in haste to see a lady who was
labourino; under violent floodinor • she informed us
she was about two months advanced in pregnancy ;
she had delayed sending, hoping it might subside,
instead of which it gradually grew worse, until the
discharge of blood was so great as to saturate two
folded sheets, penetrate through the bed and
mattress, on to the floor beneath, to the amount of
two or three qixarts. When we arrived we found
lier pale and livid, and to all appearance in a dying
state. We may here pause to remark that there is
no case in our practise that more clearly proves
the truth of our theory that Jtcot is life, or the
main-spring to it, than this, for Avhile counter-

MIDWIFERY.

57

irritatiou, either by friction or bleeding, would
have been the sheet anchor and sole dependence of
the old school physician, which, in our opinion,
would have inevitably failed, ours was a firm and
calm determination to lay hold of the important
vital organs, and by natural and congenial stimu-
lants, restore an equilibrium. Now, gentle reader,
what do you think we did ? We ai"e almost afraid
you will be alarmed, and say, " I Avould not have
submitted to such treatment ! " Well, but you
must remember it was a matter of life or death,
and we are glad to submit to almost any course
when life is at stake. We gave her three heaped-
up teaspoonsful of cayenne pepper in a cupful ot
strong raspberry-leaf tea, and repeated the dose
four times in one hour and a half ! at the same
time gave her a pinch of cayenne pepper to snuflF
up her nostrils, and put as many hot bricks in the
bed as we could conveniently, changing them as they
became cool — at the expiration of an hour and a
half, the veins in the hands and feet began to i-ise,
and all the alarming symptoms subsided. During
this period the ovum, containing twins, was passed .
One very important caution is necessary to be
observed, viz., that the medicines used in such
extreme cases must be of the best quality, and of
sufficient strength. Having satisfied yourselves
on this point, persevere until you obtain the desired
object, viz., an equilibrium. Remember, the
medicines you use are of so pure and harnaless a
nature that, like food, they act in accordance with
the laws of the animal economy, so that if in
either of the above cases, which we consider

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extreme, there had been more medicine adminis-
tered than was absolutely necessary, it would in
no manner have proved injurious.

ABORTION

Is the premature expulsion of the foetus in any
stage previous to the time when it may be said
to have an independent existence ; although some
authors adhere to the following distinction : when
the ovum is expelled in the early months, it is
called an abortion ; and if the child be delivered
at any period between the fifth and seventh
month, it is called a miscarriage. But our defi-
nition will be at any period from conception up
to the full time. The causes of abortion are too
well known to the greater part of our readers to
require any very minute description from us, but
as our little work may fall into the hands of those
young females who have always been kept in ig-
norance of any truths relating to their own phy-
siology, we shall be more distinct than if we were
merely writing for the foculty or the experienced.
It is caused, in cases of great nervous debility,
by fright ; in others by tight lacing, or pinching
in of the body, to appear genteel, or disguise preg-
nancy, thereby stopping the healtiiy circulation.
It may also arise from a morbid state of the womb,
which may become disorganised after conception ;

MIDWIFERY.

59

or from the venereal disease ; any external injury,
' as from a blow separating the ovum from the
womb, violent exertions, the death of the child,
Avhich may take place from an original defect in
the parents, and various other causes. In all the
above cases where the symptoms appear, every
means should be resorted to to prevent it, as it
often happens that when once it takes place, it
will occur again and again, until the system be-
comes quite predisposed to it. We liave been as
successful in our attempts to remove the symptoms
of abortion as in any other part of our practice.

In the first appearance of w hat is called a show,
or a discharge of blood from the womb, get the
patient into a perspiration as soon as possible :
give, for instance, a strong decoction of yarrow-
tea — say a cupful — with half a teaspoonful of
cayenne, and put a hot brick to the feet, wrapped
in a cloth wet with vinegar, and if, when the
perspiration appears, the symptoms do not abate,
give a lobelia emetic, in the way before described,
^vith an injection in the usual manner. This
will generally stop the progress of the disease ;
but if you should find any difficulty in gaining
the point, persevere, and produce " an equili-
hviumy If, hoM-ever, the miscarriage should
take place, keep the patient as calm as possible,
give the composition and stomach bitters, avoid
all narcotic stimulants, but give the decoction of
yarrow, centaury, clivers, and poplar-bark. Wo
copy from an eminent author the following di-
rections, which we consider good ; and although
some of them may have been alluded to before

60

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by us, yet we shall give them entii-e under the
head of —

" MANAGEMENT DURING PREGNANCY.

" First. — The strictest temperance and regu-
larity in diet, sleeping, exercise, and amusement,
is necessary to be observed by those who have
reason to dread abortion.

" Second. — Overheating, irregular passions, and
costiveness, should be constantly guarded against.

" Third. — The hazards of shocks, from falls in
walking, or riding, from bruises in crowds, or
frights from bustle, should be avoided with the
utmost circumspection.

" Fourth. — The dress ought to be loose and
east/; tight lacing is injurious at every j^eriod
of pregnancy. In the early months, by prevent-
ing the womb from rising out of the pelvis,
it endangers miscarriage, and is still more
hazardous in the advanced stages. Bandages
without knots, buckles, or whalebone, secured
with straps of broad tape or ribbon, should be
had recourse to, after conception, and worn con-
stantly.

" Fifth. — Pregnant Avomon require free, pure
air ; their inclinations should be gratified by every
reasonable indulgence ; and their spirits kept up
by cheerful company, and a variety of objects,
that their minds may be always composed and
happy."

We may here say a few words on what are called

MIDWIFERY.

FALSE PAINS, which Sometimes occur, particularly
about the seventh month, and are often produced
by over-exertion, or, in fact, from any of the
causes that produce abortion. Women who are
unacquainted with these subjects, should always
consult some old and experienced person ; as by
taking a step in time, they might prevent pre-
mature labour. We have been sent for when the
patient has felt that she could have done without
assistance, and has even made an apology for the
trouble occasioned by her anxiety and alarm.
A dose of composition, in a tea of raspberry-leaves,
will generally relieve them ; but if this should fail,
a lobelia emetic, as described above, will always
have the desired effect.

We shall now describe what has hitherto been
considered by medical authors, the most difficult
period of pregnancy —

LABOUR,

Is that state, the organization of the child be in o-
developed, in Avhich it is enabled to exist inde-
pendently of the mother. The period of preg-
nancy varies in the different classes of animals. The
mare, the cow, the ewe, and the goat, are restricted
each within its proper limits ; in the human
species nine calendar months seem necessary for
the perfection, or organization of the child ; in
other words, thirty-nine weeks, or two hundred
and seventy-three days from conception. The
term does not seem, however, so arbitrarily

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established, that nature may not deviate from her
usual laws ; and, as many circumstances frequently
concur to anticipate delivery, so it certainly may,
in some instances, be protracted. It is well known
that quadrupeds of the same class vary in their
periods of fecundation ; may we not, therefore,
from analogy reasonably infer that women some-
times exceed the ordinary period ? There are
several well attested cases on record, where the
birth appears to have been protracted many
weeks beyond the common time of delivery.
If the character of the woman be in other respects
unexceptionable, do not let us too hastily con-
demn the mother, though the child should not be
born until ten calendar months after the absence,
or sudden death of the husband ; and the newly
married husband is not to put away or condemn
his Avife, if she should bear a child, and that
seemingly full grown, in seven mouths after
marriage. Labour is an effort of nature to expel
the contents of the womb : it is chieflv accom-
plished by the spasmodic contraction of the womb
itself, all the muscles being called in as auxiliary
powers. This, then, will account for the fact
that the strong, healthy, muscular woman, has
more power in her system to act, and, in conse-
quence, an easier labour. Those efforts arc fol-
lowed by intervals of ease, but the exertions
continue until the child is expelled, and the womb
completely emptied of its contents. Natural
labour is known to approach from the circum-
stances which usually precede it ; the progress is
marked by the duration, force, and frequency of

MIDWIFERY.

63

the pains, and their effect on the general system,
more particularly by the dilatation of the mouth
of the womb, the rupture of the membranes, and
the protrusion of the head of the child. The
symptoms of approaching labour are, the falling
of the upper part of the belly, which seems to
afford relief from the weight to the parent, pres-
sure, and a sense of fulness, afterwards a ropy
discharge from the vagina, streaked with blood,
commonly called the show, then slight pains in
the belly or loins, extreme restlessness, alternate
cold and hot fits. The throes of labour usually
commence with pains in the loins, which spread
round, forwards, and downwards, and again from
the belly, shooting down the thighs ; at first they
are often slight, but as they proceed they gain
force, and become more marked. The progress of
labour is generally in the following manner : — In
consequence of the great discharge of lubricating
moisture, the parts are first relaxed, and then
gradually begin to dilate ; the membranes con-
taining the waters separate from the internal
surface of the womb, and by their spasmodic con-
traction are protruded in form of a soft yielding
bag before the presenting part of the child ; thus
assisting in every throe of labour to expand the
parts, thereby not only rendering the passage of
the child more easy, but also securing a degree of
safety both to the mother and child. In the
absence of the pains, which, as we have before re-
marked, generally come on periodically, the
waters retreat, and the membranous bag is relaxed,
and the presenting part of the child, if sufficiently

04

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advanced, can be distinctly felt through it. As
the pains recur, and increase in force, the mem-
branes again become tense, spreading out more
and more, and descending lower and lower, until
they protrude from the mouth of the Avomb, and
assist in stretching and dilating the passage, pre-
paratory to delivery, and that too in a manner
which no human artifice can possibly imitate.
When this important end is accomplished, the
slender bag, yielding to the propelling force,
gives way, and the contained fluid is evacuated,
or in the common language "the waters are
broken." In a natural and easy labour, the pro-
gress of the head of the child through the pelvis,
or lower front bones of the body, corresponds
with the advancement of the membranes, and the
dilatation of the soft parts. The head advances
in a mechanical manner, its large part being
generally applied to that of the pelvis. It was
formerly the opinion that the hones of the pelvis
sejyarated, but this idea Avill appear preposterous
to those who are in the slightest degree acquainted
with the anatomy of the parts, and know how
each bone is bound to the others by tendons and
ligaments. During the progress of the passage of
the head, the stimulating exertions, in some cases,
become so excessive, as to throw the whole fram?
into the most violent agitation. "When thus far
advanced there is generally an interval of ease,
after which, the pains recurring, the shoulders
and body are expelled. AVe have attended
numerous cases where the one pain has completeil
the labour altogether, "When the woman has

MIDWIFERY.

65

somewhat recovered, or after an interval of rest,
the womb again renews its contractions, and by
a more gentle and moderate exertion of the same
powers by which the child was born, the placenta,
or after-birth, is detached from its adhesion to
the womb, which, together with the membranes,
are expelled. The above is a description of what
is termed natural labour ; were we living amongst
the unlettered and untutored Indians, it would
be wholly and entirely useless ; and if we were
to explain it to those children of nature, they
would laugh at our description, sneer at the
minuteness of detail, and say, in the simple but
eloquent language of truth and nature, — " We
require no such long details of what takes place
when our children are bom ! We know all that is
sufficient to secure safe and easy births, almost
rvithout pain, and what is still more important,
we rarely have deaths at childbirth." And might
they not further inquire of us — "What then is
all your complicated description worth ? unless it
be to render difficult a science which requires
only nature as an instructor, and which is under-
stood by all our iconien alike, none of whom
ever require any assistance from another ! "
Our readers will remark that throughout the
whole of the above details, which are strictly in
accordance with the doctrines of the schools,
the only midwife is nature, or the natural powers
exerted in the system, without the least assistance
from any other source; and furthei-, in our
opinion, there is not one case out of a thousand
but what would do better left to its own natural

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powers, than if interfered with in the ordinary
manner of the schools. The accoucheur, or mid-
wife, is often placed in difficulties, from the mis-
taken education of nurses and attendants, whilst
he is aware that the labour is going on well re-
quiring no interfei-ence on his part, yet should he
not afford, or pretend to afford, assistance, they
are unnecessarily dissatisfied, and in some in-
stances alarm the patient ; but let it be borne in
mind that frequent examinations Avill cause heat,
swelling, and inflammation, and unfit the parts
for their several offices.

There is, from a variety of causes, a vast diffe-
rence in the pains attending labour, such as the
original position of the child in the womb, the
bulk, shape, and solidity of the head, which from
disease may be enlarged, the age, constitution,
previous condition, the capacity of the pelvis, and
state of the bowels, as well as management of
the patient &c., any of which may occasion an
astonishing influence in the degree of pain, and
consequent duration of labour. The following
quotation is a proof of all we have advanced
upon the subject, and Ave most ardently hope that
our fair readers A^•ill profit by the remarks, and,
as far as possible, when in a pregnant state en-
deavour to keep themselves in a healthy con-
dition ; it is — " Young Avomen, apparently well
proportioned, of a lax fibre, and healthy constitu-
tion, may be presumed to have easi/, favourable
labours^ In the writings of the faculty they have
divided and sub-divided this subject, so that it is
utterly impossible for a person, not having had a

MIDWIFEEY.

67

professional education, to understand. In those
divisions, by one author, labour is placed under
three distinct heads, first, natural, second, laborious,
third, preternatural. They are called natural
when the head presents, and the child is born by
the natural pains ; and laborious, when the head
presents, but the birth is uncommonly protracted,
or requires the interposition of art ; and preter-
natural, when any other part but the head first
presents." Others have gone into greater minutias,
as " natural and non-natural, slow and lingering,
wrong and cross positions, preternatural, perilous,
mixed, complicated," &c. And different explana-
tions have been given by various authors to the
same terms. " Such indefinite distinctions (says
one of them) serve only to involve the subject in
obscurity, and mislead and embarrass inexperienced
jyractitioners.'''' And what, we would here ask, are
the consequences of " inexperienced practitioners "
being misled ? Is it not either the sacrifice of
human life or protracted misery ? We ourselves
have seen cases where the patients have been
rendered cripples for life by the officious interfer-
ence of some inexperienced practitioner " ; and
even within the last eighteen months one of the
faculty was condemned to twelve mouths' imprison-
ment for having, whilst drunk, inverted or turned
the womb, whereby the patient lost her life. We
think a quack could not have done worse ! We
shall continue our description a little further, on
some particular points, this being the only work
written exclusively for those Avho are most con-
cerned and we shall endeavour to keep in view the

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one great princiiDle, viz., to write so as to be
understood, for in proportion as we adtiere to the
axiom we have laid down, " that science is truth
based upon the laws of nature," and every deviation
from it, however technical and learned it may-
appear, is error ; we think we shall be useful to
the great mass of mankind, though at the expense
of the few who live and fatten by the ignorance of
their felloAv beings.

MANAGEMENT DURING LABOUR.

We quote the following from one of the old school
authors : — " In all labours, three distinct periods
or stages, may be marked : — First, — the dilatation
of the OS uteri (mouth of the womb). Second, —
the delivery of the child. Third, — tlie separation
and expulsion of the placenta (after-birth). Of
these the first is much the most tedious, and the
management is nearly the same in all labours ; for,
whatever time may be necessary to accomplish it,
this first stage should, in even/ instaiwe, he inisted
to nature ; dangerous floodings excepted. The
third stage seldom requires any assistance from art.
The second stage is chiefly that where a variation
of manafrement in different circumstances is
necessary." That good management and proper
directions are necessary we admit, and we shall in
the following pages, endeavour to point out such
as are required, from which, in the most difficult

MIDWIFERY.

69

labours, we have succeeded without the interference
of art, or at least mechanical art. Instead of pur-
suing that course in our practice, which in any
degree debilitates, as blood-letting, or stupefying
by the use of anodynes, or narcotics, we use such
means as assist nature : giving to the system an
energy, and imparting a force to those parts most
requiring it.

On the commencement of labour, according to
the symptoms we have given in the preceding-
pages, care must be taken to have the room pro-
perly ventilated, the bed conveniently adjusted, ihe
furniture of which, as well as the sheets, free from
dampness, or in the usual expression, "well aired,"
and must be protected by a double blanket or oil-
skin, to prevent the absorption of the waters, &c.,
and preserve the bed from moisture.

At this period, the patient should be held under
no restraint, but permitted to walk or rest, until
the pains become more severe ; when she should
be placed upon the bed on her left side, with her
knees drawn up, and we have found it useful, as
the labour advances, to separate them with a pillow :
something for the feet to rest against, will also
afford great assistance. Having thus placed the
patient in as comfortable a situation as circum-
stances allow, and guarded against everything that
may disturb or annoy, we must wait with patience
until the natural pains have brought the head ol'
the child to the external orifice, when assistance is
generally required to support the perineum (the
soft parts between the two passages), which is done
by slight pressure on that part with the palm of the

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hand. When the head is born, we must take care
that its position, in relation to the mother, shall be
such as not to injure it.

This is natural labour ; and in almost every
instance women require no more assistance than we
have above described, in fact, as we have before
said, and we feel that we cannot too strongly im-
press it on the minds of our readers, that mechanical
assistance in nine hundred and ninety-nine cases
out of a thousand, does more harm than good.
That we can assist by assisting nature is certain ;
but then this can be done AAathout wrapping every-
thing in mystery, and rendering obscure that which
it is most to the interest of the patient to know ;
for bear in mind, it is the patient that has to per-
form the work, not the doctor.

One important step at the commencement of
laboui', is to ascertain that the patient's bowels
ai*e active ; and it is always safe to administer
an injection prepared in the folloAA'ing manner : —
take the herb lobelia, valerian, cayenne, of each
half a teaspoonful in half a pint of strong yarrow-
tea. The benefit of this is two-fold, by empty-
inof the bowels it affords mechanicallv more room,
and secondly, by the warm and stimulating pro-
perties of the medicines, heat is imparted, which
materially assists in dilating, as well as affording
strength to the general system. You should
always have prepared at the commenconient of the
labour, the following medicine : — a very strong
decoction of red raspberry-leaves, and as soon as
the pains appear let the patient take a winoglassful
sweetened, as hot as it can be borne, and repeat it

MIDWIFERY.

71

at intervals ; occasionally adding to it as much
cayenne pepper as will lay on the end of a common
teaspoon. The above treatment, in nine cases out
of ten, that we have attended, has been found to
answer, and frequently have only to administer
the simple raspberry-leaf tea, and an injection ;
which prepares the patient for a speedy recovery,
precluding the necessity of purges immediately
after parturition, which many times so weaken the
system as to retard convalescence.

DIFFICULT LABOUE.

Wb shall now give a few cases of what we call
" difficult labour," and their separate modes of
treatment, before we proceed to give directions
for the management of the child. These cases
have come under our attention within the last
twenty years, and we confidently hope that by
being made known, others may be induced to
adopt the same course, and thus become the means
of not only preventing much extreme and unneces-
sary pain, but in some cases of saving the lives of
both parents and children. We may here say with
truth, that we have never lost a case of either
mother or child, that had gone to the full time,
and however those who discard our practice may
doubt this assertion, yet we are certain that the
females who pursue the course we have directed,

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will, to their own advantage, find it fully borne
out. We shall have no mystery, but fully and
clearly explain every point, leaving our fair readers
to judge for themselves ; and if we succeed accord-
ing to our hopes, we shall at least secui-e a large
share of their gratitude.

The first case we shall describe is of Mrs. B., of
Albany, who had been fourteen days in labour,
under the care of two doctors, during which time
she was subjected to the course of depletive and
cooling medicines usually prescribed ; and although
it was cold weather, being in the month of Decem-
ber, 1828, they had ordered the room to be kept
cool, and but slight covering on the bed. The
doctors were alternately in continual attendance
the whole of the above time. When the husband
came to us, which he did during the night, on the
recommendation of a friend, he begged of us to
hasten, as he believed his Avife would die before the
morning. We made all possible speed, and on
arriving beheld a woeful sight : she was laid upon
a bed with a thin covering in a cold room, in a
state of half stupor, catching her breath as though
each respiration would be her last ; the pulse so
i-apid that we could not count it. The husband
requested us to endeavour to deliver her, but we
told him we must first try to save her life. We
commenced the following treatment ; ordered a
cfood fire to be made in the room, two or three hot
bricks, and hot water, as soon as possible, and
when obtained gave her half a teaspoonful of
cayenne pepper, in half a cupful of hot water,
sweetened. When the bricks were ready we put

MIDWIFERY.

73

one to the feet and one to each side ; then prepared
some raspberry-leaf-tea, of which, with the pepper,
we kept up a brisk application all night. Towards
morning the symptoms which appeared on our
first ai'rival began gradually to subside, and per-
spiration commenced. The general strength of the
system of this woman was so far reduced that if
the doctors had continued their treatment for a few
hours longer she must have inevitably died, for as
animation returned, and the extremities began to
exhibit warmth, the pains were only lingering,
and without any force. We persevered in our
course for about twenty-four hours without much
variation, except ordering the nurse to give an
injection, for the opiate compounds she had for so
many days been taking had constipated her bowels,
and what appeared singular they had not given
her anything to reheve them. During this time
she had no appetite, and she said that for fourteen
days she had not slept, except from the effects of
narcotics ; we now gave her a vapour bath by
heating two or three bricks red hot, putting them
in a bucket containing sufficient hot water to half
immerse them when set edgeways ; placed her over
the bucket, with a blanket hung loosely around
her to exclude the air and confine the steam. We
kept her over it for about twenty-five minutes,
then put her to bed, placing one of the bricks, in
a cloth wet with vinegar, to her feet, and ad-
ministered the following emetic mixture : — one
half teacupful. of strong raspberry-leaf-tea, one
teaspoonful of pulverised seeds of lobelia, half a
teaspoonful each of the green herb lobelia,

D

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valerian, and cayenno pepper ; caused her to
drink one half immediately, and the remaining
portion in fifteen minutes after ; she vomited
thoroughly ; we then ordered an injection, and
after the whole had done operating, she went to
sleep, and slept without intermission for eighteen
hours ; on waking, her first demand was for food
which we had ordered to be prepared, and of
Avhich she partook, saying it was the first time in
sixteen days that she had felt an appetite. Noav
during all this time we had not even examined her,
in reference to the labour, as it was of little use
proceeding to such a step, until we had restored
sufiicient strength in the system, to expel or carry
on the natural action of labour. On examination,
we found that one of the feet of the child was resting
on the OS sacrum, or bottom part of the back, and
the other on the os pubis, or front bone. Soon after
waking, and whilst apparently enjoying her food,
strong and regular labour pains commenced, and
directly we brought the feet together, one strong
pain forcibly expelled the child from the womb. The
superiority of our practise was apparent in this
case, for notwithstanding the long time she had been
suffering, she was able in one week to carry her
ohild across the street, a strong healthy boy,
■which was unfortunately drowned at the age of
two years. Another case in the same year, was
a lingering labour when we gave only a vapour-
bath, with a strong tea of raspberry-leaves, the
child being born with one pain while over the
bath. Mrs. 0. K., an Irish woman, who had
homo six children previous to her approaching

MIDWIFERY.

75

confinement, informed us, tliat she always had
forty-eight hours of the most tormenting linger-
ing pains, before she sent for the doctor, and that
had been uniform in all the previous births ; we
instructed her to send for us when she had had
the pains for two hours ; she did so, and when we
arrived she apologised and said, she was not ill
enough to require assistance, but that as we had
given her such instructions, she had obeyed ; we
told her she had done perfectly right. She had
not even sent for her nurse, or any assistance, and
she w^as entirely alone except her servant ; we
steeped a handful of the raspberry-leaves, making
a strong tea, into which we put a half teaspoonful
of cayenne pepper, and gave her half a teacupfal,
and in one hour the pains came on so rapidly, the
child was born, she resting upon her knees by the
side of the bed, and no other person was present
but ourself ; she sent the servant for a neighbour-
ing woman, who kindly came and assisted in
putting her to bed. We attended the patient
at the birth of two children after, and the results
were the same. Whatever may be the opinions,
or special reasonings of the faculty upon this
case, it would have been impossible to have
changed the opinion of that woman, on the
specific action of the above remedies in her
system, of their superior and salutary effect
from the six preceding trials, she had had with
her old doctor as she called him.

In consequence of the success attending the
last-mentioned case, -we were called on various
similar occasions, at the recommendation of the

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above patient ; one or two of the most difficult
we sliall now record. The first was that of an
Irish girl, unmarried, who was unfortunately
pregnant ; it was in the spring of 1830. She had
been in labour three days, attended by Dr. K.
during that time ; he had called in the assistance
of two other professional men, who, after
long consultation, and mature reflection, came
to the determination that in order to save the
mother's life, the child's head must be lessened,
that is, the bones broken down, and the brain?
extracted ; which ojoeration it was agreed should
be performed at two o'clock p.m. About half-
past nine, a.m., we were sent for, at the request
of the last-mentioned patient. We hastened
to the place, and found the poor creature lying
upon a pallet of straw on the floor in a ver)-
exhausted state. On examination we found the
head of the child had advanced into the pelvis,
and was completely wedged therein, and were
told she had been in that situation for two
days. We pi-epared our usual dose of strong
raspberry-leaf-tea, gave her a wineglassful,
Avith half a teaspoonful of cayenne pepper, and
in fifteen minutes administered the emetic dose,
as in the previous case ; in about one hour the
pains began to increase in regularity and force,
her strength was renewed at every throe, and in
two hours from the time of our attendance the
child was born, healthy and strong. In this eas >
the lobelia did not make lier sick at all, although
she took enough to have vomited her three times
in ordinary cases. Our readers may here inqu'ro

MIDWIFERY,

77

what other assistance we rendered hei'. We
answer, none ! for in the state we found the child,
with its head impacted in the pelvis, it would
have been impossible to have used any mechanical
contrivance, without imminent danger both to
the mother and child. We relied alone on the
efforts of the greatest midwife in the world —
lobelia and raspherry-leaf-tea. After putting the
girl to bed, and previous to leaving the house,
Dr. R. came in ; we told him we were not aware
that any one had been in attendance before our
arrival, when he at once said it was of no con-
sequence, as they intended performing an ope-
ration that afternoon, to save, if possible, the
girl's life. At this moment the child cried, when
his face became like scarlet, and he eagerly in-
quired, " Good God, is the child horn ? " We told
him it had been born an hour or more, and
bade him good day. As we passed into the
street we met Drs. W. and L., bringing with
them the instruments of destruction. In a few
days the patient recovered, and enjoyed her usual
health.

Another case, also an Irish woman, had been
attended by a female midwife for about twenty-
four hours in labour ; and when we arrived we
found her on her knees before a chair, in great
distress, and much exhausted. Our raspberry-
leaves were again in requisition, a strong tea
of which we prepared, with cayenne pepper,
and gave her before entering upon any ex-
amination. We were told the waters had broken
gome twelve hours, and the pains, severe at first,

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had gradually subsided. As soon as the medicines
entered her system labour again commenced, and
before she could be raised from her knees the
child was born, being only twenty minutes from
our arrival. One circumstance connected with
this case is at least worth recording ; on calling
the following day to see how the patient was
getting on, in passing through the yard we ob-
served a female washing, but taking no further
notice we entered the house, and perceived the
infant only in the bed ; returning to the yard,
we found it was our patient washing ; on expos-
tulation she said, " she felt better and stronger
than she had done for many weeks, and thought
it would do her no harm to wash a few things."
Those of our readers Avho have perused the
Guide to Health," will remember the case of an
Indian woman ; we were in her society some
time before her confinement ; she was healthy,
strong, cheerful, and to all appearances quite in-
different about her situation, as is usual with
her tribe ; we conversed with her, and told
her our wish to be present at the birth of her
child ; we informed her of the nature of our
profession, and that we frequently attended the
white women, but she obstinately refused, stating
that she wanted no assistance from any one.
At the time she felt the pains of labour, she
went away alone, and in about one hour and a
half returned, \vith her child wrapped up in a
piece of soft blanket ; and this was all her con-
finement 1 We did obtain this information from
her, that she rested upon her knees until the

MIDWIFERY.

79

child was born. In our conversation with au
aged woman of the tribe, she stated to us that, in
her recollection, not one of their tribe had died in
bringing forth children. If this be true, and it is
corroborated by all travellers, does it not do away
with much of the importance attached to what is
called midwifery. We are aware that some of the
more sensitive portion of our readers will not
brook the comparison, and Ave are frank to admit
that there are more difficult cases to be met with
in a civilized state of society, than among the
uncivilized, or, if you please, the savage ; but that
is owing to their living in accordance with nature,
consequently their systems are healthy and natural.
At any rate, young ladies, they do no injury to
themselves by tight lacing ; no unborn children
are prematurely destroyed amongst them from
that cause.

But to return to facts and experience ; our
attendance was urgently required in the case of a
young Avoman, residing at some distance, who
had been in labour two days, and had three or
four medical men to see her ; but as there was no
prospect of a fee, and it being her first labour, she
was left under excuses of one sort or other ; and
when sent for a second time, were either suddenly
called away in another direction, suffering from
illness, or " not at home." We speedily arrived at
the secret of this neglect, as in addition to the
above causes, on examination we found the parts
tense, rigid, and contracted, and the pains very
slight and irregular, consequently a long, tedious,
and difficult time was predicted. Wo commenced

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as usual by giving her some strong raspberry-leaf-
tea and cayenne, following it up in the course of
an hour with an injection and the emetic mixture
as before described, and repeating the dose until
the pains became severe, and the rigidity of the
parts relaxed. In six hours the child was born,
but so completely entangled with the umbilical
cord {see plate No. 1, letter M), which passed twice
round the neck and shoulder, that the placenta was
torn from the womb, and violent flooding ensued,
which, in our opinion, would have proved fatal,
had not the system been fortified with the stimu-
lants before mentioned ; as it AA'as, by the sudden
application of a cloth saturated in spirits to the
lower part of the abdomen it was stopped. In this,
as in the case of the Irish girl, notwithstanding
the quantity of lobelia given, no sickness or
nauseating effects were produced, but a general
relaxation of the parts more immediately con-
cerned, and by consequence a happy termination
of what otherwise must have been a lanoruishing
and difficult labour.

Mrs. H., of Leeds, came to consult us on the
subject of her confinement ; she stated that the
two or three previous labours had been difficult,
and, from hearing our lectures, she thought we
might afford her great relief. We intimated the
probability of our being away, and, therefore, did
not wish to undertake the case. It so happened,
however, that she commenced on Sujiday morn-
ing, and in three hours, with the assistance of
our usual remedies, she brought forth a healthy
strong child. She had formerly suffered the most

MIDWIFERYi

81

intense agony for two days. Two years from that
time we again attended her, and with the same
consequences.

Mrs. K., of Halifax, is another iUustration of
the benefits arising from simply assisting nature.
As in the two preceding cases, the female attended
our lectures, and was i-esolved to follow out the
system we had laid down, having suffered severely
during former labours. On the first intimation
of appi'oaching labour she immediately had
recourse to the vapour-bath, and raspberry-leaf-
tea with cayenne, and in a very short period the
child was born ; since then she has had another
child, adopting the same course, with the like
results.

The following letter, which appeared in our
" Botanical Journal," is here inserted, being of
recent date, and fully corroborates all we have
written upon the subject : —

" Sheffield, June 20th, 1848.
" To Dr. Coffin. — Z>ear Sir, — / think it a duty
in me to inform the public through your Journal, of
the benefits ichich I have derived from the practice
of the botanic system, of ichich you are the founder.
Before entering immediately upon the case I ivill
state the treatment I underwent upon two similar
occasions. Previous to my confinement for my frst
child, my pains loere very severe and excruciating,
and for FOUR DAYS 1 suffered the most cruel
toi'ticre ; at the end of that time the child was taken
from me by instruments, and such icas the debilitated
state of my constitution that for seven ino7iths after

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I could neither stand nor sit. In the course of time,
hoivever, I rallied ; and iipon becoming pregnant
the second time, I felt satisfied that I never could
undergo another such a shock. I hieic nothing of
your si/stem at that time, and consequently had to
pass through the same terrible ordeal. Instruments
were again used, but I recovered my health in less
time than on the former occasion. I teas now told
by my medical attendants that it was impossible for
me ever to give birth to a living child. During the
time that expired betioeen this and the next occasion
of my becoming ENCEINTE, / happened, very fortu-
nately, to hear of the great success attendant upon your
system of midwifery. I therefore came to Sheffield,
and considted Mrs. Naylor, to wliom I am indebted,
next to yourself, for my present joy. Upon my
feeling ill again I sent for her ; she told me not to
fear, for all loas right, and icoidd soon be over. I
could not think it possible, and dared not believe
it, after lohat I had jjrcviously suffered, but she
kept my spirits up by this assurance. She first gave
me a vapour bath, and then administered hot stimu-
lants, and in four hours I had the satisfaction of
having a child naturally born, instead of being kept
in torture for four days and nights, and then having
the infant taken from me by instntments, aiid of
being weakly and ill for seven montlis, as upon the
first occasion. I icas able to get vp in five days,
and in a month after, I rcent to my home at Bury,
in Lancashire, with as fine a baby as teas ever born.

" With many thanks to Mrs. Naylor, and to your-
self, I beg to subscribe myself yours, most gratefully,

M. Gilbert.

MIDWIFERY.

83

i( p,S.—I had almost forgot to say that the
iceight of the infant, ivhen born, loas sixteen
pounds.''^

In recording tlie forgoing cases we had but one
object in view, viz., to convince our readers that
parturition is a natural operation, requiring little,
if any mechanical assistance. We have before
obsei-ved that no man should act as an accoucheur,
under any circumstances, but that women should
be instructed to do all that is required at the time ;
and we are not alone in this opinion. Dr. Ewell
says, " I view the present increasing practice of
calling upon men to officiate, as a source of serious
evil in child-bearing — as an imposition upon the
credulity of women, and upon the fears of their
husbands — as a means of sacrificing delicacy, and
consequently virtue ; believe the truth, when preg-
nant, that the most ordinary women can render
you every needful assistance, without the interference
of men-midwives ! their hurry, their spiiit for
acting, have done more harm than all the injudi-
cious management of medicines." Speaking of the
duties of the man-midwife, Dr. Denman obsers'^es,
" on his arrival at the patient's residence, he should
ascertain all delicate inquiries from the nurse or
female attendant; he is to learn the history of the
case, the age of the patient, whether she has arrived
at the end of pregnancy," and on being introduced
to his patient, he is " to assure her that from what
he has heard from the nurse he has every i-eason to
believe her condition fiivourable." Again he savs,
" during the first stage of labour, the practitioner

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should sit by and watcli nature, she heing the lest
obstetrician ; " that he can neither dilate the orifice
of the womb, nor advance the progress of labour
by any manual operation ; and let him always re-
member the axiom " a meddlesome midwife is bad."'
Dr. John King, writing on this subject, observes,
" It is not a sickness in reality, but a natural
effect intended by our Creator, and should be solely
in the hands of women, and never intended as a
part of the physician's labour."

We might accumulate extracts from the writinors
of celebrated authors, proving our position, and
the absurdity of calling in the aid of a physician,
but shall content ourselves by giving one more
quotation which Ave take from the London Prac-
tice of Midwifery : " — " A patient, after the Avatei*s
are discharged, requires a little management, and
it is necessary, if we have occasion to leave her, to
do so in confidence ; therefore we may give her
the idea of making provision for whatever may
happen in our absence ; we may pass our finger
up the vagina, or opening to the womb, and make
A moderate degree of pressure /or fl second)!
on ani/ part of it, so that she mot/ just feci it. after
which we may say to her ' There, madam, I haAc
done something that Avill be of great use to your
labour.' This she trusts to, and if, when we ai-e
again sent for, Ave are in time, it is well ; if later
than Ave should be, Ave can easily satisfy her by
tellinff her ' Yes, vou know I told vou I did some-
thing Avhich Avould be of great service to you in
your labour.' If the placenta has not come away.
— ' Oh, I am quite in time for the after-birth, and

MIDWIFERY.

85

that you know is the greatest consequence in
labour ; ' and if the whole has come away, and the
patient is comfortably in bed, — ' we are glad the
after-birth is all come away, in consequence of
what we did before we last left the patient, and the
labour has terminated just as we intended it
should.' "

Women of England ! will you longer submit to
such a system of fraud and deception ? will you
still suffer all your finer feelings to be outraged by
the admission of a man into the most secret recesses
of your chamber, under the pretence of being ab-
solutely necessary, to your recovery ? will you so
far sacrifice your self-respect, your innate modesty
and sense of delicacy, at the shrine of custom or
fashion, to uphold a monstrous monopoly ? can you
be so wilfully blind to your own comforts, so ig-
norant of the great fact that nature is the best
midwife, and can and will accomplish all that is
necessary, as to countenance one of that class Avho
tells you, " Oh, I did something for you before I
went away which made it quite unnecessary for
any further assistance?" No! we feel contident
you will no longer submit to this degrading prac-
tice ! you will arise in your beauty, your power, and
your might, and loudly and fervently protest
against it ; you will break the fetters of an un-
natural custom, pluck the scales from your eyes,
and see, think, and judge for yourselves, and in so
doing act Avith such determination as shall at once
and forever sweep this "secret history of adultery,"
this immodest deformity, from the surfiice of this
fair land.

8G

TREATISE ON

It is really amusing to see to what extent tlie
causes of what is called difficult labour are carried,
in the treatises of the old-school-practice ; we "will
give you a specimen : — " The causes of lingering
labour may be referred to the following, — first, in
the mother, as any defect in the action of the uterus,
or auxiliary powers of parturition, Avliich impedes
the force of the labour pains ; — secondly, more re-
motely, universal debility, from flooding, diarrhoea, or
other debilitating evacuation, epileptic fits, crampish
spasms, sickness, lowness and faintness, fever from
inflammatory diathesis, or improper management,
sudden or violent emotions of the mind ; — thirdly,
local impediments, interrupting the passage of the
child ; as, in the bones affecting the dimensions
of the pelvis, in the soft parts, as consti-ictions, or
rigidity ; scirrhous or polypous tumours, tumefac-
tions from hardened ftcces in the rectum, stone in
the urethra, distention of the bladder from urine,
prolapsus of the uterus, A-agina or rectum : section
second, in the child, as the bulk and unusually
complete ossification of the head, or its unfavour-
able position, the bulk or improper descent of the
shoulders : third section, the rigidity or weakness
of the membranes, an excess or deficiency of the
liquor amnii ; as these causes exist singly or com-
bined, the labour will be less or more difficult and
painful." Such are a few of what are termod by
the faculty causes, to make it, in our opinion,
complicated and mysterious, for there is scarcely
one of the above symptoms, at least so far as the
mother is concerned, which might not be removed
before the labour came on, or before the time of

MIDWIFERY.

87

confinement. How absurd then appear all the
above symptoms, indications, and causes, to us
who have a sufficient confidence in our remedies,
to know that we can remove them ! but we will
not inflict any more such quotations on our
readers, but simply follow out our own plan.

BREECH PRESENTATION.

We have frequently attended labours where the
breech first presented, and in almost every in-
stance we allowed the labour to go on. It
formerly was the practice of physicians to attempt
to turn the child, but Dr. Hunter states that
while he continued this practice, he lost the child
in almost every case; "but," says he, "since I
left these cases to nature, I always succeeded ! "
We should rather think that nature succeeded,
whilst Dr. H. merely looked on. One case we will
mention as unusually difficult. The patient, Mrs.
T., lived across the river. West Troy, and the
time occupied in getting a boat and in crossing
and recrossing the river, was so much that the
labour had somewhat advanced. Mrs. T. was
suffering under such peculiar circumstances, that
she often told us before the period of labour that
she was quite sure she should die. She was
thirty-nine years of age, and had never borne a
child. On our arrival we examined her situation,
and found the breech of the child had passed into

88

TREATISE ON

the pelvis, and on the recurrence of the pains the
womb appeared to be so much contracted that,
notwithstanding its being the first labour, and the
rigidity of the parts from age, we found it best to
allow the labour to take its course without changing
the position of the child, and risk the consequences.
We gave her the raspberry-leaf-tea and lobelia,
which in the course of two hours broucrht forth
the child, but to all appearance dead, for the cord
had been for a considerable time compressed be-
tween the head of the child and the bones of the
pelvis, so as to completely interrupt the circula-
tion. We wrapped the child in a soft piece of
flannel, and the nurse was about to take it, when
we told her to get a fire-shovel full of hot coals
ready, and in a few minutes having extracted the
after-birth without cutting the cord, we imme-
diately placed it upon the coals ; the effect of
which was to dilate and fill the navel-string with
warmth and moisture ; we then directed the nurse
to strip the hot fluids towards the body of the
child, and poured into its mouth half a teaspoon-
ful of the tincture of lobelia, into which we had
put a quantity of cayenne pepper, and adminis-
tered an injection of composition-tea ; by these
means a sufficient degree of heat was raised to
expand the lungs, and the child was resuscitated.
(^See the chapter on Life and Motion in the Gitide
to Ilealth.^^) The above conclusion is inevitable,
if we believe that heat is the principle of life.
During the above pei-iod we attended to the
mother, and put her to bed, with the usual band-
age. The child lived, and soon as it breathed

MIDWIFERY.

89

freely we cut the cord in the usual way ; it grew
a fine healthy child. We have since found that a
bucket or pan of hot water would answer the pur-
pose even much better, and no difficult labour
should ever be attended without having hot water
in readiness in case it should be required.

We might continue our detail of these interest-
ing cases to a great length, but we should then
fall into the error of those we condemn ; we wish
only to be useful, and have long agreed with the
old philosopher that, "useless knowledge is vastly
worse than none^

EXTRACTION OF THE AFTER-BIRTH.

We have stated the progress of labour, both in
natural and difficult cases ; and we now refer our
readers to the plates, with their explanations, for
the different positions of the child. The natural
and usual presentation is the head, which, as it
advances, can be easily felt on a remission of the
pain. When the child is born, the first thing to
be attended to is the navel-string : the nurse or
assistant should be provided with some thread or
narrow tape, and a pair of scissors. It often
happens through the ignorance and officiousncss
of the attendant that injury, and even fatal effects,
are produced by tearing the placenta away before
sufficient contraction has taken place, when severe
flooding follows ; although some authors have
recommended the immediate extraction as a gene-

90

TREATISE ON

ral rule after tlie delivery of the child, and the
reason assigned is, that the womb may suddenly
close, and render the operation more difficult ; yet
we may assure our reader that in no instance have
we found any difficulty from waiting a reasonable
time, and in no case of what is called adhesion,
have we been compelled to resort to mechanical
force. In one case of what is called a difficult
adhesion, Ave put the patient over a vapour-bath,
and in ten minutes it was expelled.

Previous to assisting in the expulsion of the
after-birth, you should ascertain if the womb
is contracted, or whether there is another child,
which may easily be determined by passing the
hand over the abdomen, which will not be much
diminished in size in the event of another child
being present, but should that not be the case,
you will feel the cake like a hard lump under the
navel of the mother. Those points being settled,
you should twist the cord round the fingers of
the left hand, so that a firm hold is obtained,
then the two fingers and the thumb of the right
hand may be passed up the passage, and you will
feel something soft like liver ; when the pain
comes on gently pull the cord, and after one or
two contractions the placenta will be separated
from the womb, and may generally be safely ex-
tracted. Should the force applied to the cord
cause pain to the patient, you must immediately
desist, and wait patiently for the contractions of
the womb, lost by carrying the attempt further
flooding might ensue, the cord be broken, or,
what is still worse, the womb inverted. We

MIDWIFERY.

91

might go on in our description of the method of
extracting th'e placenta by force by introducing
the hand, and enumerate a variety of remedies
in cases of extreme flooding, or of spasmodic con-
strictions, &c., &c. ; but if the instructions here
laid down are carried out, not one case in ten
thousand would require any such interference.

Our readers will here remember that the cord
attached to the child's belly is the source from
whence it has derived its support, and, therefore,
care must be taken not to cut it too soon, as the
circulation sometimes continues several minutes
after birth, and is easily determined by the pul-
sation, which should entirely cease, and the action
of the lungs be firmly established ! being satisfied
that all the connexion between it and the placenta
has ceased, you can proceed to tie the cord with
the thread or tape moderately tight, about two
inches from the belly, when you may safely cut
it. It is a common practice to apply two liga-
tures, the one as above described, and the other
about an inch nearer the mother, and cut between
them, in order to prevent hemorrhage, but this
practice we object to, for the following reason : —
in proportion to the quantity of the discharge
from the placenta, its bulk is diminished, and
expulsion facilitated. Having wrapped the child
in a soft flannel cloth, our next duty is to attend
to the management of the placenta, or after-birth.
The same exertions which have expelled the child
will, after a short time, recur, viz., the contraction
of the uterus or womb, but in a lesser degree, and
if it bo a first labour, and the patient in good

92

TREATISE ON

healtli, the after-birth is speedily extracted, but
in women of weak constitution it becomes more
tedious, and requires longer time, in which case
jou should give freely of raspberry-leaf-tea,
valerian, and composition-powder.

After the delivery of the child, and the ex-
pulsion of the after-birth, our next duty is to
attend to the mother, and in the first place apply
a bandage round the lower part of the abdomen,
made fast with strong pins, drawn as tight as the
patient can well bear, without causing her pain.
After this is performed, place a hot brick to the
feet, and prepare the folloAving compound : take
raspberry-leaves, centaury, poplar-bark, ground
ivy, clivers, and cinnamon, each half an ounce,
steep in one quart of water, strain and add eight
bitter almonds, pulverised, half a teaspoonful of
cayenne pepper, and one pound of sugar ; let her
take a wineglassful, or if the stomach is weak and
irritable, a tablespoonful at a dose, and repeat it
every two or three hours.

TWINS, OR PLURALITY OF CHILDREN.

There is no more difficulty in the management
of twins than in ordinary or single labours, and
the same treatment must be observed. You must
tie the navel-string of the first child in two
places, and cut between them, it being oft-times
connected with the other, consequently the escape

MIDWIFERY.

93

of the fluids miglit do injury. The first child is
generally born with the head presenting, whilst
the second child is expelled with the feet first ;
this being their usual position in the womb.
{See i^late II.) After the birth of the second
child, two after-births and umbilical cords will be
found inserted in one placenta. In either case,
the same practice must be observed.

It sometimes happens that three or four, or even
five children are born in one labour ; and in this
case the same treatment must be pursued, as it is
not necessary to have recourse to any mechanical
means, although the faculty have classed this form of
parturition under the head of pi'eternatural labour.

We have now terminated the most diflficult
portion of our task, and have endeavoured to
render the subject simple and easy to be under-
stood. We are aware that the plainness of our
language is open to severe criticism, especially by
our opponents ; but if we have conveyed the
necessary information to our gentle friends where-
by they may be enabled to render those kind
offices to each other which nature requires in this
anxious time of need, we shall feel ourselves
doubly repaid, and know that our labours have
not been in vain.

Following out the subject in its usual course,
we shall now proceed to the second part of our
work ; viz., to teach our mothers how to cure
disease in themselves and their children, how to
follow the immutable laws of nature, and by her
dictates alone, bid adieu to premature death and
the doctors.

Plaiij.

Engraved ^jrDrCoffvn;s Trudisc cn I/rdwiAry iy T.

PLATE I.

This represents the womb at the full period of
pregnancy.

A The womb stretched to its usual extent, with

the head presenting.
B B The upper part of the pelvis, or that portion

called the os ilium,
c c The sockets for the thigh-bones, technically

termed the acetabula.
D D The lower portion of the pelvis.
E The extreme bone of the spinal column, called

coccyx, or sitting-bone.
F Part of the lower bowel.

G G G The external orifice, or genital opening,

considerably expanded.
H The mouth of the womb.
I I A portion of the bladder.
K K The after-birth, at the upper part of the

womb.

L L The membranes containing the waters, &c.
M The navel-string entangled round the child.

PLATE II.

Gives a front view of twins at the commencement
of labour.

A The womb expanded, containing twins, with

their membranes and double after-births.
B B The upper part of the pelvis,
c c The sockets for the thigh-bones.
D D The lower part of the pelvis.
E The extreme bone of the back called coccyx.
F The lower part of the bowel.
G G The vagina, or external orifice.
H The mouth of the womb.

I I The lower part of the womb, with the mem-
branes below the head of the child.
K K The double after-birth.
L Their membranes.

Pio.U §.

Fn^aved for UTC^^s

PLATE III.

Represents the gravid womb Avlien labour has been
ffoino; on for some time.

A The last vertebra, or bone of the back.
B The position of the navel.

c c The genei'al shape of the ^Yomb at the final

period of pregnancy.
D The same after the M'^aters have broken.
F F The form of the womb whsn stretched moro

than common.
G Part of the pelvis, termed the pubis.
H H The mouth of the womb partly dilated.
I The vaginal passage.
M Part of the bladder.
0 The left hip.
P The thigh.

PLATE IV.

Shows the mechanical contrivance of the faculty
for assisting nature in extracting the head of
the child.

A B c A portion of the spinal column, with the
sacrum and coccyx (part of the pelvis).

E Part of the bladder.

F The lower intestine.

G G G The womb.

H I Part of the vagina.

K The handles of the forceps.

L A handkerchief folded round the handles to keep
them together.

M M The blades of the forceps, encompassing the
head of the child.

BnpT-avedJvr DJ'C^^'v/ts Treatise, on Mdwi/ery T.W.M/^m..

PART II.

DISEASES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
TREATMENT, &c.

AFTER-PAINS.

These pains generally come on soon after delivery,
but are never troublesome in first labours ; they
are so well known to every mother it is almost
unnecessary for us to allude to tbem. Should they
prove very urgent, and deprive the patient of rest,
a strong decoction of raspberry-leaves, with a tea-
spoonful of composition-powder and valerian, will
generally atford relief.

FLOW OF THE DISCHARGE AFTER
LABOUR.

Previous to the contraction of the womb a cer
tain degree of discharge takes place, consisting of
florid blood, which gradually changes into a paler
colour towards its termination. In difficult and

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TREATISE

protracted labours, as also in females of weak and
delicate fibre, this discbarge becomes profuse, and
of an alarming character ; at other times a total
suppression takes place before the usual period
for its disappearance. In the former case recourse
must be had to the treatment laid down for mis-
carriage, in the latter frequent and repeated doses
of pennyroyal-tea and cayenne will generally have
the desired effect.

PUERPERAL OR CHILD-BED FEVER

Frequently happens under the old practice, but
seldom occurs if the patient has previously
followed our instructions. We had almost decided
upon passing it over, along with several others
under their nosology, as only tending to swell our
little work without doing our readers much good ;
but as we considered it might fall into the hands
of those not so well acquainted with our ideas,
and as this form of disease under the treatment
of the faculty is not only common, but often fatal,
Ave think it advisable to give some directions. It
is brought on by a variety of causes — a constitu-
tional debility, arising from derangement of the
stomach and bowels ; and we are of opinion, with
Dr. Clark, of this country, that in many cases it is
caused by " the purges iisuaUy given on the second
day after deliveri/ we have also observed that
where difficult labours exist, and strong remedies

MIDWIFERY.

109

are resorted to, the patient is more liable to this
disease, particularly after taking the ergot of ryej
and it is the opinion of many writers on this
disease that it is more prevalent at some seasons
than others, and that it must be endemical. In
the years 1839-40, in the East Riding of York-
shire, this disease was very fatal, and there Avas
scarcely any medical man of the old school, who
did not tremble when called to a labour. Our
system was as successful under these circumstances
as in any other. Our usual treatment is to give
the patient a decoction made in the following
manner : — take centaury, barberry-bark, ground
ivy, agrimony, and raspberry-leaves, each half an
ounce, steep in three quarts of water, strain it,
and add whilst hot half a teaspoonful of caj'enne
pepper, and half an ounce of gum-myrrh ; of this
decoction give a tablespoonful every three hours,
at the same time put a hot brick wrapped in
a cloth wet with vinegar to the feet, and have an
injection administered of a strong tea of rasp-
berry-leaves, and white pond lily-root ; add to a
cupful of this one teaspoonful of green lobelia,
half a teaspoonful each of cayenne and valerian-
root, and if the pressure upon the womb, the
rapid pulse, and dry skin does not disappear, give
a lobelia emetic in the usual way, and repeat it
if necessary ; but child-bed fever seldom exists
one day after the above treatment. In most cases
under the old treatment, the patient's milk is
dried up, and the child is compelled to be put out
to nurse, or brought up by hand ; but in the
treatment we recommend the milk is not lost,

110

TREATISE ON

and the woman suffers none of those distressing
consequences. But, remember, that when there
are febrile or feverish symptoms never give a purge.

MILK CHILLS.

At the time the breasts first fiU with milk, which
happens on the third and fourth day generally,
there is what is termed by the faculty milk
chills ; the cause is a sudden pressure and exten-
sion of the glands of the breasts, but this in
healthy females is seldom worthy of notice, yet
old nurses attach to it so much importance, thdt
in deference to them we shall not pass it over.
The only treatment necessary is to produce a
perspiration, or a general equilibrium ; one of the
greatest evils attendant upon this affliction is, the
patient becomes alarmed in consequence of the
sjmiptoms, that it must be the forerunner of a
child-bed fever, but if our instructions are care-
folly attended to, we can assure our fair readers,
that there will not be the least danger.

THE MILK LEG,

As it is called by the faculty, is another grand
difficulty with them, and from wrong treatment,

MIDWIFERY

Hi

or not properly understanding the cause or
remedy, females are sometimes rendered cripples
for life. This affection may be attributed to an
obstruction of the lymphatics, or watery vessels,
arising from previous derangements of the system,
or improper treatment during labour. It is cha-
racterised by a heavy, stiff, painful, and whitish-
coloured swelling of the leg, extending to the
thigh, hip, and groin, and external portion of the
genital organ. It sometimes goes on to ulcera-
tion, and continues with the patient for years. We
have in its treatment always used the vapour-bath
in its first stages, at the same time an injection,
with a similar compound to that recommended
under child-bed fever ; after the bath put a hot
brick to the feet, and at the same time wrap the
limbs in cloths wrung out of a strong tea of hops
made hot, and covered vidth dry cloths, to keep the
heat and moisture from evaporating. If the above
does not answer give an emetic, and, in fact, if the
symptoms are aggravated in the beginning, this
course may be first pursued.

MILIARY ERUPTIONS.

Sometimes from a vitiated state of the fluids
previous to confinem^it, there is a form of disease
appears upon the surface of lying-in women,
called by the faculty millet, or miliar^/ eruption.

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TREATISE ON

As it is with us but the effect of a cause, we shall
not give the importance to it that is given by the
creators of its name ; it is the result of a diseased
system, and only wants that system cleansed and
put in order, which may be done in the following
manner : — take half an ounce each of poplar-bark,
agrimony, ground-ivy, clivers, and bogbean, steep
in two quarts of water, strain, and add one tea-
spoonful of cayenne pepper, and when cool, eight
or ten bitter almonds pulverised ; take a wine-
glassful three or four times a day.

SORE NIPPLES.

Some authors have atti-ibuted this very painful
and harassing affliction to a too frequent appli-
cation of the child to the breast, but we beg to
differ from this opinion ; animals in a natural
state never have sore nipples, and yet we see
their young applying themselves continually to
the teat ; further, we have never known it occur
throughout all our experienee where the mother
and child have been in a healthy state ; hence we
have concluded that it arises from the overheated
condition of the child's stomach, as it is usually
temied, or from general derangement in the
system of the mother. We would, whilst we
prescribe for the effect, remove the cause ; a
strong tea of raspberry-leaves, with a small

Midwifery.

113

quantity of pulverised gum-myrrh dissolved in
it while hot, is one of the best applications, both
to the nipples and the child's mouth ; at the
same time attend to the condition of both mother
and child. If the bowels are deranged it is al-
ways best to regulate them by injections ; where
the nipples are very raw, a shield will be of
great service, and may be so constructed as to
save the nipple, when the child is sucking ; they
are made of wood and silver, and may be ob-
tained at the shops. The above lotion is one of
the best preventives, even where the nipples are
not sore.

SWELLED OR CAKED BREASTS.

When the breasts are not properly drawn, by
placing the child to them at an early period, they
sometimes become hard and tumid ; it may also
be produced by exposure to cold, or by general
debility. This is called inflammation of the
breasts, or in more vulgar language, milk cake.
Under bad management, owing to the extreme
sensitiveness of the parts, there is not a more
painful and distressing disease to which lying-in
women are subject, particularly if allowed to
proceed to suppuration. The first thing is to
have the _breast properly drawn, and then con-
tinued fomentation of chamomile and yarrow tea
for some time, after which a large cataplasm of

114

TREATISE ON

hops, made wet with vinegar or tincture of
myrrh, may be applied to the part, as hot as the
patient can well bear it, renewing it when it
becomes cool ; give the patient at the same time
freely of the composition-powder, and put a hot
brick to the feet, wrapped in a cloth wet with
vinegar ; if the symptoms do aot abate, give an
emetic of lobelia, and an injection in the ordinary
way. If, after these means, the swelling still
has a tendency to gather, or suppurate, a poultice
of white bread and pounded Avhite pond lily-
root, wet with the tincture of myrrh, and the
surface sprinlded over with the pulverised seeds
of lobelia, should be applied ; this may be renewed
every two or three hours, until the breasts indicate
that matter is developed, when the abscess may be
opened. After it is opened, apply the foUoAving
ointment: — take of hogs' lard two ounces,
burgundy pitch four ounces, and bees' wax one
ounce ; simmer them over a slow fire until well
mixed, then stir them until cold. This salve may
be changed two or three times a day, spreading it
over a piece of soft linen. The vapour-bath as
before described, is also to be administered, and
repeated if necessary as often as ocCi\sion may
require, having due regard to the strength of the
patient ; in fact, there is no complaint in which
you should more strictly attend to keeping a
gentle perspiration on the surfoce.

MIDWIFERY.

115

INFLAMMATION OF THE WOMB.

This disease is caused by an injury, such as a
blow, a fall, or the great pressure of the head
upon the womb ; it may also arise from the over-
officiousness of the midwife, and improper appli-
cation of instruments, by exposure to cold, or
indulging in the use of spirituous liquors. It
generally comes on in the course of two or three
days after delivery, with violent pain, heat and
tension, at the lower part of the belly, considerable
thirst and vomiting, with great depi'ession of
strength. This affection is considered highly
dangerous by the faculty, who immediately resort
to the lancet, as their sheet-anchor, and abstract
a large quantity of blood, repeating the operation
three, four, and in some instances, more times,
thereby prostrating the system and depriving the
patient of that vitality which can alone assist
nature in her endeavours to produce a healthy
action. On the first onset give an emetic, and
let it be followed by an injection as before de-
scribed, then apply flannels wrung out of hot
yarrow-tea, renewing them every two or three
minutes ; make a decoction as follows : — take of
vervain, agrimony, ground-iv}^, and clivers ; each
half an ounce ; boil in a quart of water for ten
minutes ; Avhen cool strain and add one table-
spoonful of valerian, and half a teaspoonful of
cayenne ; let the patient take two tablespoonsful
every two or three hours. If the symptoms do

116

TKEATISE ON

not abate in two hours repeat the emetic and
injection, together with the hot fomentations, to
which may be added a small quantity of cayenne
pepper.

TREATMENT OF THE CHILD.

We shall now enter more fully into the treat-
ment of the child, as respects its dres?, food, &c.,
and there is no subject on which the great mass
of females have been more misled than this. In-
fants, as we have before remarked, are subjected
at their birth to the most cruel treatment, in
other words, they are killed vdth kindness, by
the dear old nurse, who immediately after its
first cry proceeds to cram its mouth full of fresh
butter, sugar, &c., " to prevent the thrush, or
sore mouth," and then follows a dose of castor-
oil, " to cleanse its stomach and bowels." Thus,
on the very first appearance of the little stranger
in this world, it becomes the victini to a gross
and superstitious practice, which in every case
does more harm than good. When the nurse
or attendant asks us " what must be done for
the child ? " our unifoi-m answer is nothing, if
it is in a healthy state. In the first place wash
it with warm water, and take great care that
those parts which are most liable to friction, as
behind the ears, under the neck, and between
the tliighs, are well washed and dried ; next let

MIDWIFERY.

117

the navel be attended to, by taking a piece of
scorched linen, about three or four inches in dia-
meter, cut a hole in it of sufficient size to let the
cord through, and over the linen spread a thin
coat of hog's fat, or sweet oil, then let the cord
pass so that the cloth will lay flat on the abdo-
men, and be careful that no part of the cord lies
upon, or comes in contact with the belly of the
child J put then a narrow bandage of thin cloth
around the body of the child, in order to hold all
things in their places. This bandage may be
removed in the course of two or three days, to
see if the cord is detached from the navel, which
in that time is generally the case. If all is clear,
remove your cloths, and put a small piece of linen
with a little cold cream upon the navel, and re-
place the thin bandage for a few days to prevent
irritation, at the expiration of which it may be
removed altogether. After applying the thin
bandage as above described, you may then put it
a light dress on, but do not begin to swathe it
up in almost innumerable flannel bandages, until
it is impossible for it to breathe, or any of its little
organs to be developed. We here feel an irresis-
tible compulsion to give the following extract
from Buchan, it being, in almost every particular,
in perfect accordance with our own views, and
corroborates what we have above remarked : —

" The better to trace diseases from their original
causes, we shall take a view of the common
treatment of mankind in the state of infancy.
In this period of our lives the foundation of a
good or bad constitution is generally laid ; it is

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therefore of importance tliat parents be well
acquainted with the various causes which may-
injure the health of their offspring. It appears
from the annual registry of the dead, that almost
one half of the children born in Great Britain
die under twelve years ^of age. To many this
may indeed appear a natural evil, but on due
examination it will be found to be one of our
own creating ; were the deaths of infants a
natural evil, other animals would be as liable to
die young as man ; but this avo find to be by no
means the case. It may appear strange that
man, notwithstanding his superior reason, should
fall so far short of other animals in the manacre-
ment of his young; but our surprise' wiU soon
cease, if we consider that brutes, guided by in-
stinct, never err in this respect, while man, trust-
ing solely to art, is seldom right. Were a cata-
logue of those infants who perish annually by art
alone exhibited to public view, it would astonish
most people. If parents are above tuking care
of their children, others must be employed for
that purpose ; these will always endeavour to
recommend themselves by the appearance of ex-
traordinary skill and address. By this such a
number of unnecessary and destructive articles
have been introduced into the diet, clothing, (fcc,
of infants, that it is no wonder so many of them
perish. Nothing can be more preposterous than
a mother who thinks it below her to take care of
her own child, or Avho is so ignorant as not to
know what is proper to be done for it. If we
search nature throughout, wc aiuuot find a

MIDWIFERY.

119

parallel to this ; every other animal is the nurse
of its own offspring, and they thrive accordingly.
Were the brutes to bring up their young by
proxy, they would share the same fate as the
human species. We mean not however to im-
pose it as a task upon every mother to suckle her
own child ; this, whatever speculative writers
may assert, is in some cases impracticable, and
might prove destructive both to the mother and
child. Women of delicate constitutions, subject
to hysteric fits, or other nervous affections, make
very bad nurses ; and these cases are now so
common, that it is rare to find a Avoman of
fashion free from them ; such women, therefore,
supposing them willing, are often unable to suckle
their own children. Almost every woman would
be in a condition to give suck, did mankind live
agreeably to nature ; but when we consider how
far many mothers deviate from her dictates, Ave
need not be surprised to find some of them unable
to perform that necessary office. Mothers who
do not eat a sufficient quantity of food, nor enjoy
the benefits of free air and exercise, can neither
have wholesome juices themselves, nor aff"ord
proper nourishment to an infant. Hence children
who are suckled by delicate women either die
young, or continue weak and sickly all their lives.
When we say that mothers are not always in a
condition to suckle their own children, we would not
be understood as discouraging that practice ; every
mother that can, ought certainly to perform so ten-
der and agreeable an office ; but supposing it to
be out of her power, she nevertheless may be of

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great service to lier child. The business of nursing
is by no means confined to giving suck ; to a woman
who abounds with milk, this is the easiest part of
it ; numberless other offices are necessary for a
child, which the mother ought at least to see done.
Many advantages would arise to society, as well as
to individuals, from mothers suckling their own
children. A mother who abandons the fruit of
her womb as soon as it is born, to the sole care of
a hireling, hardly deserves that name. A child,
by being brought up under the mother's eye, not
only secuz-es her affections, but may reap all the
advantage of a parent's care, though it be suckled
by another. How can a mother be better employed
than by superintending the nursery ? This is at
once the most delightful and important office, yet
the most trivial business, or the most insipid
amusements, are often perferred to it ! A strong
proof both of the bad taste and wrong education of
modern females. It is indeed to be regretted that
more care is not bestowed in teaching the proper
management of children to those whom nature
designed to be mothers ; this, instead of being
made the principle, is seldom considered any part
of female education. Is it any wonder when
females so educated come to be mothers, that they
should be quite ignorant of the duties belonging to
that character ? However strange it may appear,
it is certainly true, that many mothers, and those
of fashion too, are as ignorant when [they have
brought a child into the world of what is to be
done for it, as the infant itself ; indeed the most
unlettered of the sex are generally considered

MIDWIFERY.

121

the most knowing in the business of the nursery.
However, sensible people become the dupes of
ignorance and superstition ; and the nursing of
children, instead of being conducted by reason, is
the result of whim and caprice. Tacitus, the
Roman Historian, complained greatly of the de-
generacy of the Roman ladies in his time with
regard to the care of their offspring ; he says that
'in former times, the greatest women in Rome used
to account it their chief glory to keep the house,
and attend their children ; but that now, the sole
care of the young infant is committed to some poor
Grecian wench, or other menial servant.' We are
afraid, wherever luxury and effeminacy prevail,
there will be too much ground for this complaint.
Was the time that is generally spent by females
in the acquisition of trifling accomplishments,
employed in learning how to bring up their
children, how to di*ess them so as not to hurt,
cramp, or confine their motions, how to feed them
with wholesome food, how to exercise their tender
bodies, so as best to pi'omote their growth and
strength, — were these made the objects of female
instruction, mankind would derive the greatest
advantages from it ; but while the education of
females implies little more than i-elates to dress,
and public show, we have nothing to expect from
them but ignorance, even in the most important
concerns. Did mothers reflect on their oAvn im-
portance, and lay it to heart, they would embrace
every opportunity of informing themselves of the
duties which they owe to their infant offspring ;
it is their province not only to form the body,

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but also to give the mind its early bias ; they
have it veiy much in their power to make men
healthy, or sickly, useful in life, or pests to so-
ciety. But the mother is not the only person
concerned in the management of children ; beside
the duties that may devolve upon the father, the
physicians themselves have not been sufficiently
attentive to the management of children ; it has
generally been considered as the sole province of
old women, while men of the first character in
physic have refused to visit infants even when
sick. It is really astonishing that so little atten-
tion should in general be paid to the preservation
of infants. What labour and expense are daily
bestowed to prop an old tottering carcase for a
few years, while thousands of those who might
be useful in life perish TNathout being regarded !
Mankind are too apt to value things according
to their present, not their future usefulness."

One of the most cruel practices is as soon as
the child is born for the nurse or midwife to
press the breasts of the child to remove the milk ;
as Dr. Buchan says, there certiinly might be a
little moisture there, but never milk, and the
practice should be condemned by all who may
have any influence over mothers or nurses. As
we remarked above, children should be dressed
lightly. It is the custom among some tribes of
the American Indians simply to roll the child up
in a flannel, "vnthout any bandage, or stat/s, or
%uroppers, or anything else that obstructs the full
development of any organ ; and while they thus
follow out the laws of nature only, their children

MIDWIFERY.

123

are seldom or ever troubled with that long cata-
logue of diseases to which their more civilized
and learned neighbours are subject, and with-
out which long list the physicians would be
shorn of more than half of their practice ; for it
is the existence of those diseases, and their mal-
treatment, that perpetuate disease and debility
in the constitutions of the victims in after life.

There are more than sixty forms of disease to
which it is said children are subject during their
young existence ; yet Ave can assure our readers
that, by due observance of the mother, before
birth, in keeping up a healthy action of her own
system, in nineteen cases out of twenty none of
those forms of disease will exist in her offspring.
In those cases that have come under our care,
the children have scarcely wanted more attention
than a young animal. We have observed that
the children of the Indians seldom or ever cry,
or appear to suffer pain, and under those circum-
stances much of the anxiety consequent upon the
rearing of children amongst us, is with them en-
tirely removed.

In regard to the food for children, we have
already said the only thing required at birth, if
the mother be in a healthy state, is the breast ;
and as Boerhaave observes, " every mother who
has been strong enough to carry and nourish her
child during the nine months of pregnancy, is
also strong enough to afford the bi'east for some
time after birth, with very few exceptions."

Again, " the advantages of an early application
of the child to the breast," says Dr, Dewees,

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" are, first, the child retains the early faculty
of sucking with which it is boi-n, for if this be
not attended to for several days, because (as they
say) the mother has no milk, it will loose it, and
much trouble be given to recall it. We haxe
•witnessed this but too frequently. Secondly, it
will by its gentle action upon the nipple gra-
dually stretch it, and accustom it to this exten-
sion before the breasts become swelled with milk,
and tender from distension. Thirdly, by its
mouth stimulating the nipple an earlier secretion
of milk will take place. Fourthly, the milk will
be drawn off as fast as formed, which will pre-
vent the pain which constantly arises from its
accumulation, as well as the swelling which is
ahnost sure to follow its formation ; this swelling
shortens the nipple, and renders the extraction of
the milk more difficult, increases the efforts of the
child, by which the external covering of this
little body becomes irritated, and sore nipples
now ensue, to the great misery of the mother.
Fifthly, the early secreted milk has a purgative
quality attached to it, by which the infant profits
by its assisting to carry oft' the meconium. The
milk fever, which some people think so necessary
for obtaining a supply from the breast, is merely
the result of their own neglect. If the child bo
not applied no fulness of the breasts is per-
ceivable, and a small quantity of watery fluid
only comes out ; at length, if the breast be not
drawn, it swells, the face flushes, the skin be-
comes hot, and all the common symptoms of
milk fever arc induced." " It is not to be

MiDWIFEnY.

125

■wondered at," says Mr. White, in his vahiable
" Treatise on Lying-in Women," " that a secre-
tion that has been so many months in preparing,
and which is intended to flow in such large
quantities for so many months to come, should, if
driven back, in a few days occasion a fever ; es-
pecially when we consider that the milk which
is secreted in the breast for several da3\s after
delivery, is, when in its purest state, thin, stimu-
lating, and purgative, for the wise purpose of
cleansingf the child's stomach and bowels of those
viscid, blackish-green fteces, called meconium ^
and that this milk must be rendered very acrid
by its stagnation in the breasts for several
days together." " I have observed," says another
great authority. Dr. William Hunter, " in women
who do not give suck, and in nurses after they
leave off suckling, that the axillary glands (th3
glands in and near the armpit) become painful,
swell, and sometimes suppurate. Is not this
owing to the acrimony which the milk has ac-
quired by long stagnation in the breast, and
affecting the gland through which it must pass
in absorption? I have observed, too (adds Dr.
Hunter), that there are at the same time, fevers of
the intermitting kind, but very irregular in their
return, which come on with a rigour, and go off
with a sweat ; and are not such fevers raised by
absorption of acrid milk ?

Buffon informs us that in Italy, Holland, Tur-
key, and through the whole Levant, children are
rarely allowed any other food than that of the
breast milk, during the first year, and the Indians

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in Canada suckle for four or five, and sometimes
six or seven years.

Where, from a weakened and debilitated state
of the system, or other causes, the mother is not
able to suckle, we would urgently impress upon
her mind this maxim — never let the child go from
under your own care. In preparing the food, you
should keep in view the properties of the milk, as
near as possible, in which there is a considerable
quantity of saccharine matter, or sugar. We are
aware that several authors speak against sugar
being much used in the food of children, but we
must protest against this opinion ; and our oppo-
sition, in this respect, is founded upon observation .
In the West Indies, Avhere the sugar-cane is grown,
as soon as it approaches maturity, the little negroes
commence sucking the juice, and from that time
they begin to fatten, grow plump and hardy. We
have, therefore, generally directed, in preparing
food for a young child, that it should be sweetened.
At first you may boil a little sago, and take the
water and mix about the same quantity of milk,
adding sufficient sugar to resemble, as near as pos-
sible, the milk of the mother ; of this the child
should be fed little but often. Let Nature be 3-our
guide ; and consider the child at the breast, which
you are aware sucks but a small quantity at a time,
and often. After the space of two or three weeks,
you may give it a little of the sago, well boiled,
but do not cram it with bread or meat before its
stomach is capable of digesting and disposing of it,
or its system requii*es any such food.

In the manufacturing districts of this country,

MIDWIKEUY.

127

man}' of the little children are, at a very early-
age, left to the care of a young, inexperienced
person, some eight or nine years of age, while the
mother is at work in the mill ; and when the
child feels the call of nature, or the want of its
natural nurse, and shows uneasiness, its stomach
is at once engorged with a mass of crude, heavy
food, wholly unadapted to its capabilities. In
consequence of which, the child becomes fretful
and peevish, exhibiting unequivocal symptoms of
pain and distress ; and then a dose of Godfrey^
Cordial, Dcdhfs Carminative, or some other nar-
cotic poison is administered, and chronic disease is
fixed upon the poor object for life. There is per-
haps no country in the world where the evils
arising from bad nursing are more apparent than
in France. The children, instead of being taken
care of and attended to by their only natural
nurses, are taken immediately after birth to some
place in the country by a respectable nurse, and
the mother is left without the benefit of the little
being drawing her breasts, and at the same
time the child is deprived of the only legitimate
or natural food for its stomach. Independent of
the physical evils which result to the child, as
well as to the mother, we consider such a course,
though it may be sanctioned by custom, as most
unnatural, most inhuman, and highly to be de-
precated. The child suffers from neglect, as it is
impossible for the nurse to feel a mother's tender-
ness for her little charge ; and the mother is also
deprived of having nurtured, in constant care
and solicitude for her offspring, all those maternal

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feelings wliicli give zest to society. This practice
cannot be too strongly reprobated. We bave seen
in France children returned from their nurses that
looked more like shrivelled monkeys than human
beings. We saw at Paris, while walking in
the Jardin des Plantes, a little girl on crutches.
Her deformed appearance, as well as her diminu-
tive size — for she was not more than twenty-six
inches high — attracted our attention. She in-
formed us she was nine years of age ; that her
mother was occupied in business as a baker at the
time of her birth, consequently she was put out
to nurse, where she had been shamefully neglected ;
that her mother was so much engaged in business
that she could not attend to her ; and she was
thus, by the cruel neglect both of her mother and
nurse, rendered a miserable cripple for life ; her
legs were more like the letter S than human less.

There are, in the City of Paris, offices, or as
they call them, " Bureaux," similar to our register
offices, where nurses enter their names. Here
the indolent mothers meet with and engage their
nurses, total strangers, to Avhom are committed
the charge of their little ones. Something of
a ridiculous occurrence took place on the railway
whilst we Avere in Paris, in the summer of 1848.
A number of those nurses started in a train,
with their little charges, two, three, or four
weeks old : an accident happened, which threw
the carriages off the line ; and though very little
injury occurred to the passengers, yet the con-
fusion was very great, by each nurse claiming her
right child. One who bad pkkal vp a girl, ex-

MiDWiFERr.

129

claimed, Iters was a hoij ; another found a boy,
and should have had a girl ; and it Avas some
time before they were all right again, if they
ever were. One of the first acts of the Provisional
Government of the new Republic of France, was
to abolish slavery, and a noble act it was ; but
if they had gone still further, and passed an act
making it transportation to the healthy mother
who sent her child away to nurse, we think they
would have emancipated thousands of poor little
sufferers at home from that kind of slavery which,
as in the case of the little girl above described, is
productive of so much wretchedness, misery, and
deformity.

Two or three important points are always to
be considered in the nursing or rearing of
children ; first, they should always be kept warm ;
second, they should have light wholesome food,
and not too much given at a time ; and, third,
that they should be kept clean, and their bodies
washed often ; they should not be too much
wrapped or swathed up, the evils of which we
have endeavoured to point out.

APTHA, OR THRUSH.

Children generally soon after they are born, are
subject to the thrush, or sore mouth, which is a
white coat of canker. It is generally brought

F

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on by some derangement of the stomach, for in
healthy children it never occurs. An eminent
author says, "It is generally thought that this
disease owes its origin to acrid humours ; we
have reason to believe it is more frequently owing
to too hot a regimen, both of the mother and
child. It is a rare thing to find a child that is
not dosed %oith loine, punch, or some other Jiot
and inflammatory/ liquor, almost as soon as it is
horn. It is loell known these ivill occasion in-
fiammatory disorders in an adidt ; is it any
wonder, then, that they shoidd heat and inflame
the tender bodies of infants, and set, as it were,
their xohole constitutions in a hlaze?" In no case
where we have had the direction of the mother
and child has this disease occurred ; that we have
been called to see such, and in a dreadful state,
is certain, and for which we generally prescribe
the following treatment : — Red raspberry-leaves
and agrimony, of each half an ounce, steeped in
a pint of water, well sweetened with honey ; and
if the bowels are not open, add a little senna ;
for a gargle, or wash for the mouth, take one
teaspoonful of Peruvian bark, and half a tea-
spoonful of gum m}Trh, finely pulverised, steep
in two or three ounces of water, and sweeten this
also with honey. Wash the mouth three or four
times a day.

MIDWIFERY.

131

DENTITION, OR TEETHING.

The next most important period of the child's
existence is dentition, or teething ; important, as
so great and powerful an influence is attached to
it both by medical men and almost all old women.
We have given our ideas on this subject from
time to time in our public lectures (the whole of
which are now published, for the benefit of our
friendsj, as well as in our " Guide to Health ; "
and although so much has been said and written
on this subject, yet we can assure our readers that
since the publication of our work we have not
altered or changed our opinion. Dr. Arbuthnot
says " that above one-tenth of inftmts die in teeth-
ing, from symptoms proceeding from the irritation
of the tender nervous part of the jaws, occasioning
inflammations, fevers, convulsions, gangrenes, &c.
These symptoms are in a great measure owing to
the great delicacy, and exquisite sensibility of the
nervous system at this time of life, which is too
often increased by improper management. Hence
it comes to pass that children delicately brought
up always suffer most in teething, and often fall
by convulsive disorders."

The admission of the doctor that " delicate chil-
dren sufer most is all we require to prove our
position. We cannot do better than quote from
our "Guide to Health," making such additional
remarks as we have acquired since that period.
In the forty-first edition, page 187, we have said —

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" On this subject we materially dissent from
almost all tlie doctrines of tlie schools, and having
to encounter the prevailing opinions of the day,
we shall endeavour to convince our readers of the
justice of our position, before proceeding to any
other consideration."

In the first place, I maintain that teething, or
■what is meant by saying that a child is aljout
cutting its teeth, is a natural operation, or the
fulfilment of a law imposed by nature; it there-
fore cannot, with justice, be termed a disease.
The faculty regard it as a period fraught with
danger to the life of the child. Dr. Thomas says,
" Of all the occurrences to which children are
liable, not one is attended with such grievous
and distressing consequences as difficult den-
tition." I, however, dissent from the above
opinion; nay, more, affirm that children are not
sick from cutting teeth ; for Providence having
decreed that the teeth should appear at a certain
age, it is, as I have before stated, one of Nature's
fixed and unalterable laws ; and children brought
up in strict accordance with these laws, are not
visited with any particular sickness during the
process of dentition. Even in this country,
children of a robust and healthy habit get their
teeth Avithout any perceptible pain. Ask an
Indian mother if her child had suffered much
whilst cutting its teeth, and she would smile at
your simplicity. Woukl you know the cause of
your child's illness at this period of existence?
Listen, then, fathers and mothers — you who are
most interested in the health of your oftspring —

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133

vou are yourselves the innocent cause of its ill-
ness ! You must remember that at this stage of
the child's existence — having just been Aveaned,
or taken from the breast of its mother — instead
of giving it such food as in its nature nearest
approaches to the milk of the mothei-, you, for-
getting that its stomach is too weak to digest
strong food, and that, having no teeth, it cannot
masticate it — foro-ettinor that its diet should
never be strong-er than bread and milk — in a
word, regardless of all these things, you fill the
child with potatoes, and bread, and soups — in
fact with a bit of everything that is going — and
some foolish persons add Avine and beer. No
Avonder that the child is ill, that it looks so pale,
and that its groAvth is arrested. Why, then,
should Ave Avonder at its teeth not appearing at
the proper time ? The only Avonder oaght to be
how the child has manaa-ed to live at all Avith
such a quantity of strong food in its stomach,
which it is incapable of digesting. Would you
save your child ? If so, cease to stuff it; cleanse
its boAvels by administering proper medicines;
feed it on bread and milk, and nature Avill soon
complete the cure. Parents should attend to
this advice, as they have the power at all times
of correcting this evil. Hoav many thousands of
children have perished that haA^e thus been
neglected, because the doctors have deceived the
parents, by preventing their becoming acquainted
Avith the cause ! What Avould the admirers of
Dr. Thomas say, if told that there AA^as no period
of a child's life more grievous than Avheu its bones

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Avere growing, or its hair, or its nails ; they
would, doubtless, laugh at him, as all deserve to
be laughed at who propagate such erroneous
opinions.

When in America, I once asked an Indian
mother, of the Chocktaw Tribe, if her children
were sick when cutting their teeth. She looked
at me with all the quiet majesty peculiar to that
race, and asked of me, in I'eply — "Are the calves
sick?^^ Her answer confounded me, and I stood
rebuked in the presence of that unsophisticated
child of nature. Yes, my readers, that poor,
wandering savage knew more of nature and its
operations than the modern professors of philo-
sophy, who appear to have lost sight of Nature's
unalterable and immutable laws, in their flimsy
and fanciful speculations. One of the most
absurd and cruel practices made use of by the
faculty, is, to cut or lance the tender gums of the
infant, in order, as they say, to focilitate the
growth of the teeth, or make an outlet for them,
as though the soft and spongy gums could offer
any resistance to the sharp-pointed ivory that
rises almost imperceptibly through them. But
this is like most of their practices. How far
will they go in order to hoodwink and deceive
the public !

Since writing the above, we have seen many
children who have cut their teeth without pain,
and all our previous statements have l^cen con-
firmed. Mrs. K., of Ilalifax, exhibited a child,
two years old, at a tea party at Bolton, that had
cut its teeth without the slightest sj-niptoms of

MIDWIFERY.

135

indisposition or distress, any more than is produced
by the hair or the finger-nails growing longer.
Therefore, in the many cases that have occurred
since our views were first made public, to prescribe
medicine when we believe there is no disease,
would be folly ; all that is requisite is to watch
over and guard your child's health, and there will
be no need of assisting the teeth through. See
letters and cases at the end of this edition.

CEOUP.

All children, from sudden exposure to colds, &c.,
are more or less subject to this disease, which one
author says only appeared about half a century
ago ; " but we are of opinion that it only appeared
in the nosology of the faculty about that time ;
for, as Abernethy said, " a large number of new
remedies had been invented, but, thank God,
they had invented diseases to suit them." That
children have always been subject to the symp-
toms constituting what is called croup, is certain,
at least in our opinion. It is a disease of the
wind-pipe, or the membrane covering it. From
the cold suddenly operating on this, and other
parts in connection, a secretion takes place, which
coagulates and covers the inner surface, thereby
causing the whistling sound accompanying it.
The oppression and suffering attendant on this

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disease is dreadful ; and certainly any remedy
that can hold out a hope of cure ought to be duly
appreciated, especially when the faculty admit
" that few practitioners witness a cure when this
disease has violently seated itself upon the wind-
pipe and tubes." — See JBiichans Modern Practice
of Physic, page 155. There is no disease so gene-
rally fatal, under the practice of the faculty, as
this, which would also appear from their broad
admissions, and perhaps none where more tor-
turing and tormenting means are applied ; yet
we can say, with truth, that there is not one form
of disease to which infants are subject, that we
can subdue with greater ease. This, so directly
in opposition to the results of the practice of the
faculty, as exemplified in the above quotations,
may appear incredible to some ; but, remember,
we shall give you the remedy ; and since the firsi
publication of our " Guide to Health," we have
received numerous accounts of our prescriptions
for this disease having succeeded, and not one
where it has failed, and we have never yet lost
a patient.

At the commencement of the disease, give a
strong tea of pennyroyal, or balm and sage, cay-
enne, or composition, and shortly after give a
dessertspoonful of the acid tincture of lobelia,
which repeat every half hour until the patient
vomits freely. The first vomiting will, in almost
every case, relievo the patient, but should the
symptoms return, as they sometimes do during
tie night, repeat the dose, and remember to shield
the child- from cold, and kcop up a continued

MIDWIFERY.

137

perspiration, by giving freely of the above drinks.
An injection will also be of great service in warm-
ing the bowels, consisting of composition tea and
a teaspoonfal of the tincture of lobelia. This
treatment has never failed. Amongst many cases
to which we have been called after the faculty
have failed in their endeavours, was one (in the
City of Albany, America) of whom the doctor
had said " it could not live three hours," and was
supposed to be dying. On giving the above
medicines, in the course of ten minutes the child
vomited up a cold jelly-like phlegm, as large as
a moderate-sized egg ; this substance trembled
at the touch, as jellies generally do. Half an
hour had scarcely elapsed from the time of the
child parting with it, before it called for something
to eat, and in a few days had perfectly recovered.

Always bear in mind the necessity of correcting
the digestive organs, and of keeping up the per-
spiration, as above directed ; for if you slacken in
your attentions before the patient is quite free
from the disease, you will be likely to have a re-
lapse, which would probably produce more serious
consequences than the first attack.

ERUPTIOKS ON THE SKIN.

Children are often more or less liable to an
eruption, or breaking out, on various parts of tho

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body, for which we have only to give a timely
caution to our readers to enable them to prevent
the disease, which will be far better than to cure.
The eruptions of children are chiefly owing to
improper food and neglect of cleanliness. If a
child be stuffed at all hours with food that its
stomach is not able to digest, such food, not being
properly assimilated, instead of nourishing the
body, fills it with gross humours. These must
either break out in form of eruptions upon the
skin, or remain in the body, and occasion fevers
and other internal disorders. That neglect of
cleanliness is a very general cause of eruptive
disorders must be obvious to every one. The
children of the poor, and of all Avho despise clean-
liness, are almost constantly found to swarm with
vermin, and are generally covered with the scab,
itch, and other eruptions. One kind of eruption
known as the red gum, being a collection of
small red pustules on the hands, arms, and some-
times extending over the whole body, has been
attributed by some authors, to the prevalence of
an acid, but is nothing more than an effort ot
nature to throw oft' some offending matter. The
surface of the skin of infants, at birth, is fre-
quently covered with a thick, tenacious, curdy
substance, which should be carefully removed by
soap and warm water. While in Paris in 1848,
being in an omnibus, a lady accompanied with
her servant bearing a child about three years old,
from its eruptive appearance, attracted our atten-
tion. We were informed, by the mother, it had
not been properly washed at its birth, and, in

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139

consequence, had been covered with a kind of
scorbutic eruption ever since. This child, then,
through the ignorance and neglect of its nurse,
will most likely be ruined for life, unless it falls
into the hands of some botanic practitioner, for
mineral poisons will never cure it.

SCALD HEAD.

This unsightly and obstinate disease consists of
a peculiar and acrimonious eruption of part of
the scalp, which speedily extends over the whole
surface of the head, and is attended "s^-ith con-
siderable irritation. It arises, for the most part,
from a want of due cleanliness, from improper
nursing, and an indulgence in crude, unwhole-
some, and indigestible aliment. The treatment
consists chiefly in taking particular care that the
general system shall not suffer from the effects of
over-feeding, or allowing the child to take just a
little drop of beer or spirits. The bowels must be
regulated by mild aperients, or an injection. As
an external application, let the head be well
washed with a lotion made in the following
manner : — Take lobelia herb, half an ounce — pure
water, one pint. Shake up the mixture, and
apply as above. For an ointment, take fresh
butter, two ounces ; one teaspoonful of pulverised
seeds of lobelia, and half an ounce of valerian

140 TREATISE ON

powder. Simmer them over a slow fire, stir up
the whole until intimately mixed, let a little be
spread thin upon linen, and cover over the sores.
Renew the dressing night and morning.

RINGWORM.

This is another form of cutaneous disease, which
may affect any part of the body, and is easily
known by the circular form which the pustules
assume. It is most frequently found on the scalp,
shoulders, or arms. It is stated by some authors
to be contagious, but Dr. Bateman is of a con-
trary opinion, and considers that the prevalence
of the disease amongst childi'en in schools or
families depends on the same common exciting
cause alone. All that will be necessary to eradi-
cate this form of eruption, is a strict attention to
the foregoing remarks respecting diet; and, as an
external application, saturate a piece of linen
in common tincture of myrrh, sprinkle a little
bayberry powder on the top, and place it on the
part affected. Let it be renewed once every
twentv-four hours.

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141

HICCUPS.

Infants are frequently subject to this distressing
affection, which arises from acidity in the stomach.
One of the first and principal causes producing
this complaint, is stale food frequently warmed
over aeain. When it occurs in a violent manner,
give from five to ten drops of the acid tincture of
lobelia in a little warm water, sweetened, repeating
the dose every half hour, if required.

SORE EYES,

Or purulent inflammation of the eyes, as termed
by the faculty, is a disease to which many infants
are subject. Various causes have been assigned
as giving rise to this affliction — such as the mother
being affected with fluor albus, or whites, gonor-
rhoea, or clap, at the time of birth — but in our
opinion the great prevailing cause is too early
exposure to cold and light. Fashion or custom
renders it a matter of deep importance that
officious friends should make their formal calls a
few days after delivery, and on these occasions
the dear haby is brought out of its warm cot to
endure the scrutinising gazo in the full light of

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day, of the anxious visitors, by which means the
eyes become weak, and, finally, inflammation sets
in. If mothers and nurses would learn from
Nature how to treat their children, very many of
the ills of life would then be happily avoided.
Mark how she has provided for the inferior
animals, many of which have a membrane or
curtain spread before their eyes for several days
after birth, which gradually disappears; thus the
dog and cat for the purpose of avoiding the light,
seek dark and obscure places, and their progeny
never approach the light until the organs of -snsion
are strong enough to bear it; children, therefore,
should not be exposed to much light at first; and
so particular are we on this point, that we
always direct the nurse not to let a candle or any
other light to meet its eyes, whilst dressing, for
several days after birth. Where the disorder
exists through any of the above causes, you may
make a lotion of raspberry-leaves and bayborry-
root-bark, of each half an ounce, adding to it (if
they can be obtained) a few of the buds of the
balm-of-gilead-tree; steep well in a pint of boil-
ing water. When cool, strain it, and wash the
eyes, letting a small quantity run inte them, three
or four times a day ; at the same time pay
strict attention to the state of the bowels, that
they are acted upon in a proper manner. If there
is general derangement, give an emetic of the
acid tincture of lobelia, from a teaspoonful to a
dessertspoonful at a dose, and also an injection of
raspberry-leaves and composition powder. By
persevering in the above course, taking care not

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143

to expose the child to cold, &c., you may reason-
ably calculate upou effecting a speedy cure ; but
there are some who, finding the medicines do not
immediately work miracles, abandon them in
favour of some cure-all, some efficacious eye-
water, recommended by a kind neighbour as
never failing.

CONVULSIONS.

When children first make their appearance into
this world, an entire and sudden change takes
place in their constitution and circulation ; for
before birth all the breathing and circulation to
the foetus is conveyed and carried on through the
medium of the mother, the child being only a
passive recipient; but at birth this connection is
severed, the oval openings in the auricles of the
heart, through which the blood had formerly
passed, is for ever closed, the child's lungs are ex-
panded, and, independent of everything else, it
breathes for itself ; the heart beats, and the
stomach, liver, arteries, and veins, all act for
themselves, and this complicated machine is now
left to establish and carry on its own action ; and
when we take into consideration the great variety
of parts that depend upon and must assist one
another at the same time, like the machinery of
a watch, which must be in perfect harmony in
order to give true time, is it, then, to be

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wondered at that this little tender machine,
"which the slightest thing will derange, is so often
out of tune? In fact, we have sometimes won-
dered that it should ever arrive at perfection.
Suppose any of our readers possessed a valuable
watch, which perhaps had been presented by
some dear friend, would she not take the greatest
care of it, placing it out of the reach of harm ?
Would she at any time either heat it or other\vise
misuse it? No. And is not the little machine
we have been describing of infinitely greater
value? From the many causes producing de-
rangement of the systems of infants, which we
have already enumerated, in this affection it
will be necessary to use such medicines as ■will
most speedily cleanse the stomach and bowels of
the child, and remove all general obstructions,
unless arising from malformation or other causes
which cannot be removed. Dr. Hunter tells us
that he attended at the birth of a fine full-grown
child, which soon after fell into convulsions, and
died. On a post-mortem examination he found
that the pulmonic artery had no tube, or was not
hollow, but solid, hence the blood could not pass
from the lungs to the heart after it was oxydized,
in order to support the animal economy. Wc
were called to see a child in convulsions, about
five months old. "Wc made use of all the means
in our power to romovc them, but to no purpose
— the child died. AVe obtained permission to
make a post-mortem examination, when we
found a needle pierced quite through the stomach,
near the pylorus, or lower opening. Mrs. B., the

MIDWIFERY.

145

mother, informed us that she had lost a needle,
four or five days befere, upon the carpet.

In the treatment of this disease our endeavours
must be exerted to remove the cause. For this
purpose give of the acid tincture of lobelia, a des-
sertspoonful at a dose ; or if the child is very
young, give a teaspoonful, and repeat the dose
until vomiting supervenes, when the patient must
drink freely pennyroyal or red raspberry-leaf-tea.
Administer an injection as before directed, This
treatment seldom fails to cure.

WATER IN THE HEAD.

Although this form of disease is by no means
so frequently met with as the faculty would have
us believe, yet that it does sometimes exist, is
certain ; and as it in most cases is confined to
children, we shall notice it here. An ancient
author has enumerated the following causes,
which we think so near the mark, that we give
them entire. He says : — " Dropsy of the brain
may proceed from injuries done to the brain itself
by foils, blows, or the like ; it may likewise pro-
ceed from an original laxity, or weakness of the
brain, from scirrhous tumours, or excoriation on
the skull ; a thin watery-state of the blood ; a
diminished secretion of the urine ; a sudden check
to perspiration ■ and, \ast\y, from tedious and

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lingering diseases, which waste and consume the
patient." The same author says — " No medicine
has hitherto been found sufficient to carry of a
dro2)sy of the brainy If, then, we look over the
causes, we shall at once see our way, and as far
as medicine can do good, to administer it mth
perseverance. If injuries of the brain by blows
may cause it, we hope it will be a caution to
mothers never to strike their child upon the
head ; if it proceed from debility or relaxed
state of the system, that should at once be re-
moved by cleansing the stomach and bowels "with
an emetic, repeating it every day, or every other
day, as may be found requisite. As a medicine,
make the following : — Take half an ounce each
of poplar-bark, clivers, horehound, and ground
ivy. Steep in a pint of water, strain, add four
ounces of sugar and eight bitter almonds ; of this
decoction give from a teaspoonful to a table-
spoonful according to the case.

DIARRHCEA

Is a disease frequently met with in infantile life,
and arises from a vitiated state of the secretions,
from overloading the stomach, or being crannncd
with hard, indigestible food. It may also be
produced by being taken out of a warm bed,
whilst in a state of perspiration, into a cold room,

MIDWIFERY.

147

merely to satisfy the curiosity of some idle visitor^
and show how like its eyes are to its papa's.
From the above causes the bowels are thrown
into a deranged state, and the evacuations are
ofttimes accompanied with griping pain, the
stools being of a green colour, or slimy, and
tinged Avith blood. On the appearance of loose-
ness, make half a pint of strong raspberry-leaf-
tea, sweeten it with lump sugar, grate half a tea-
spoonful of nutmeg into it, and give freely ; this,
by correcting the stomach, will generally relieve,
but should that not be the case, give an injection
made with half a teaspoonful of composition
powder, a quarter of a teaspoonful of lobelia, to
half a pint of warm water. Give also an emetic
— for a young child, a teaspoonful of the acid
tincture of lobelia will be sufficient for this pur-
pose— and be sure to get the patient into a per-
spiration, as, by accomplishing that point, more
disease will be driven out through the pores of the
skin, in one hour, with less injury to the system,
than can be purged out in two days ; as in all
cases where purges are administered, weakness, or
prostration follows, the bowels are rendered torpid,
and a prolapsed state of the lower intestine is fre-
quently superinduced.

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theatise on

REMITTENT FEVER OF INFANTS.

This is a form of disease to which children from
the age of six months to four or five years are
liable, and principally arises from irritation pro-
duced by impi-oper management, by unwholesome
food, the being pent up in an impure atmosphere,
or by exposure to cold, and checked perspiration.
It is insidious and slow in its advance, ihe first
symptom being irregularity in the bowels. After
a time the child appears weary, dull, and stupid,
Avhich, gradually going off, in the course of
a few hours it becomes again lively and playful.
Should these appearances have escaped obser-
vation, in the course of two or three days the
above symptoms are succeeded by heat, thirst,
sickness, and great pain above the eye-brows,
which terminate with a profuse sweat, to the great
relief of the sufferer. After this remission tlie
fever returns, which is known by the aggravation
of all the foregoing symptoms. The treatment
for this description of fever must be precisely the
same as in any other fever ; viz., the exhibition of
an emetic, repeated if necessary, together with
injections and the vapour-bath. Co-operate with
nature as much as possible ; and when on the
decline of a paroxysm the perspiration is mani-
fested, assist in promoting it as much as possible.

MIDWIFERY.

149

FALLING OP THE FUNDAMENT.

This is a falling down of the lower bowel, and
is occasioned by severe looseness, either arising
from a vitiated state of the intestines, or the
use of strong purging medicines. In order to
return it, place the child across your knee, put a
little lard upon the finger, and gently press upon
the upper part of the gut, which will generally
have the desired effect. Should it be of frequent
occurrence, make a decoction of bayberry, and
keep a pledget of linen, dipped into it, continually
applied to the seat.

WEANING,

Is that period when the child should be with-
drawn from the breast of the mother, which
should not be earlier than nine or ten months; in
fact, Nature has distinctly marked the period
when this should be brought about; viz., when
the teeth are cut, thereby showing that the child
stands in need of more substantial food. Should
the child be sickly, delicate, and suffering at the
time of teething, weaning should be delayed
When weaning is determined on, it should bo
brought about gradually; this will prevent much

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uneasiness to both mother and child, which should
be accustomed to take a sufficient quantity of
nourishment, independent of the breast, for several
days previous.

WEANINa BRASH,

This disease arises in children from beingr taken
from the breast too early, or brought up by hand,
the food being of an improper nature. It begins
with severe purgings of a green colour, and sick-
ness ; the belly becomes hard and swollen ; the
urine passes in small quantities, but from its acrid
nature excoriates the neighbouring parts. The
child wastes away, and convulsions set in, which
speedily destroy the sufferer. Our treatment
must consist in a return to the natural food — the
breast; but when this is impracticable, let the
child have some good milk, diluted with water
in which rice has been boiled, or take one part of
sweet cream, and two parts of warm water,
moderately sweetened with lump sugar ; change
this occasionally with some weak nmtton or
chicken broth. Let the child breathe a pure air
and enjoy exercise, keep it clean by frequent
washing in tepid water, employ friction with the
hand over the body, and do not neglect to attend
to the state of the child's bowels. For the treat-
ment of this complaint see article on " Diarrhoea.''

MIDWIFERY.

151

RICKETS.

Children of a lax and delicate constitution are
most subject to this disease, which generally
makes its appearance at the age of six months to
two or three years. It arises principally from
bad nursing, over-feeding, or its opposite, want of
diet, cleanliness, air, and exercise. It is likewise
produced by depletive measures used in the
treatment of measles, scarlet fever, whooping
cough, &c.; by disease in the parents, scrofula,
venereal, and consumption. The characteristics
of this disease are, unnatural enlargement of the
head, belly, and joints whilst the other parts of
the body are much emaciated. The spine, on
being examined, is found to be slightly incurvated.
This disease is slow in developing itself, and the
results very doubtful, as, when fairly established, a
cure is seldom if ever performed.

WORMS,

Which in the catalogue of the faculty are put
down as a disease, and who in this, as in many
other cases, state the effect, rather than the cause,
are an affection very frequently met with in chil-
dren. A medical writer observes there must bo

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.something in the nursing, for children of the sams
family, nursed by different women, will some
have worms, and some not ; and states the cause,
like Dr. Thomas, to be a deranged system. There
are three kinds of Avorms said to infest the
human body ; namely, the ASCARIDES, or small
white worm ; the teejss, or round worm ; and the
T^NIA, or tape worm. On this subject also we
dissent from the opinions and practices of the
schools, for we do not believe that worms are the
primary cause of disease, nor do we know a sub-
ject on which so much ignorance has been mani-
fested by the faculty as this. Hundreds of me-
dicines have been invented, and are daily ad-
ministered, under the name of vermifuges, or
worm medicines, to the use of which may be
traced the death of thousands, who have perished
whilst labouring under the worm delusion. That
Avorms exist in the human system we admit, par-
ticularly in children ; but we always like to probe
every difficuly to the bottom ; and as there must
be a cause for every effect, and as the cause of
worms cannot be better explained than in the
language of Dr. Thomas, we shall give his
opinion in his own words. He says, " that un-
wholesome food and a bad digestion seem to bo
the principal cause of worms. They appear
most frequently in those of a relaxed habit, and
whose bowels contain a prctornaiural quantity of
MUCUS, or slimy matter ; hence it is a disease
most common to children."

Now, readers, you are in possession of the
whole secret. Worms arc caused by indigestion

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153

and unwholesome food; then the best Avay to
get rid of them will be to cleanse the system
and restore a healthy digestion. For years we
have laboured from the platform to impress this
fact on the public mind. We have again and
again stated, that the only rational way of re-
moving worms from the human sj^stem, is by
producing a healthy digestion, or in other words,
destroying the cause, that the effect may cease
altogether.

The symptoms generally pointed out as indi-
cative of worms, are, picking of the nose, grinding
the teeth during sleep, foul breath, griping pains
in the bowels, &c. ; all of which accompany a
deranged state of the digestive organs, and these
evils are generally increased by the administration
of what are called WORM medicines. We are of
opinion, that when such medicines are given to
children in perfect health, a general derangement
of the system must soon follow. To improve
digestion, and destroy the cause, make a medicine
in the following manner : —

Take a piece of gum-myrrh, about the size of
a nutmeg, and let it dissolve in half a pint of hot
water, to which a quarter of a teaspoonful of
cayenne may bo added ; steep half a pound of
good raisins in this for two or three days, then
let the child take three or four of the raisins
every morning, fasting. Let this medicine be
followed up with another made of wormwood,
bogbean, raspberry-leaves, oak-bark, and ginger-
root — half an ounce of each article ; steep tho
whole in one pint of water, boil it a few minutes,

G

154

TllEATISK OK

then stniin it, and add one ounce of the best
Spanish juice ; give from a teaspoonful to half
a wineglassful of this three or four times a day.
If the bowels are not relaxed add half an ounce
of senna, or rhubarb (which, in some cases, is
preferable to the former) to the above mixture.
Let the food of the patient be light and of easy
digestion, and the worms will not only disappear,
but the health of the suffei-er will be speedily
restored.

MEASLES.

This disease is an infectious, inflammatory fever,
attended by cough and sneezing, a discharge of thin
humours from the eyes and nose, with a determi-
nation of acrid matter to the surface of the body,
covering it with red spots, which finally disappear
in a fine, mealy dust on the surface of the skin.
Like the smallpox, the measles are dreaded, in
consequence of the derangement left in the system,
such as scrofula, dropsy, &c. ; but we believe these
maladies are produced, or considerably augmented,
by the application of improper remedies, such as
cold, deadly, poisonous drugs ; these evils are
heightened when professedly learned doctors take
the symptoms of one disease for that of another.
The admission of Dr. Thomas, who says that
scarlatina sometimes resembles the measles so
exactly as not to be easily distinguishable,"

MIDWIFEKY.

155

speaks volumes against the practice pursued by
the faculty. We have had much experience in
these matters, and can confidently assert that we
never lost a patient in the measles. Our invari-
able practice is to give cooling medicines, or such
as have a tendency to keep the surface cool, which
can never be accomplished unless pure stimulants
only are used ; for this disease, being a high state
of canker, it follows that the vessels are coated,
and the circulation of necessity obstructed ; a
fact which should always be borne in mind.
Such medicines as are good for canker should at
once be administered, and the perspiration kept
to the surface ; if these things are promptly
attended to, the violence of the disorder will be
generally overcome. For children, prepare a
medicine in the foUoAvina; manner : —

Take of pennyroyal, red - raspberry - leaves,
ground ivy, clivers, of each one ounce ; ginger-
root, half an ounce, and, should the bowels require
it, a quarter of an ounce of senna; steep the whole
in one quart of water, strain, and sweeten with
sugar ; give, for a dose, from a tablespoonful to
half a wineglassful, as the case may require.

SCARLET FEVER.

We have oftentimes mourned over the ruin that
this terrible destroyer has created in circles where

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youtli aud loveliness are generally found. Like
Egypt's destroying angel, it tas not only smitten
the first-born, but at times its blighting hand
has fallen on every youthful member of a family.
How many parents have had their earthly hope
snatched from their embraces when the skill
of the faculty had been exerted in vain to save
them ! In the year 1840, about six hundred
of these little helpless innocents perished of
this disease in the town of Hull alone. Some
families were at that time bereft of all their
offspring. One lost seven, another five, and many
two or three ; so that to point out a safe and
simple remedy — one that can be placed within
the reach of every mother — wiU doubtless be
deemed a great and valuable boon. Mothers
whose hearts are centred in their offspring, will,
we are sure, be grateful ; nor A^all the fathers be
indifferent, for what language can exjoress a
father's love for his child ?

When the disease was raging so violently in
Hull, we lost only one patient ; aud that one had
so far recovered as to be able to go about, but by
incautiously sitting on the door-step, took cold,
which terminated fatally. This disease is divided,
by the classical, into three kinds. When free
from ulceration of the throat, it is called scar-
latina simplex; Avhen attended with ulcers, it is
called scarlatina anginosa ; and when it assumes a
malignant, putrid form, is called maligna. Let
not the reader suppose that we have given the
above names in the hope of adding to his wisdom
—no such thing ; for, as we have shown you in

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157

the article on measles, the very men Avho arrange
and class diseases, are at times so ignorant as
to mistake one disease for another. Our only
reason for quoting the above names, is that we
may convince our readers of the folly of all such
arrangements ; for all the symptoms or forms of
this disease are, like the pangs of the toothache,
differing only in degree or quality. The paroxysms
of the toothache at times all but disappear, and
after a time return with redoubled fury. Yet
we should certainly doubt the wisdom of the
doctor, or dentist, who Avould venture to tell
us that they could neither prescribe for, nor
extract the tooth Avithout first knowing; the exact
amount of pain the patient had been enduring.
Scarlatina, like the measles, is a high state of
putridity, and is most malignant in what are
called open, or unhealthy seasons, prevaiHng most
in autumn, and the moist or warm part of winter.
Like the measles, it attacks indiscriminately all
ages ; but children and young persons are more
liable to take it than others. Although the faculty
regard this disease with so much dread, yet by
using proper remedies, its violence can be abated
without much difficulty, even in the worst of its
stages. In the year 1828, we were called in haste
to see a child said to be dying, and, on arrival
found that the rash or redness that generally
attends this disease, had struck in, by the child's
having been incautiously exposed to the cold,
which threw the little sufferer into convulsions.
Her jaws were firmly fixed, and the entire sur-
face of her body was of a purple hue, with every

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appearance of speedy dissolution, ^V^e admi-
nistered lobelia tincture, which is made in the
following manner : — Take of the pulverised herb
a teaspoonful, and half a teaspoonful of valerian
root. Mix both in two ounces of good vinegar.
To a child four years of age, a dessertspoonful
may be given ; the dose to be reduced Avhen given
to a younger child. In this case we placed the
child on its back, and poured the tincture into
its mouth, in thirty minutes from which time it
was perfectly sensible, and the next day so far
recovered as to be able to sit up and eat, though
many had died that year under similar circum-
stances.

When prescribing for young children in this
disease, we use freely red-raspberry-leaves and
pennyroyal. Lobelia we have always found an
excellent specific ; and when the above stated
quantity has been given as a dose, it should bo
repeated until the patient vomits freely. In the
meantime the child must be kept warm, and a hot
brick applied to its feet, wrapped in a cloth wet
with vinegar. After the emetic has taken effect,
sponge the entire surface of the body with viueg;\r ;
and, when the fever has abated, give freely of the
bitter compounds, as also of the diuretics to cleanse
the system, and expel from the body such gross
humours as might terminate in dropsy or con-
sumption, if not attended to.

MIDWIFERY.

159

WHOOPING COUGH.

A CONVULSIVE cough, interrupted by loud inspira-
tions or a catcliing of the breath. This disease,
Hke every other, originates in a derangement of
the system, or some particular organ, but, like the
smallpox and measles, it never troubles us a second
time. This fact cannot be accounted for, but it is,
nevertheless, true. It is accompanied by a morbid
irritation of the stomach, together vpith a thick
phlegm, which lodges in the tubes and air-vessels
connected mth the stomach and lungs, from
whence originates the difficult respiration, when
nature makes an exertion to remove it by coughing.

Its first appearance is marked by an oppressed
and difficult breathing, accompanied with thirst.
These symptoms are followed by hoarseness, cough,
and difficult expectoration, which generally con-
tinue for twelve or fourteen days, when the disease
puts on its peculiar form of whistling or whooping,
with every respiration. Though not a fatal, it may
justly be called a very distressing disease, and is
often attended with bad consequences if not pro-
perly attended to. With young children it some-
times has a fatal termination ; and should the
patient take cold when its symptoms have recently
disappeared, it returns with all its former violence.
Of the many diseases we have grappled with, there
are none less to be feared than this, for remedies
can be administered that will readily abate its
worst symptoms. The faculty would have you

160

TREATISE ON

believe that it must ran on for six weeks until it
reaches the crisis ; but we have often cured the
patient effectually in half of that time. We cannot
omit to state here that the doctors, in prescribing
for this disease, frequently give such medicines as
leave the patient labouring either under asthma,
pulmonary consumption, or an impaired and
deranged digestion, any of which are more difficult
to remove, and more to be feared, than the
original disease. The remedies that may be
used are the following : — Take vervain, wakerobin,
or wild turnip, red-raspberry-leaves, poplar-bark
and valerian-root, half an ounce of each. Steep
them in a pint of hot water, strain, and add one
tablespoonful of honey, and two tablespoonsfnl of
the acid tincture of lobelia. For a dose, give a
tablespoonful each day, and from a tea to a table-
spoonful every two hours while the symptoms are
violent. Give enough of lobelia to produce vomit-
ing, and follow it up .with astringent medicines.
Also give cayenne at intervals as follows : — For
young children, steep half a teaspoonful of cayenne,
and half an ounce of cloves, in four ounces of boil-
ing water, to which add half an ounce of the best
Spanish juice, and one ounce of treacle. Give a
teaspoonful of this eveiy three hours, or when the
fit comes on, taking care that the patient does not
take cold. Use sufficient medicine to open the
bowels, but not to purge violently ; at the same
time keep the patient in a perspiration ; this, if
rightly applied, will effect a cure in a short time ;
but the patient must not be exposed to the changes
of the weather whilst taking the medicine.

Midwifery.

161

Some years ago a paragraph appeared in the
London Journal of Health, stating " that Lobeha
Inflata was a safe and certain cure for the whoop-
in o; couo-h," and that it would cure it in a few
days ; yet the disease is, at this present time, as
formidable as ever. Do the doctors attend to the
advice above given ? Not they. If aa'o look at
the mode of treatment pursued at this very time,
we shall find it entirely at variance with the
animal economy and the principle of life ; and let
fathers and mothers think of the fearful destruction
of human life which results therefrom.

SMALLPOX.

This disease is one of the most desolating scourges
that has ever visited the family of man. For ages
its ravages were unchecked, since medicine failed
to counteract its influence, and the skill of man-
kind was exerted against it in vain. It has been
said to exist in China and Hindostan from the
remotest antiquity, Avhence it made its way into
Africa. Some time about the eighth century, it
presented itself in Europe ; in the tenth it reached
England, where its ravages produced the most
terrible effects ; and, lastly, it was carried by the
Spaniards to Hispaniola, in the sixteenth century.
It soon made its appearance in Mexico, and
speedily diffused itself over that vast hemisphere.

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TREATISE ON

The smallpox is classed under two heads, viz.,
the distinct and the confluent. In the former
the eruptions are separate, or apart from each
other ; in the latter they amalgamate, or mingle
together ; the confluent is therefore considered
the most dangerous, as it generally proves most
severe. The symptoms usually preceding this
disease, ai"e, redness of the eyes, soreness in the
throat, pains in the head, back, and loins, alter-
nate chills and burnings, weariness, and faintings,
with excessive thirst, nausea, inclination to vomit,
and quick pulse. Upon its first ajDpearance we
would recommend a mild treatment, such as not
to confine the patient in too warm a room ; let the
temperature range at about sixty degrees ; admi-
nister mild stimulants, such as pennp'oyal, and
ginger-root, made into tea. When the pustules
have filled, and the disorder reached its height,
then administer an emetic of lobelia, with cay-
enne-pepper, accompanied with a strong decoction
made of tonic and astringent herbs, and cayenne,
or ginger-root. During the first days of its ap-
pearance, vervain made into tea may be used
freely.

Some time in the spring of 1840, when residing
in the town of Hull, we Avere called to attend a
case, the particulars of which may interest our
readers. The patient, a married woman, was
seized with the symptoms as before described ;
for several days she was very ill, nor could we tell
what form of disease she was labouring under,
more than a fever. We administered stimulants
and astringents, but not succeeding according to

MIDWIFERY.

163

oui- -wish, we took a large handful of yervain, and
another of pennyroyal, and made therewith a
quart of strong tea, of which she took half a
wineglassful every half hour. A hot brick was
applied to her feet, wrapped in a cloth wet with
vinegar ; in three hours perspiration began to
appear, and with it the smallpox. Previous to
which it was the general opinion that she could
not survive twelve hours, but in one week from
that time she was convalescent. Before leaving
the toAvn of Hull, we published a work on the
Natural Pathology of Disease, in which was given
a certificate of the above fact, signed by her hus-
band, and bearing date, June 3, 1840.

It is proper here to state, that cleanliness in all
things is indispensable in this, and in fact in every
other form of disease.

INOCULATION.

Experience has fuUy proved that the violence of
the symptoms is lessened in a great degree, by
applying the variolous matter to a scratch or
wound ; why this occurs, or why the human sys-
tem is thus fortified against future attacks, has
never yet been fully explained. Much opposition
was raised against inoculation upon its first
introduction, but it having been clearly shown
that nineteen died out of every hundred that

l64

TREATISE ON

took tlio disease in the natural way, while only
one died in every six hundred that took it artifi-
cially, or by inoculation, its advantages soon
enabled us to triumph over opposition. However,
with most of the faculty, we Avould recommend
the cow or kine pox.

COW OR KINE POX.

The discovery of this disease, like many others,
was accidental, and may be justly termed one of
the greatest blessings. It was found to exist on
the udder of the cow, in the form of pustules, or
little sores, from which it communicated itself to
the hands of a milkmaid, producing on them a
similar effect, but in a milder form. Its appear-
ance on the skin, the mark left, and all the con-
necting circumstances, came under the observation
of Dr. Jenner, who, after many experiments,
founded on the above accident, succeeded in
bringing it fairly before the public. He, like all
who have dared to act independently of the
opinions of others, met with the most formidable
opposition from the faculty ; but his perseverance
enabled him to overcome the reasonings of his
powerful opponents, who were compelled not only
to adopt his theory, but finally to assist him in
carrying it out.

That great destroyer, the smallpox, had no

MIDWIFERY.

165

longer a course to run, as had generally been
believed, for whenever the new discovery was
applied, it finally stayed the disease. The whole
family of man has much reason to be grateful for
such a valuable discovery ; but the greatest bene-
fits are generally followed by an amount of evil,
for it has often happened that the virus which
has been used has been taken from the arm of
some subject whose system has been previously
tainted, or poisoned vnth. scrofula, scurvy, erysi-
pelas, or, what is equally bad, deleterious drugs ;
so that that which was intended to be a blessing,
has, in many instances, proved a bane ; and many
that have come under our own observation, have
thus been hurried to untimely graves, or had
their constitutions impaired for the rest of their
days. I would therefore caution the public
against the use of the vaccine virus, unless they
can be certain from what source it comes. To
avoid all danger, I would recommend it to be
taken from the udder of the cow, where it ap-
pears on the teats, in the form of vesicles, or
tumours, of a bluish colour, approaching to livid ;
these vesicles are elevated at the margin, and
depressed in the centre ; they are surrounded by
inflammation, and contain a limpid or watery
fluid, which is not to be obtained at all times,
but generally to be found when quantities of
cattle are kept together. All the pustules or sores
are not to be relied on for communicating the
disease.

The first thing to be done is to obtain some of
this fluid from the vesicles of the udder, then

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TREATISE ON

puncture the skin slightly on the arm with a
crowquill, sharpened fine like the nib of a pen
or toothpick ; dip it in the fluid, and insert it
under the skin where you have previously made
the puncture. The fluid to ])e good, should be
jierfectly transpai-ent, and if from the arm of
another, it should not be taken after the eighth
day. To preserve the matter, let it dry gradually,
then put it into a dry bottle, well corked at the
mouth. During the first eight days the patient
should be shielded from cold. A medicine made
in the following manner will be good: — take of
vervain, agrimony, and ground ivy, one handful
each ; steep them in a quart of water ; add a
little rhubarb-root, or senna, if the bowels require
it ; half a wiueglassful of this may be given as a
dose ; for an adult, a little ginger-root may be
added.

CHICKENPOX.

A DISEASE to which children are subject, though
never considered dangerous. It would scarcely
be necessary to mention it at all, were it not
sometimes taken for the smallpox, from which
the most disastrous consequences have at times
resulted. A close observer can never be deceived
in the appearance of the two, since one is accom-
panied by fever, and the other is not ; yet it is
notorious that the learned and scientific, as they

MIDWIFERY.

167

are called, have not only endangered lauman life,
by mistaking this and other diseases, but many
of them have perpetuated their errors by at-
tempting to defend their ignorance. However,
wc deem it our duty to expose their errors on
the one hand, and reform their abuses on the
other. Hear what Dr. Thomas says respecting
varicella : —

" We have great reason to suppose that the
chickenjDox has not only been taken for the small-
pox, but that its matter has been used for that of
smallpox, in inoculation, to which maybe ascribed
many of the supposed cases of the smallpox having
appeared a second time in the same person."

The treatment of this disease is to keep the
patient warm for a few days, taking care at the
same time to keep the bowels gently open.

RUPTURE. .

Infants are sometimes liable to rupture at the
navel and groin, which may arise from debility
and laxity of the fibre, but most commonly is pro-
duced by the negligence of the nurse, Avlao, leav-
ing it to cry and scream for hours together, it is
thereby ruptured.

When rupture occurs at the navel, it may be
reduced in the following manner : take a piece of
wetted millboard, wrap it in linen, and apply to

168

TREATISE OK MIDWIFERY,

the navel, keeping it in its place by means of two
or three strips of sticking-plaster, then pass a thin
roller round the body ; keep this applied for a
month or two, and it will generally be all that
is required.

In rupture of the groin, immediate steps must
be taken to return the gut, and retain it in its
position by means of a compress or cushion, made
wet in a strong decoction of oak-bark, and kept
to the part by proper bandages. Great care must
be taken on the child's going to stool that it be
not allowed to sit any length of time, or strain
itself. Let no opening medicine be administered,
under any circumstances. Should costiveness
prevail, give an injection in the usual manner
and repeat every three or four hours, until an
evacuation is obtained. The use of a truss will be
found necessary in many cases, but should not be
applied to infants under three years of age.

We have now given the diseases both of women
and children, in our usual plain and laconic style ;
and hope to give our readers, iii the third portion
of the book, a clear and comprehensive knowledge
of the nature and action of the remedies pre-
scribed, which we trust will make the work com-
plete in itself.

PART III,

DESCRIPTION or THE HERBS

PRESCRIBEP IN THIS TREATISE,

PURE STIMULANTS,

LOBELIA INFLATA.

As this herb is very little known in this country,
and as the faculty use it with extreme caution
— for by them it is considered to be a strong
poison — we shall be particular in its description,
both as regards its appearance and its medicinal
properties.

The North American Indians have long been
acquainted with its properties ; but the public,
and we may say the faculty, are indebted for its
first introduction to general use to the great Ame-
rican naturalist, Samuel Thomson, whose theory
of disease and its cure, under the name of the
" Thomsonian System,'''' has gained the approving
confidence of vast numbers in the United States
of America. Lobelia is a biennial herb, or of two
years' growth. In height it grows from twelve

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TREATISE ON

to eighteen inches. It has a fibrous root, with
a very hairy, solitary, erect, and angular stem ;
it bears a small, blue, pointed blossom. This plant
possesses one property unlike every other, as far
as we are acquainted, for the same quantity of
the herb produces the same effect, irrespective of
its age, or the period of its growth ; the young
plant, powdered and taken, will have the same
effect as the lea^'es at maturity.

We obtain large quantities of the seed and herb
from America, and have used it for many years ;
giving it with success in almost every form of
disease, from the tender infant to the aged bend-
ing under the weight of years, and can, with
confidence, pronounce it to be one of the most
230werful stimulants ever introduced into the
human system. It acts specifically on the liver,
stomach, and lungs, including the intestines ; for
female complaints it stands without an equal. In
three cases of labour which were deemed hopeless,
we administered this herb with the most signal
success, although the doctors who had previously
attended them had declared that the use of in-
struments Avas inevitable ; yet, by the aid of lo-
belia we were enabled to save not only tlie
mothers, but the children, and that, too, with
very little pain or difficulty. In extreme cases of
fever, particularly typhus, lobelia is a most power-
ful agent, conjoined with other stimulants. We
have used it in the worst stages of consumption.
When united with cayenne, vervain, the vapour-
bath, and tonic medicines, it seldom foils to effect
a cure.

MIDWIFERY.

171

Hooper, in his " Medical Dictionary," page 851,
thus speaks of lobelia This plant, which
grows in the United States of America, is a nar-
cotic poison, the operation of which is very similar
to tobacco. It has been found very useful in
some cases of asthma, and has been successfully
employed in other diseases of the air-passages."
At page 203, " Medical Dictionary," under the
head "Asthma," he thus writes: — "Within the
last few years a new asthmatic remedy has sprung
up in ' LOBELIA INFLATA.' In some cases it has
afforded almost immediate relief, but it fails much
more frequently than it succeeds. It is in the
form of a saturated tincture of the leaves, in doses
of from one half drachm to two drachms." Not
only is Hooper at fault in the above description,
but the faculty who believe in his orthodox infalli-
bility, are equally mistaken respecting the virtues
of lobelia. In the first place, IT is not a poison ;
for poisons invariably debilitate and prostrate the
system, which is not the case with lobelia. We
have not onlv administered it in larse doses, but
have frequently taken it ourself, and after more
than thirty years' successful use of it, have never
found it to produce any debilitating or other injurious
effect on the system : and instead of administering
"two drachms of the saturated tincture," as men-
tioned by Hooper, we have given the powdered
herb in half-ounce doses — one dose each day for
thirty-five days in succession. This we did in a
desperate case of consumption, and the patient not
only recovered, but he is now living to testify to
the trath of what we have stated. Prepared

172

TREATISE ON

iiccording to Hooper's direction, it may liavo
different effects, for its virtues are partially
destroyed when made into a tincture, by its
immersion in alcohol.

Tincture of lobelia, when made with alcohol,
must, from the nature of the spirit, have an in-
jurious effect on the glands and vessels of the
throat, which, in cases of asthma, will increase
the difficulty of respiration ; but when the
tincture is made of good vinegar, not [only will
the expectorant qualities of the lobelia manifest
themselves, but the acidulous quality of the
vinegar will assist the same. For children, when
attacked with croup or stuffed chest, the tincture,
made with vinegar, is the best medicine that can
be applied, by giving it in connection with some
of the strong stimulants.

Lobelia, as a medicine, possesses many excellent
properties ; one of which is, that it 7iei'er operates
upon those loho are in health, it combats

only with disease. When administering it, care
should be taken to give enough, so as to cause it
to operate ; more than this will do no harm. A
teaspoonful of the powdered leaves, or pods, or
seeds, which are better still, may be given every
half hour in a cup of vervain-tea, or pennyroyal,
and repeated until it operates as an emetic, ^^ever
mind Hooper, but give enough. Cayenne-toa, or
some other stimulant, may then be freely given, so
as to induce and keep up a strong perspiration, or
a vapour bath would be very useful. For children,
the acid tincture of lobelia is better than the
poAvdcr ; to which add a tea of pennyroyal instead

173-

MIDWtFEiRY.

of cayenne pepper. When the emetic has fiiirly
done its work, the patient may take such food as
the appetite most desires.

CAYENNE PEPPER.

Of this plant there are many kinds. It is indi-
genous to the warmer climates ; to wit : Asia,
Africa, and America, and is cultivated in many
parts of the world. The kinds bearing the larger
berries flourish more in the northern regions, and
are much used for domestic purposes, such as
pickling, when in the green state. Much has
been said and written upon the properties of
cayenne pepper, but even the learned of the
medical profession have failed in investigating its
qualities, or they have purposely withheld a know-
ledge of its real properties from the world. Al-
most all the stimulants of the schools are narcotic,
in a greater or less degree ; hence it has been
erroneously inferred that all stimulants must neces-
sarily be so; but this hypothesis is being fast
exploded. In our Botanic Guide to Health," as
well as from the platform, we have so frequently
described its properties, that the public have now
for a long time been testing its virtues by ex-
perience. Practice has proved it to be a pure
STIMULANT ; ouc that may be safely administered,
and efficaciously applied, under every disease

174

TKEATISE ON

whenever anything in the form of a stimulant is
required by the system ; in fact, no other medicine
can as easily restore and retain the vital heat of
the body. It also excites and promotes profuse
perspiration, and in all cases acts in perfect har-
mony Avith the animal economy. It imparts a
pungent heat to the throat and mouth, but this
may be considered as indicative of its good quali-
ties, for it is thus made to act powerfully on the
salivary glands without injuring them, and pre-
serves a good tone to the digestive organs. The
warmth that it imparts to the stomach causes an
equal distribution of the fluids, without which
health cannot possibly be retained. As a pure
stimulant, it is the best that Nature has provided
for our use. When taken into the stomach it
retains its heat longer than any other stimulant ;
at times it imparts a powerful sense of heat
to the bowels, occasioned by the sudden expansion
of the parts which had previously been cramped
and contracted. The active stimulus of the
pepper thus operating upon the parts affected,
produces a speedy reaction in the system, remov-
ing the obstructions by natural evacuations and
profuse perspiration. Nature has furnished us
with this valuable stimulant, but much of its
virtue is im})aired by the adulterations to which
it is subjected by those who deal in the article.
We have discovered many poisonous substances
in the pepper sold at the shops, such as " red
OXIDE OF LEAD," oxide of iron, &.C., with
" coloured oatmeal," and many other things.
We need not say how much Uie cure depends

MIDWIFERY.

175

upon the purity of the article. In order that the
public may obtain it free from adulteration, we
purchase it in the pod, and grind it when required
for use. This practice has enabled us to effect
many cures with a much less quantity of pepper
than we should else have required.

. Hooper, in his " Medical Dictionary," page
327, thus describes the qualities of the capsicum,
or cayenne pepper : — " Taken as a condiment it
prevents flatulence from vegetable food, and in-
creases the digestive power of weak stomachs. In
the practice of medicine it is a powerful and use-
ful stimulant, and is very advantageously given in
chi-onic gout, paralysis, fevers, and other cases ; in
the COMA and delirium attendant on tropical fevers,
CATAPLASMS OF CAPSICUM are said to have a speedy .
and happy effect. A weak infusion of capsicum
has been found a useful application to scrofulous
and other languid ulcerations, and the diluted
juice is esteemed of great efficacy in chronic
ophthalmia ; a gargle of it is commonly used to
cure malignant sore throats. Capsicum may be
given in the form of pills, or it may be adminis-
tered in any proper vehicle in any other way."

GINGER.

A WELL known root ; its properties are stimulant,
but not so strong as cayenne pc[)per. It is indi-

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TtlEATiSE ON

genous to Hindostan and is cultivated in most
parts of the East, also, of late, in the West Indies,
having been introduced there from the East. The
best is called Jamaica ginger. We have seen it
growing abundantly during our residence in the
south of America, and used it much as a remedy in
the removal of disease. The young and tender
root is generally used as a preserve, Avhen deprived
of its outer covering of bark, and boiled in sugar.
As a medicine it is a pleasant stimulant, and may
be given to expel pain from the stomach and
bowels, and it also corrects a derangement of the
digestive organs. When chewed it produces a
flow of saliva, and is excellent for paralysis of the
the tongue, or any of the minute organs connected
with the throat. We have found it very useful to
chew a little of it before leaving the platform after
having over-exerted ourself by lecturing to a large
audience in a heated room. In pulmonary com-
plaints, or disease of the lungs, this medicine may
be used with great effect. To such as are subject
to bleeding at the lungs, this root may be specially
recommended ; by chewing a piece of it, keeping it
constantly in the mouth, and swallowing the saliva
from time to time, much relief will be obtained ;
the throat and stomach will likewise be excited
and protected from cold.

Ginger may be used as a substitute for cayenne
pepper when the latter cannot be conveniently ob-
tained, and, being a milder stinuilant than pepper,
it may be given to children with great advantage.

MIDWIFERY.

177

NUTMEG.

This tree also is a native of the East Indies ; it is
slightly stimulant and stomachic ; is good in all
cases of bowel-complaint or dysentery, either the
nutmeg or the mace (which is the inner bark of
the nutmeg). "When boiled in milk it is useful
for patients of weak digestion.

CLOVES.

The clove-tree is a native of the East Indies and
Molucca Islands. The clove, caryophylus aro-
maticus, which is the outer or lower part of the
flower, has a strong agreeable smell, and a bit-
terish, hot taste. Cloves are the most powerful
of all the aromatics ; they are an excellent
corrector of the stomach, from their not only
possessing stimulant properties, but being very
agreeable also. They are very useful in female
complaints.

H

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TllEATISE ON

CINNAMON.

The bark of this tree is one of the most grateful of
the aromatics ; it is slightly pungent, and is pos-
sessed of considerable restorative power. It re-
lieves vomiting and sickness of the stomach, and
is good for looseness of the bowels, either alone or
mixed with other articles.

PENNYEOYAL.

This is a valuable herb. Its diaphoretic or sweat-
ing properties are well known to the mothers of
this country. In making use of the vapour-bath,
we generally accompany it "with a tea made of this
herb. In fever cases, especially those to which
children are subject, it is invaluable. It is also good
for the removal of difficulties in women, such as
obstructions of the menses, &c. It is likewise use-
ful in hysterical complaints, and whooping-cough.

It may here be remarked, that, in making up
a decoction of this, or any other aromatic herb,
the vessel in Avhich they are stooped should always
be covered close, for as the essential oil is rendered
volatile by heat, that which is most i-equisite in the
cure will escape ; this must be guarded against,
and, as far as possible, prevented.

MIDWIFERY.

179

YARROW.

There is not a common plant in this country
that can be applied more beneficially in the early
stao-es of disease. It is found in abundance in
old fields, by the wayside, and along the hedge-
rows. It is perennial, growing continually from
the same root. -The stem rises from twelve to
eighteen inches, bearing, at the top, a large ex-
panded white flower. Towards autumn the
flower sometimes assumes a purple hue. It is
called, by many of the country people, nose-bleed,
milfoil, and thousand-leaf. Its virtues as a medi-
cine, cannot \ better be illustrated than by the
following anecdote : — An itinerant speaker, of
the Society of Friends, who professed some
knowledge of medicine, was asked what would
cure a cold. He answered — " Take a pint of
yarrow-tea, made strong, on going to bed, and
put a hot brick to thy feet, wrapped in a cloth
wet with vinegar, and thou wilt surely be well in
the morning." This, to the inquirer, seemed very
rational I for he knew, from experience, that
sweating was good for a cold. He next asked
the old gentleman what he would recommend for
rheumatism. The answer was — " Take a pint of
yarrow-tea, made hot, on going to bed, -with a hot
brick to thy feet as before, and thou wilt soon be
well." Being asked what would expel worms
from children, he answered, as before, " Give
them a strong tea of yarrow, and put a warm

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TllEATtSE ON

brick to the feet, and they will be cured speedil}-.''
The inquirer fuirly taxed the old gentleman's
patience, by asking him for remedies for all the
diseases that he could call to mind, the answer
invariably being — " A strong tea of yarrow, with
a hot brick, wrapped in a cloth wet with A'inegar,
applied to the feet, and health would soon be re-
stored." Chimerical as the old Friend's advice
may appear to many, we have since proved the
correctness of most of his sayings. Besides pos-
sessing the power to equalise the circulation, by
inducing a perspiration to the surface, it is mildly
tonic, and acts with some power upon the kidneys,
by promoting a free discharge of urine. In fever
cases yarrow-tea may be drunk freely. It is also
good for colic, cramps, and pain in the bowels.

VERVAIN.

There are numerous kinds of this herb. In the
Encyclopredia no less than twenty-one are enu-
merated. The one used in our practice bears a
blue blossom ; is perennial, or of continual
growth ; is much cultivated in gardens, but grows
wild in many places. It rises from eighteen to
twenty inches in height, with many branches,
its leaves resembling those of the nettle ; it
flowers on the top. As an emetic, it ranks next
to lobelia ; it is also one of the strongest sweating

MIDWIFERY.

181

medicines in nature. It is good for colds, coughs,
and pain in the head. It ranks high as an anti-
scorbutic ; will relieve and cure those complaints
in children which generally accompany teething ;
it also destroys worms. Administered as a
tea, it powerfully assists the pains of labour ; as
a diuretic, it increases the ui-inal discharge. For
an emetic, we generally make a strong decoction
of the dried herb, of which we give a teacupful
every half hour, until it operates, taking great
care to keep the patient warm in bed, with a hot
brick to the feet, using freely of cayenne or ginger
tea, taken as hot as convenient during its opera-
tion. A tea of this herb is excellent, in all cases
of fever, either for children or adults. It is also
good for the smallpox, under which head it is pre-
scribed, and if perseveringly administered, in con-
junction with yarrow" and cayenne pepper, will
seldom fail in producing a crisis, or, in other words,
a determination to the surface, and, by conse-
cjuence, a cessation of the febrile symptoms.

CHAMOMILE.

It is strengthening to the stomach, and diuretic.
A tea made of this herb has long been known in
this country, as useful to restore a tone to the
stomach. It removes female obstruction, pro-
moting menstruation, "VVe have long used it as

182

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an external remedy, it having a powerful effect
on the external surface, or cuticle ; yet we would
not neglect the all-important theory, that disease
has to be expelled internally. Do not for an in-
stant permit the idea that rubbing or bathing
with chamomile-tea will of itself remove internal
disease, as has been frequently asserted by un-
skilful men, whose stock of knowledge is limited
to a few solitary ideas, and who are generally
ignorant of the pathology of disease, the action
of remedies, and the valuable information con-
tained in the book of Nature.

ASTRINGENTS.

BED RASPBERRY.

This plant, in consequence of the agreeableness of
its fruit, is universally kno^vn, but its medicinal
properties, although invaluable, are not recognised
in the materia meclica of the schools. From ex-
perience we can speak of its excellences. It is of
a mild nature, and when sweetened with white or
lump sugar, may be given to children with the
greatest benefit, especially when attacked with the
bowel complaint, to which they are often subject
in the warmer seasons. A strong tea made of the
leaves, well sweetened, is almost a certain specific ;

MIDWIFEBY.

183

to assist its operations a little ginger-root or penny-
royal may be added. The raspberry-leaf "when
made into tea, acts with surprising effect upon the
uterus or womb. In all cases of obstruction of the
menses, or monthly terms, in young females, we
recommend the use of this tea, mixed with a small
quantity of cayenne pepper. In labour cases we
have ever found raspberry-leaves our best assistant ;
a strong tea, mixed mth a little cayenne, vnU, if
the pains are premature, remove them ; if other-
wise, it promotes and facilitates the progress of
labour in the natural way.

AGRIMONY.

This herb is also well known ; it is perennial, or
grows continuously from the same root. It is
found Avild, and is also much cultivated in gardens.
It is a valuable herb, possessing astringent or
binding properties, as well as diuretic. It may be
freely given to children who are afEicted with the
measles, scarlet fever, chickenpox, &c. ; or for
looseness of the bowels, when it may be given with
the raspberry-leaves, and sweetened with white or
lump sugar. We have used agrimony-tea as an
injection to the bowels, with good effect in
dian-hoea.

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GROUND IVY.

This herb is well known, and much used ; it is
astringent, diuretic, and slightly tonic. It acts
upon the kidneys ; in scorbutic diseases, from its
diuretic properties, we have found it very useful,
as also in cases of indigestion. In steeping (like
pennyroyal), it should be covered close, and can
be best administered in the form of tea. Com-
bined with chamomile, or green yarrow, it makes
one of the best poultices for a tumour, gathering,
or sore of any kind, that can be made.

WHITE POND LILY.

Its roots are long and uneven, from which proceed
a small stem, which rises to the top or surface of
the water, with a large round green leaf; the
flower is large and of the purest white, in form
somewhat resembling the rose, and possesses an
agreeable odour. It is one of the best astringents
in this country, and removes the accumulated
matter from the tongue and air-vessels, which is
so common in cases of fever. For many years
we have used it as a medicine for the removal of
diseases peculiar to children with good effect. A
syrup may also be made of the flowers in the

MIDWrFERT.

185

following manner : — Take a handful of the flowers,
and steep them over a slow fire for an hour or so,
in a pint and a half of water ; strain, and add one
pound of loaf sugar. Doses beginning with a
tablespoonful, and varying according to the age of
the child. It is one of the best medicines that
can be given to children when teething, or for
looseness of the bowels j also for thrush, or sore
mouth, which children are often subject to.

TORMENTIL-ROOT.

A POWERFUL astringent which has often been
used as a substitute for oak-bark, for the purpose
of tanning leather. The root, which is rough
and uneven, and very large for the top it bears, is
of a reddish-brown colour, with a somewhat bitter
taste. A tea made of this root is good for looseness.
Those who have been labouring under a chronic
diarrhoea, or a long-standing bow^el complaint,
may use it with good effect, when the root is boiled
with the inner bark of the sumach-tree, well
sweetened with sugar.

O

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OAK-BARK.

This is the common oak, the bark of which is
much used in tanning leaiher ; the inner bark of
this tree is very astringent, and should be used
only when a strong astringent is required, as in
dysentery, or in long-standing looseness of the
bowels ; it may be mixed with avens-root, or
cranesbill, or raspberry-leaves, to good advantage.
We never use this medicine without cayenne or
ginger-root to assist its operations ; and, indeed,
would always recommend the free use of some
stimulant, in conjunction with the astringent
medicines.

PERUVIAN BARK.

This well-known bark, the virtues of which are
universally admitted, was, according to Geoffroy,
first learned from the following circumstances : —
" Some of the trees being thrown by the wind
into a pool of water, lay there until the water
became so bitter that everybody refused to drink
it. However, one of the neighbouring inhabitants
being seized with a violent paroxysm of fever, and
finding no other water to quench his thirst, was forced
to drink of this, by which he was perfectly cured.
He afterwards related the circumstauco to othei-s,

MIDWIFERY.

187

and prevailed upon some of his friends who were
ill of fevers, to make use of the same remedy, with
whom it proved equally successful. The use of this
excellent remedy, however, was very^ little known
until about the year 1638, when a signal cure having
been performed by it of the Spanish Viceroy's
lady, the Countess del Cinchon, at Lima, it came
into general use, and hence it was distinguished by
the appellation of cortex cinchona, and loulvis
comitissce, or the Countess's powder. On the
recovery of the Countess, she distributed a large
quantity of the bark to the Jesuits, in whose
hands it acquired still greater reputation, and by
them it was first introduced into Europe, and
then called cortex or pulvis Jesuiticus, pulvis
patram, and also Cardinal de Lugo's powder,
because that charitable prelate bought a large
quantity of it at a great expense, for the use of
the religious poor at Rome." Hence it is clear
that the faculty cannot lay the remotest claim to
the discovery of this valuable medicine. A com-
bination of fortuitous circumstances brought into
notice that which the Avisdom of man, and the
learning of past ages, had failed to discover.
Doubtless the doctors would like to claim the
honour of having first discovered the properties
of this wonderful bark, but the discovery, as has
been shown, was purely accidental, nor was it in
anywise brought about by the learning of the
schools.

This bark is an excellent tonic and astringent
medicine, particularly useful in febrile disease, and
is much used in intermittent fever. From this

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TREATISE OiT

bark is made the sulphate of quinine of the shops,
which is, at least in warm climates, one of the
potent destroyers of the human race ; and no medi-
cine, possessing the same amount of acrid power,
has induced a greater amount of disease ; while
in the bark (its natural form) it is perfectly inno-
cent and free from injurious effects ; in fact,
almost every herb which possesses sanitive pro-
perties, has had those properties so changed as
not only to destroy the original quality of the
heib, but often renders them highly deleterious
and dangerous as a medicine. Dr. Eay might
truly exclaim, " that there are herbs to cure all
diseases, though not everywhere known." For
many years we have been in the habit of using
Peruvian bark mth good effect ; it is also good
when mixed with other articles ; it allays bowel-
complaints, febrile or fever sjTuptoms, and assists
in removing canker from the mucous membrane,
and the whole of the alimentary canal.

BAYBERRY-BARK.

This is an excellent remedy for c.inker, and
good for derangement of the stomach and bowels.
A strong tea of this article will remove the adhe-
sive matter from the mucous membrane of the
stomach and intestines, and create an appetite.
Taken Avith an emetic, it is very useful to remove
canker.

MIDWIFERY.

189

TONICS.

POPLAR TREE.

There are several kinds of this tree, the bark of
all of them being good, and possessing great me-
dicinal properties. It is only necessary to men-
tion two of them, which are indigenous to this
country.

The White Poplar Tree is common through-
out Europe. The medicinal qualities of its bark
are to correct the digestive organs ; it also acts
upon the kidneys as a diuretic, and is equally
good in all cases of obstruction connected vnth
those parts, such as strangury, gravel, or stone
in the bladder or kidneys ; and while it has a
specific action upon these, it imparts a healthy
action to the liver by correcting the bile and
creating an appetite. The free use of this bark
will remove costive habits.

The PopuLus Angulata, or Balm of Gtilead
Tree, possesses good medicinal properties (at
least some parts of it). The early buds in the
spring, just before they open, contain a gummy or
resinous matter, which in its medicinal effects
very much resembles gum-myrrh. The buds are
excellent for weak or sore eyes ; for which piirpose
they must be pulverised, then steeped for a few
hours in lukewarm water, and used as a wash

190

TREATISE ON

applying it four or five times a day. For a cough
it may be prepared in the foUomng manner : —
take of the buds half a pound, add the same
quantity of ginger-root, beat them both well up
in a mortar, then steep them for two or three
hours in thi-ee pints of water, strain, and add to
it half a pound of raspberry or blackberry pre-
sei'ves, and one pound of sugar. A spoonful may
be taken whenever the cough becomes trouble-
some.

CENTAURY.

This is another well-known plant ; it is of annual
growth, rising from ten to twenty inches in
height. It has long been esteemed as a tonic, and
general corrector of the ^ bile ; it is a pleasant
bitter, and in every sense of the word an agree-
able medicine. It exei'ts a powerful influence
over the liver ; hence it is good for the jaundice,
and all diseases of the kidneys. For weak and
debilitated patients it is an invaluable tonic ; for
many years we have used it with good success,
where the digestive organs have been seriously
impaired. A strong tea is good in cases of
scrofula, or for the removal of ulcers of long
standing. It is highly recommended in all similar
cases.

MIDWIFERY.

191

BOG-BEAK

This is an annual herb ; grows in low, wet, or
marshy lands ; whilst growing it somewhat re-
sembles the bean ; hence it is generally called
bog-bean. It is of a deep green, bearing a
lightish purple flower ; the stalk is soft and pithy.
It is one of the most valuable bitters in nature's
vast collection. When chewed in the mouth it
gives off a strong, bitter taste, diffusing itself
instantly over the glands. This herb, like the
preceding one, is a good corrector of the bile, we
may say one of the very best. While the science
of chemistry has been invoked in vain, in order
to produce a substance to answer the desired end,
nature has been treasuring up this valuable anti-
dote, which seldom fails, when rightly applied,
to produce the most happy results, by striking
at once at the origin of the disease. This simple
herb may be administered in tea, or given as a
powder ; it is highly recommended for feminine
weakness, particularly at the time when menstruation
should first begin. It is also good for dyspepsia or
indigestion.

HOREHOUND.

The root is perennial, the herb of annual growth ;
it is so well known, that a further description

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would be unnecessary. As a tonic it possesses
great power ; it likewise stimulates by acting as
an expectorant, Having a tendency to loosen the
phlegm. We should naturally suppose that a
herb, which has been so long known to be a good
medicine by most of the inhabitants of this
country for coughs and all stages of indigestion,
would never have given rise to a sentence like the
following, which emanated from one of the pro-
fessedly learned. See Hooper's " Medical Dic-
tionary," page 869, where it is stated : " That hore-
hound possesses some share of medicinal power,
may be inferred from its sensible qualities ; but
its virtues do not appear to be clearly ascertained."'
If the writer of the above paragraph were living,
we Avould advise him to take a strong decoction
of this valuable herb the first time he had the
misfortune to take a cold, and if he would add to
each dose a teaspoonful of cayenne pepper, and a
tablespoonful of good vinegar on going to bed,
we venture to say that he would never risk his
credit as a philosopher by writing such nonsense
again.

A syrup made of horehound and ginger-root is
excellent for children Avhcn attacked with the
chin-cough, or for sudden colds ; or it may be
pulverised and mixed with half its quantity of
ginger, a teaspoonful of cayenne, and one of
cloves ; this, when well sweetened, and taken hot
on going to bed, will be found one of the best
medicines that can be obtained.

MIDWIFERY.

193

BITTER ALMONDS.

By some authors, this article is said to be poison-
ous ; and there is no doubt that the most deadly of
all poisons, namely, prussic acid, is manufactured
from the almond. But this is no argument against
its use in a primitive or natural form, since alco-
hol, a POISON, also fatal in its effects, and from
its general use even more destructive to human
life, is made from wheat, by distillation ; but it
does not necessarily follow that wheat is of itself
poisonous or unfriendly to life. In its natural
form it is good and wholesome, and a dangerous
spirit is only obtained Avhen chemical decomposi-
tion has taken place. We know from long ex-
perience, that bitter almonds are a good tonic
medicine, when rightly administered. We gene-
rally use about eight of the common-sized bitter
almonds, made fine, to one pint of the herbal de-
coction, which produces good effects in cases where
the bowels have been much debilitated, par-
ticularly when in a relaxed state. For weak
digestion make a syrup in the following manner :
take four ounces of white poplar-bark, two ounces
each of raspberry-leaves and agrimony, boiled in
two quarts of water, strain, and add two pounds
of sugar, and half an ounce of bitter almonds
bruised very fine ; take half a wineglassful three
or four times a day.

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GUM-MYRRH.

The tree Avhicli yields this article is little known,
but, according to Bruce, it grows in Arabia Felix,
and that part of Abyssinia bordering on the Red
Sea, It is obtained by incision, or by making
an orifice or opening in the tree. The best we
have met with comes from the Nile. It is one
of the best tonic medicines that can be used.
Besides being, like most of its genus, an excellent
diuretic, it is also antiseptic, or possessed of the
power to prevent putrefaction, on Avhich account
it was much used by the Egyptians in embalming
their dead. We have used this article for many
years, "svith great success, in cases of dysentery,
or long-standing bowel-complaints, or looseness.
It is a good stimulant, and, as Dr. Cullen admits,
impai-ts much heat to the stomach. It acts upon
the womb, and promotes the monthly terms.
May be prepared by infusion in water, or taken
in powder, which is the best way to use it ; it
may be advantageously compounded with other
medicines.

CALUMBA-ROOT.

This tree is a native of the southern part of
Africa ; iis root has now become an article of com-

MIDWIFERY.

195

merce. It is A-ery bitter, and free from all
astringent qualities. It is good for weak stomachs,
and is an excellent tonic, perhaps one of the best
that can be used before and after confinement.
When mixed with rhubarb, it is an excellent
corrector of the bile, and good as a medicine in
all stages of jaundice or disordered liver. It may
be taken in substance, or made up as a decoction
in the following manner : — To one ounce add one
ounce and a half of horehound, one ounce of
poplar-bark, and one ounce of red raspberry-
leaves ; boil the whole in one quart of water,
and, when strained, add a teaspoonful of cayenne
pepper, which is an excellent compound for week
and impaired digestion. For the dose, half a
wineglassful may be taken three or four times a
day.

WORMWOOD.

The root of this plant lives for several years. The
herb is an excellent bitter, and may be used to
create an appetite, for it aids and assists the diges-
tive organs in their operations. For indigestion,
make a decoction of the herb, to which add a
little cayenne pepper, a small wineglassful of
which may be taken two or three times a day.

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TREATISE ON

TANSEY.

This liei-b has perennial roots, and is mostly cul-
tivated in gardens. As a bitter it is good for the
stomach, and is somewhat stimulating. A tea of
this herb is good for gravel, strangury, weakness
and pain in the back and kidneys ; it is also good
for female weakness. The leaves, when bruised,
{ire good for sprains and swellings.

DIURETICS.

CLIVEES.

It is an annual plant ; grows very conunon in
this country along the hedgerows, and in woody
places. It is a powerful diuretic, and may be
used in all cases of obstruction of the kidneys
and bladder. A tea made of this herb is also
good for the dropsy, not only as a diuretic, but
likewise for its aperient properties, as it acts
mildly upon the bowels. It is equally good in
cases of scrofula, cancer, or long-standing ulcers.
By taking two ounces of the expressed juice three
times a day, and applying a poultice made of the
frrcen herli, many very dangerous cancers have

MIDWIFERY.

197

been cured. In cases of dropsy, which children
are often subject to, after an attack of scarlet fever,
we have used clivers as a medicine very success-
fully. The expressed juice of the green herb, or a
decoction made in the form of tea, may be given
freely.

To make one of the most poAverful of all diu-
retics, take of clivers, parsley-root, juniper-berries,
and flax-seed, each two ounces, quassia-wood one
ounce ; boil them all in one gallon of water, strain,
and add one ounce of pulverised ginger, and one
pound of honey. Take from a tablespoonful to
half a wineglassful three times a day. This
medicine is good for dropsy, stoppage of the urine,
gravel, and female weakness, but should never be
given in cases of diabetes.

DANDELIOK.

This is a pel-ennial, herbaceous plant, well known
in this countiy by every housewife, and has been
applied by them to good advantage. That which
has mostly rendered these medicines of little use,
has been a want of confidence in the parties using
them ; for if they have failed at any time to effect
a cure in a few Imtrs, the patient has become
alarmed, a doctor has been called in, and the
herbs have been abandoned, which would doubt-
less have accomplished the cure, had their use

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TREATISE ON

been persevered in a little longer. We should be
careful never to condemn anything unless we have
given it a fair trial.

The dandelion is diuretic, tonic, and aperient,
and has a direct action upon the liver and kidneys ;
when languid it excites them to a healthy and
vigorous action. It is most applicable to hepatic
or liver complaints, or any derangement of the
digestive organs ; in chronic inflammation of the
liver and spleen ; in cases of deficient biliarv'
secretions, and in all dropsical affections of the
abdomen, this is -a good remedy. One or two
ounces of the green root, or one of the dry, may
be boiled in a quart of water, and drunk freely on
all occasions when its use is required.

JUNIPER-BERRIES.

This plant, which is indigenous to this country,
is an evergreen, and grows sometimes as high as
ten feet. The berries are much used in the manu-
facture of gin ; and it is on account of their
diuretic properties that gin is so frequently recom-
mended in cases where a diuretic is required.
The better plan, however, which we invariably
adopt, is to eschew the gin, and make a tea of
the berries, by Avhich means wo extract all the
good properties, without exposing our patients to
the danger of using such an enemy to health as
alcohol.

MIDWIFERY,

199

The berries and boughs are both medicinal, and
in all dropsical complaints ought never to be
omitted. If the boughs are reduced to ashes by
fire, and the ashes put into water and drunk, a
medicine will be obtained that has cured the drops}^
in an advanced stage. Juniper is a good medicine,
when combined with other substances. An ex-
cellent beer may be made in the following man-
ner : — Take of fresh-gathered dandelion-roots and
tops one pound, one pound of green peach-leaves,
one pound of green parsley-roots and tops, and one
pound of strawberry-vines. Bruise the whole and
add three gallons of water. Boil and strain it ;
then add four ounces of pulverised juniper-berries,
and one pound of sugar ; let it ferment, after
which, bottle it for use ; and in cases where the
kidneys and bladder are affected, half a wineglass-
ful taken four times a day will sometimes effect a
cure after all ordinary means have failed.

ANTISCORBUTICS.

BUEDOCK.

This is a biennial plant, or of two year's growth.
It is a good antiscorbutic, slightly aperient and
tonic, and an excellent remedy in cases of scrofula,

200

trSatIse on

or obstructions of the kidneys. It is good for the
venereal disease, inasmuch as it will cleanse the
system, if the patient should have been so unfor-
tunate as to have been put through a mercurial
course by the mineral-loving doctors. It is also
good for rheumatism, leprosy, and the gout, all
of which it will expel from the system, if per-
severingly taken. The seeds are an excellent
diuretic, and may be given to young children,
when mixed with raspberry-leaves ; a compound
which has a tendency very much to soothe and
tranquillise the system. In fever cases the leaves
may be applied to the feet, or to burns and
scalds. The leaves may be dried, and afteiTvards
moistened for use.

SARSAPARILLA.

This plant is a native of America, and was first
brought to this country by the Spaniards. At
that time it was thought to be a good medicine in
venereal cases, in consequence of which it acquired
a great name. Subsequent trials, however, have
proved that its power over that dreadful disease is
very limited, unless compounded or used with
other medicines. It is good as a general purifier
of the blood, after the disease has been expelled
from the system by other medicines. It possesses
good diuretic properties, and is somewhat of a tonic
nature, and is eminently good for scrofula, rlieu-
matism, and such like aftcctions.

MIDWIFEIIY.

201

C U B E B S .

This plant is a native of Java, from whence it is
imported into this country. It is an aromatic of
a warm and gentle aperient nature, and for many
years was much used as a condiment in soups.
It is a good antiscorbutic, has an agreeable effect
upon the stomach and kidneys, and, as a medicine,
is much used in Java and the East Indies, for
the cure of gonorrhoea. It is diuretic, and
slightly tonic, and yields an oil which by many
is pi'eferred to the fruit ; Ave, however, prefer the
fruit, considering it more certain in its effects,
though the cure may not always be accomplished
as soon.

NERVINE>S.

VALERIAN.

There are several of this species of plant, but the
one most commonly used is Valeriana oficinalis,
the root of which is perennial. It grows wild,
and is a good nervine. In cases of fits, spasms,
or hysterical affections, it may be given as a
decoction, but it is better when taken in tlie

I

202

TREATISE ON

powder ; ii teaspoonful for an adult, will be a
sufficient dose, when mixed with hot water.

There ai'e five species of American valerian.
Cypeipedium is, l^y the l)otanical physicians,
mostly used, and with good effect. It is available
in all cases of nervous debility, over-excitement
of the brain, &c., predisposing the mind to quiet-
ness and the body to sleep. It is an excellent
sedative, and will not affect the system as opium
or similar narcotics ; being perfectly harailess it
may be used to any extent without fear.

BURDOCK SEED.

(Arctrnm Icqypa.)

The seeds of the burdock are good, and as they
grow in many parts of this country, they can
readily be obtained. In cases of epilepsy, we
have frequently used burdock-seeds with good
effect, especially for children. Burdock possesses
no narcotic properties, and can be given in any
stage of disease. A tea may be made from the
seeds when bruised, or it may be given in powder,
from one half to a teaspoonful at a time. The
powder of either of the above articles should
accompany lobelia, when the latter is given as an
emetic.

MIDWIFERY.

203

ASSAFCETIDA.

The name of the plant that produces the assafoe-
tida of the shops, is ferula assafoetida. It is a
native of Persia, and g-rows plentifully on the
mountains of Chorassa and Laar. It is obtained
by baring the roots, and cutting them transversely,
by which process the juice is obtained, and after-
wards dried by exposure to the suii, which forms
the gum that is sold in the shops. It is a powei'ful
antispasmodic, and somewhat expectorant. Is
a valuable medicine in cases of hypochrondia,
hysteria, convulsions, spasms, and all cases of
nen'^ous debility. From its expectorant, as well
as sedative qualities, it is a useful medicine in
consumptive cases. In constipation, or severe
costiveness; or flatulency, it is equally good.

204

PURGATIVES.

RHUBARB.

This root is one of the best purgatives tbat can
be met with in the shops. It is obtained from
three different quarters of the world, viz., China,
the East Indies, Turkey, and Russian Tartarv ;
that which comes from the two last places is
generally considered the best. It was many years
before this plant Avas known sufficiently even for
Linngeus to describe it ; it is a valuable medicine,
and as it yields its properties much sooner and
more effectually when mixed with water, than
when mixed -with spirits in the shape of tincture,
we would advise its being taken in the former in
preference to the latter. We press this more parti-
cularly, because most people use the tincture, and
even give it to children in that form. Rhubarb is
a mild cathartic, and a corrector of the bile at the
same time. It should be carefully excluded from the
air, as exposure to the atniosphere has a tendency
to impair its properties ; for habitual costiveness,
a small piece of the root may be chewed, swallow-
ing the juice ; or for a more active purge, it may
be taken in powder ; this plan will be found more
effective than steeping it, for when heated it
throws off many of its good properties. A do^o
of one or two teaspoonsful of the powder will bo
found sufficient, or it may be mixed with other
substunces.

MIDWIFERY,

SENNA,

There are several plants that produce these leaves ;
the best is imported from Nubia, and is called
(jiiebelly, or senna makke; it grows wild, and yields
two crops of leaves, the quantity produced depend-
ing mostly on the periodical rains j its flowers are
of a yellowish hue. It is aromatic, and slightly
bitter ; it is an excellent purge, generally operat-
ing in four hours from the time of its being taken,
but in combination with other articles, it operates
much sooner. It is a mild cathartic, and should
always be used when the bowels are much dis-
ordered ; when taken alone, it sometimes gripes
the patient, particularly if it has been steeped or
boiled, but it seldom gripes when made into an
infusion with cold water ; but having before
observed that no purging medicine should be given
without being accompanied with a stimulant, we
mean the same remark to apply here ; for adults,
we would recommend half an ounce of senna, to
be mixed with the same quantity of ginger-root ;
for children, take senna, pennyroyal, and red
raspberry-leaves, equal parts ; you will thus obtain
a surer and much better purge than castor-oil,
magnesia, Epsom-salts, or any mineral drug that
can be given.

206

TREATISE ON

MOUNTAIN FLAX

Is very common in this country ; it is an annual
plant, and grows wild in meadows and pasture
lands. It is an excellent purgative, and preferable
to senna. When a purgative is requisite for costive
habits, it may be mixed with poplar-bark, or any
of the bitter medicines.

COMPOUNDS,

COMPOSITION-POWDER.

This is an admirable medicine, and may be safely
employed in all cases, and in every stage of dis-
ease. It is good for pains in the stomach, loose-
ness of the boAvels, rheumatic aftections, ■will pro-
mote perspiration, and remove all obstructions
caused by cold. It is an excellent assistiint to,
and should always be taken during the operation
of, a lobelia emetic. We usually import the
materials and have them ground and mixed here.
It may be made in the following manner : take of
bayberry, four ounces ; ginger, two ounces ; piuus
canadensis, one ounce ; cloves and cayenne, each
a quarter of an ounce, all finely pulverised, and
well mixed. Ordinary dose, a tcaspoonful in a
cup of hot water well sweetened if preferred.

MIDWIFERY.

207

STOMACH BITTERS.

This preparation is designed to correct the bile,
and create an appetite ; will be found liigHy useful
in all cases of flatulency, faintness at the stomach,
and particularly when the patient has been much
enfeebled by disease or age. It is prepared as
follows : take of white poplar bark, one ounce ;
balmony, two ounces ; bayberry, two ounces ;
ginger, one ounce ; cayenne, a teaspoonful ;
cloves, half a teaspoonful, all finely powdered and
well mixed. Dose same as composition-poAvder.

TINCTURE OF MYRRH.

A TINCTURE made of gum-myrrh is good in cases
of rheumatism, or for sprains ; to one pint of
spirits of wine add two ounces of gum-myrrh,
with half a teaspoonful of cayenne pepper. This,
when externally applied, is an excellent remedy
for cuts, sprains, bruises, <fec.

208

TUEATISE ON

ACID TINCTURE OF LOBELIA.

Take of tlie pulverised herb a teaspoonfiil, with
half a teaspoonful of valerian root, mix both in
two ounces of good vinegar ; to a child four years
of age a dessertspoonful may be given ; the dose
to be reduced when given to a younger child.
Used in croup, asthma, bronchitis, &c,

WHITE WAX OINTMENT.

Take of Avhite wax, four ounces ; spermaceti,
three ounces, olive oil, one pint ; mix them toge-
ther over a slow fire, taking care to stir it briskly
until cool. This is an excellent salve for sore
nipples ; it moistens the skin, and keeps it soft,
consequently it is good for chapped hands, or dry
scurvy, but should be assisted by internal medi-
cines whenever required.

MIDWIFERY.

209

INJECTIONS.

This mode of iidministering medicino is of very
ancient origin, and, in our opinion, it cannot be
too highly recommended. When the stomach of
the patient, through extreme prostration, refuses
to retain the medicine, an injection will often
overcome the difficulty ; notwithstanding Avhich,
the doctors of this country seldom avail themselves
of its assistance. For costiveness, or constipation
of the bowels, we would recommend an injection,
to be made of cayenne pepper tea, well sweetened
with treacle, which will answer the desired end
much better than any drastic purge. In cases of
dysentery, or bowel-complaints, we would recom-
mend a strong tea of red raspberry-leaves, with
half a teaspoonful each of valerian and gum-myrrh,
which we have generally found to answer the pur-
pose. When the bowels have been sore and
inflamed, or otherwise debilitated, we recommend
the use of arrow-root, gum arable, gruel, or both,
or all together. The above, when injected into the
bowels, have sustained the patient for a long time,
when the lightest food could not be digested, or
made to pass the stomach. The best way of
administering an injection is with an enema, for
which see price list.

DIRECTIONS FOR VAPOUR-BATH.

The vapour-bath may be applied in the following
manner : place the patient over a bucket contain-
ing hot Water, in which a red-hot brick must be

210

TllEATlSE ON MIDWU'EKY.

half immersed, in order to raise a lively steam,
at the same moment shield the patient from the
surrounding atmosphere with a blanket ; the heat
rarefies the air under the blanket, and thus takes
off the heavy pressure ; the pores open, the body
absorbs a quantity of heat, and thus great assist-
ance is rendered to the stimulants preAaously
given, and Avhich must be continued freely during
the operation of the bath, so as to keep the in-
ternal heat higher than the external. The com-
position powder, or, yarrow tea and cayenne, is
recommended with the bath. We keep tin vapour-
baths in stock — for price see list.

A. I. COFFIN & Co.

Have to return thanks to their numerous customers
and friends who have so firmly supported them for the
past forty years, and to assure them they continue to
supply the articles (used in the Medico-botanic system of
medicine) of their usual well-known quality. They have
always b3en accustomed to look first to the quality of an
article ; and this should more especially be the case in all
that concerns medicine, for when life is at hazard an inert
or stale medicine may mean the difference between pro-
longing or losing a valuable life. The goods they sell
then, may be relied upon in any emergency, and, bearing
this in view, the prices they charge will be found to com-
pare favourably Avith those of any other house.

PRICE LIST OP GOODS.

lb. oz.

Agrimony, herb ... 1/ /I

,, powdered 2/ /2

Agueorfeyerpowder 6/ /5

AUspice 1/ /I

„ powdered... 1/4 /l^

Almonds, Bitter ... 2/ /2

Aloes, Barbadoes... 3/4 /3

„ powdered ... 4/8 /4

„ Socotrins ... 5/ /5

„ powdered ... G/ /6

Angelica herb ... 1/ /I

root ... 2/ ji

,, powdered 3/4 /3

Aniseed 1/ /I

„ powdered... 2/ /2

Anti-bilious pills

per doz. boxes ... 12/ 1/

lb. 02.

Anti-bilious powder 6/ /o

,, cholera ditto 6/ /5

„ scorbutic ditto 6/ /5

,, spasmodic do. 6/ /5

„ venereal ditto 7/4 /6
Aperient corrective

powder 14/8 1/

Aperient pUls, purely
vegetable, per doz.

boxes 12/ 1/

Arrowroot, Bermuda 2/ /2

Assafcjetida gum ... 3/4 /3

,, powdered 4/8 /4

Avens root 1/6 /IJ

Balm, lemon scented 1/ /I

Bilmony, herb ... 3/4 /3

212

PRICE LIST OF GOODS.

Balmony, powdered
Balm of Q-ilead , buds
Barberry bark

,, powdered
Bayberry bark

,, powdered
Beeswax, yellow ...
Beth root

,, powderod

Bistort root

„ powdered...

Blood root

,, powdered ...
Bog-bean leaves ...

„ powdered . . .
Boneset herb

„ powdered...
Bread of lif e, or con -
serve of holyhock

Broom

„ powdered ...
Buchu leaves

„ powdered
Buckthorn, brake rt.

,, powdered
Burdock root

„ powdered

„ seeds

„ powdered
Burgundy pitch ...

Burn Salve

Burnett, herb
Butternut, ext. of

Calamus Aromaticus

root

I, powdered
Calimint herb
Calumbo root

„ powdered
Camomile flowers,
English
,, powdered
,, extract of
Carraway seed

,, powdered

Carrot seed

„ wild, herb

lb. oz.

4/8 I'l

7/4 /6

3/4 /3

4/8 /4

3/4 /3

4/8 /4

3/4 /3

3/4 /3

4/8 /4

2/ 12

3/4 /3

3/ /3

4/8 /4

2/ 12

3/4 /3

3/4 /3

4/8 /4

7/4 /6

V /I

2/ 12

3/4 /3

4/8 /4

3/4 /3

4/8 /4

1/4 in

2/6 /2i

2/ 12

3/4 /3

/8 II

3/4 /3

1/0 /I

7/4 16

1/4 /U

2/G /2

1/ /I

2/0 12

3/4 /3

3/4 /3

4/8 /4

14/8 1/

1/ (1

2

2/

1/

/2
/2
/I

Cascarilla bark ...
,, powdered

Cassia bark

„ powdered
Catechu ditto

,, powdered
Catnip or Catmint

herb

Cayenne (African
Bird Pepper)
powdered
„ Lozenges
Celandine herb ...
Centuary herb

„ powdered
Cherry bark. Am.

„ powdered
Cinnamon bark ...
„ powdered

Clivers, herb

, powdered
Cloves, Penang ...
„ powdered

Coca leaves

Coffin's food for in-
valids (half-pound
canisters) per doz.
Cohosh root, black
,, powdered
Coltsfoot flowers ...
„ herb
,, powdered

Comfry root

„ powdered
Composition powder
Coriander seeds ...

„ powdered
Cough Lozenges ...
,, Pills (per
dozen boxes)
,, powder
„ Syrup (in
bottles from 6d.)
Cranesbill, herb ...
Cubeb?, berries ...

„ powdered
Curcuma root

„ powdered

lb. oz.

2/ 12

3/4 /3

3/4 /3

4/8 /4

3/4 /3

4/8 /4

1/ A

4/8 /4

6/0 /5

3/4 /3

1/ /I

1/
2/
2/

2/
2/

2/
1/
2/

/I
/2
/2

3/4 /3
6/ I'o

1/ A

/2
/2

3/4 /3
7/4 /G

12/ 1/
3/4 /3
4/8 /4

/2
/I
/2

1/4 m

2/6 /2i

4/8 /4

/8 A

1/4 /U

3/4 ./3

10/ 1/

4.8 /4

/3
/I

3/4 /3
4 '8 14
21 12
3/4 /3

rmCE LIST OF GOODS.

lb. oz.

Dandelion root ... 1/4 /li

powdered 2/6 /2i

Tops ... 1/ /I

Extract... 6/ /5

Delectable Jujubes 3/4 /3
Dentifrice (Cufllu's
Botanic) per doz.

boxes 12/ 1/

Ditto, Ditto 24/ 2/

Diaphoretic powder 6/ /5

Diuretic ,, 6/ /5

Dock root, yellow... 1/4 /la

„ powdered... 2/6 /2^

„ Eed Water 1/4 jlk

„ powdered... 2/6 /2i

Elder flowers ... 2/ /2

Elecampane root ... 1/1 jlk

„ powdered 2/G /2^

Ejebright herb ... ]/ /I
Eje wash (in bottles

6d. upwards) ... 3/1 /3

Feathorfew herb . . . 1/ /I

,, powdered 2/ /3
Female bitter?,

powder 6/ /5

Ditto corrective

powder 6/ /5

Fennel seed /8 /I

„ powdered 1/6 /2

Flax seed /6 /I

Fumitory 1/ /I

Gentian root /3 /i

„ powdered 2/ /2

,, extract of 6/ /5

Q-ermander herb ... 1/ /I

Ginger root, E. I. 2/ /U

„ powdered 2/4 /2

Ginger root, J. ... 2/6 /2

„ powdered 3/4 /3

Golden rod 1/ /I

„ Seal root 6/ /5

„ powdered 7/4 /6

Goosefoot Wormseed 2/ /2

„ powdered 3/4 3/

Grarel root, Am. ... 3/4 /3

lb. oz.

Gravel root, powd. 4/8 /4

Ground Ivy herb... 1/ /I

„ powdered 2/ /2

Guaiacum chips ... /8 /I

„ powdered 2/ /2

Gum ammoniacum 4/8 /4

,, powdered 6/ /5

Gum Arabic, picked 3/4 /3

„ powdered 3/4 /3

Gum Myrrh, Turkey 6/ /5

„ powdered 7/4 /6

Holyliock flowers... 3/4
Holy-thistle (Carduus

Benedictus)
Horehound herb ...
,, powdered

Hyssop herb

„ powdered

Iceland Moss

Irish Moss

Indian Pills (per
dozen boxes)

Ditto, ditto

Indigestion powder

Jujubes, for voice , . .
Juniper berries ...
„ powdered

Linseed

,, Meal

Liquorice root ...

„ powdered
Liver pills (per doz.

boxes)

Liver powder

Liverwort

Lobelia inflata herb

,, powdered

,, seed

„ „ pow.

„ acid, tine, of

,, Pills (per
doz. boxes)
Lovage root

1/
1/
2/
1/
2/

/8
/6

12/
30/
7/4

3/4
/8
2/

/3

/I
/I
/2
/I
/2

/I

101

1/U
2/9

/«

/3
/I
/2

16 lOh

/s m

1/ /I

2/ /2

12/ 1/

7/4 /6

2/6 /2

6/ /5

7/4 /6

9/4 /7

10/ /8

3/4 /3

10/ 1/

2/ /2

2U

PllICE LIST OF ffOODS.

Lungwort or oak-
lungs

Mace, fino quality
» powdered
Maidenhair herb...
Male fern root ...

)■ powdered
Mandrake root,
American
ji powdered
Marjoram, sweet
herb ...
), knotted
Marsh Mallow herb
„ root
„ powdered
Mayweed, or wild

camomile

Meadow fern
Mixed spice, finest

flavour

Motherwort

Mountain flax herb
„ powdered

Mouse ear

Mugwort

Mulleins

Mustard seed, white
„ powdered
for table

Nerve pills (per doz.

boxes) 10/

Nervine powder ... 7/4

Nettle herb 1/

,1 seed ... 2/

Nutmegs 4/8

„ powdered 6/

Oak bark, white ... /S

,, powdered 2/

Orange-peel, Seville 4/8

Orrach, Stinking ... 2/

Orris root 1/4

Parsley root 2/

„ powder... 3/4

lb. oz,

2/ /2

7/4

9/

3/4

3/4

3/4
4/8

1/

1/

1/

1/4

2/6

1/

3/4

7/4
2/6
2/
3/4
1/
1/
1/
/8

15
17

/2
/3

/3
/4

/I

/I

/I

/U

I2h

/I
/3

/6
/2
/2
/3
/I
/I
/I
/I

2/ /2

1/
/6
/I
/2
/4

/5

/I

/2
/t
/2

/u

/2
/3

Parsley break-stone

herb

Peach leave?

„ flowers
Peliitory of Spain
rcot
„ of the wall
herb

Pennyroyal herb...

„ powdered
Peppermint herb . . .

„ lozenges . . .
Peruvian bark . . .

„ powdered
Pile Ointment ...
Pinu s Canadensis . . .

„ powdered
Plantain herb
Pleurisy root

„ powdered
Polipody root
Pomegranate shell
and seed

„ powdered

„ bark

„ powdered
Poplar bark, white
American

„ powdered

*,, bark, black
Prickly ash bark . . .

„ powdered

,, berries ...

,1 powdered
Priacca Pine bark

lb.

2/
4/
14/8

oz.

/2
/4
1/

2/ /2

1/

1/

3/4

1/6

3/4

6/

7/4

3/4

3/4

4/8

1/
3/4
4/8
2/6

2/
3/4
6/
7/4

2/

3/4

3;4

3/4

4/8

6/

7/4

3/4

Quassia chips ... /8

„ powdered 2/

Queen's Delight ... 6/

. powdered 7/4
Queen of the Meadow

herb 1/

root 3/4

Raspberry leaves ... 2/

„ powdered 3/4

Ehatany root ... 1/

„ powdered 2/

/I

/I

/3

/It

/3

/5

/6

/3

/3

/4

/I

/3

/4

/2

/2
/3
/5

/6

/2
/3
/3
/3
/4
/5
/6
/3

/2

/5
/6

/I
/3

/2
/3
/I
/2

riilCE LJST OF GOODS.

215

Khubarb candy ...

„ pills, comp.,
pel' box...
Rhubarb root —

„ East Ind'a...

„ powdered ...

„ English

„ powdered ...
Rosemary leaves . . .
Rue herb ,

lb.

3,4

/3

10/ 1/

14/
Ul

6/
V/4
2/
1/

Sage, garden herb. . , 1/

„ red „ ... 1/

Sanicle 1/

Sarsapariila, Jamaica 6/

„ powdered 7/4

Honduras 4/8

,, decoction of 6/
,, extract of 18/

Sassafras chips ... /8

„ powdered 2/

„ bark ... 3/4

,, powdered 4/8

Savory, herb l/

Senna leaves, Alex-
andria ... 2/
„ powdered ... 3/4
„ East Indian 1/4
„ Tennivolley 3/4
Skullcap herb ... 6/
„ powdered 7/4
Skunk cabbage root 3/4
,, powdered 4/8
Slippery elm bark 2/

„ powdered 3/4

Snake root, Virginia 6/

,, powdered 7/4

Soap liniment ... 3/4
Soothing Syrup

(botanic) per doz. 12/

Southernwood herb ] /

Spanish juice (block) 1/4

roll ... 2/

Spearmint herb ... 1/
Spermac3ti ointment 3/4

„ best ... 3/4
Stomach bitters

powdei- 4/8

1/
1/

/5
IS
/2
/I

/I
/I
/I
/5
/6
/4
15
1/3
1/
/3
/3
/!■
/I

/2

/3

/I

iSh

/5

/6

r-i

/'t

1-2
/3
/5

/G
/3

m

in
/I

/3
/3

/l

Sumach berries ..

Tansey herb 1/

„ powdered 2/

Thyme, wild 1/

Tincture of myrrh 7/4
Tormentil root ... 1/4
,, powdered 2/6
Tricopherous, per

doz. bottles ... 12/
Do., do., large size 30/

lb. oz.

3/4 /3

Unicorn root

„ powdered
ITva ursi leaves ...

„ powdered

Valerian root, Eng.
„ powdered
,, American
Vapour bath (tin,

complete)

Vervain herb

„ powdered
Violet powder (4d.
packets) per doz.

Wake Robin root...
Water betony (fig
wort) herb

Was, white

White pond lily
root ...

,, powdered

,, flowers...
White was ointment
Winter green herb

,, powdered
Wood betony herb
„ sago herb ...
Wormwood herb ...

„ powdered
Worm powder ...

6/
7/4
3/4
4/8

2/

3/4

6/

21

/I

I?

/6
/I
/2

1/1

2/9

/4
/6
/3
/4

/3
/3
15

each.

/I
/2

4/ /4

3/4 /3

1/ /I

4/8 /4

Yarrow

powdered.

2/
3/4
20/
3/4
3/4
4/8

1/
1/
1/
2/
4/8

/3
/3
1/6
/3
/3
/4

/I
/I
/I

/2
/4

/I
/3

216

I'lUCE Llti'r OF GOODS.

Pill and Ointment Boxes of all sizes ; Lint and Medicated Wool ;
Glass Sjringes.

Syphon Enema?, in box complc'o, -la. 6d. each, per post is. lOd.

Pure Prenoli White Wins Vinegir for making Acid Tiacture of
Lobelia, 8d. per pint.

All Post Office Orders to ba made payable at the
HIGH HOLBORN Post Office, to A. I. COFFIN
and Co., aud a Remittance MUST accompany the
Order.

The above List does not comprbe our entire Stock j the more
rare Herbs, Barks, Roots, &c. (of a non-poisonous nature), which
the List does not contain, but which are kept in stock, are sold as
the above at the lowest remunerative prices. All herbs, &o., are
kept also in the powdered state, and are a penny an ounce more
than the herb. Powders and pills can be sent by post, under 12 jz.
in weight, including wrapper, to any part of the world ; but kerbs
on account of their bulk and bottles cannot be so sent.

N.B. — i lbs. are charged a fourth of the lb. price.

Per

Price. Post.

G-uide to Health,

4l3t Edition ... 6/ 6/4

Also in French ... 4/ 4/4

,, German ... 4/ 4/4
Treatise on Midwifery,

15th Edition ... 3/6 8/8

Per

Pri-e. Post.

Lectures on Medical

Botany 2/ 2/2

Treatise on the

Generative Organs,

9th Edition 1/6 1/7

1^ Dr. Coffin's Partner and Sole Successor, Dr.
BROOKS, can be consulted daily from 10 a.m. till
1 p.m.; and Tuesday and Saturday Evenings also
from 7 to 9 p.m., GRATIS. Medicines sent to
any part of the World. All letters to be
addressed only to A. I. COFFIN" & Co., 134, High
Holborn, London, W.C.

Dr. COFFIN'S

SPECIALITIES.

THE INDIAN PILLS

Are invaluable in all cases of Indigestion, Liver Complaints,
Bile, Sick Head-acbe, Wind, Oppression of the Stomach, Pain
in the Back, Heaviness after Food, Nervousness, and Constipa-
tion. They are the result of the experience of half a century,
are purely vegetable, and can be taken at any time without
exposing the body to the Lnfluence of climate. Thousands of
teetimonials on our files. In boxes, Is. IJd, and 2s, 9d.

AGUE (FEVER) POWDER

Is sueoessfiil in every case in which other remedies fail,
5d. per oz,, Is. 6d. per ilb.

ANTI-BILIOUS POWDER

Is very effectual in all temporary, or chronic, disorders of the
biliary secretions. 5d. per oz,. Is. 6d. per jlb.

ANTI-CHOLERA POWDER

Is a certain remedy for Dysentery, Diarrhoja, and Cholera, in
all its forms. No family should be without it,
5d. per oa.,' Is, 6d. per ^Ib.

ANTI-SCORBUTIC POWDER

Is highly useful in purifying the blood, and removing cutaneous
eruptions, 5d, per oz., Is. Gd per ^Ib,

218

SPECIALITIES.

ANTI-SPASMODIC POWDER

Particularly deserves notice, as a persisteat use of it will cure
all Hysterical Affections, Fits, Convulsions, and any derange-
ment of the Nervous System. 5d per oz., Is. 6d. per Jib.

COMPOSITION-POWDER

Is a specific -without parallel in all obstructions caused by
colds. It is good for removing pains in the stomach, Diarrhoei,
Rheumatism, Bronchitis, &c., &c. 4d. per oz., 1". 2d. per Jib.

COUGH SYRUP.

We have no hesitation in saying this is the most effectual
preparation extanb for removing a Cjugh, Hoarseness, or
accumulated Mucu3 from the Lungs or Bronchi.
Iq bottles from 6d. upwards.

DIURETIC POWDER

Is an efficient medicine in cases of Dropsy, Strangury, Gravel
or Stone. 5d. per oz., Is. 6d. per Jib.

EYE WASH

This ■will be found eminently successful in remoriiig all
Inflammation, Itching Irritation, and offensive matter from
the Eye and Eyelids. In bottles, 6d. and Is.

FEMALE CORRECTIVE POWDER

Is an excellent preparation for all irregularities to which
females are subject, except menstrual excess.
5d. per oz., Is. 6d. per ilb.

STOMACH BITTERS POWDER

Is designed to create an appetite, correct the biliary organs ;
and is an excellent tonic for those who are enfeebled by age or
disease. 4d. per oz., Is. 2d. per {Ih,

SPECIALITIES.

219

SARS APARILL A-C ONCENTBATED
DECOCTION

Is li'ghly beneficial in cases of impurity of the blood, and
cutaneous diseases of every description, and is recommended
to be taken in Spring and Autumn.
In bottles, Is. 6d., 2s. 6d., and 4s. 6d.

SOOTHING SYRUP FOR CHILDREN

Is without doubt the safest, and best, which a mother can
give to her offspring in cases of Convulsions, Croup, Dysentery,
Diarrhoea, Hiccough, and Worms. In bottles Is. l^d.

TRICOPHEROUS FOR THE HAIR.

This expensive preparation is in such general demand that we
have little need to particularise it ; it effectually eradicates
Scurf and Dandriff, prevents the hair falling off, and supersedes
Oils and Pomades, which are injurious to the hair.
In bottles, Is, l^d. and 2s. 9d.

TOOTH POWDER-BOTANIC,

Prevents Toothache, arrests the progress of decay ; fixes loose
teeth, rendering the gums hard and healthy. Destroys the
fcetor arising from decayed teeth, renders the enamel beautifully
white, and the breath sweet and agreeable.
In boxes, at Is. and 23. ;] per post, Is. 2d. and 2s. 2d.

WOBM POWDEE.

Combined with the Indian Pills, is a certain specific. 4d. per oz.

LOZENGES.

Cough, Cayenne, Ginger, Peppermint, and Delectable, each
the best of its kind. Yoice Jujubes, and Digestive Tablets.
3d. per oz., 3s. 4d. per lb.

INDEX.

PART 1.
MENSTRUATION, CONCEPTION, AND
PARTURITION.

Abortion...
After-birth

PAGK

58

33

Extraction of 89
Pains 107

Barrenness 27

Breech Presentation ... 87

Changes of the Womb

through Impregnation 34

Child, Position of 40

„ Treatment of ... 116

Children, Plurality of ... 92

Circulation, between Mj-

ther and Child 37

Conception 28

„ False 28

Cord, Umbilical 32

Discharge after Labour... 107
Diseases before and after

Labour 47

Authors

83

False Pains

GO

Females th e Natuni 1 M id-

wives

83

Flooding

56

Impregnation

28

Injections

209

Labour

61

PAGE

Labotir, Discharge after 101

„ DifEcult

,, Ciuses of
„ Division of

„ Lingering

„ Management dur-

71
86
67
72

ing

68

Men-midwives 83

Mechanical Delivery (see

Plate IV.) 106

Menstruation 12

„ Excessive... 23

,, Irregular... ]9

„ Suppressed 21

„ Stoppage of 25

Miscarriage 58

Monsters 41

,, Curious Case of 44

Navel-string
Pregnancy
during..
Sickness ..,

Management

The Q-erm, or Ovum

Turn of Life

Twins

Worab, at full period of
Pregnancy (see Plate I.)

32

28

60

49

29
25
92

97

222

INDEX.

PART II.

DISEASES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

PAGE

Aphtha, or Thrush ... 129

Brash, Weaning 150

Breast, Swelled 113

Chickenpox 166

Child-bed Feyer 108

Colic 53

Convulsions ... 54 and 143

Cough, Whooping 159

Cow-pox 164

Crimp 53

Croup 135

Dentition 131

Diarrhoea 146

Difficulty in Passing

Urine 51

Dropsy in the Head ... 145

Eruptions Ill

„ on Children ... 137
Eyes, Sore 141

Falling of the Fundament 149
Womb ... 51

Feet, Swelling of 52

Fever, Ecmittcnt 11 8

,, Scarlet 155

„ Puerperal 108

Food, for Infants 126

Head, Water in the ... 145

Heartburn 50

Hiccups 141

FAGB

Inflammation of the Eves 141

Inoculation

T tit

i-ieg, owellea

1 1 A

IIU

Measles

lo4

Milk, Chills

110

,1 Ijeg

,, Secretion of

124

Mothers, Duty of

117

Nipples, Sore

112

Nursing, Remarks on ...

116

Observation on Food ...

126

Remarks on Suckling ...

119

Rickets

151

Ringworm

140

Rupture

167

Scald Head

139

Smallpox

161

Teething

131

Urine, Pain in Passing...

51

Vaccination

163

Weaning

149

Whites

26

Womb, Inflammation of

115

Worms

151

INDEX.

223

PART III.

DESCRIPTION OF THE HERBS, ROOTS, &c.

ANTISCORBUTICS.

PAGE

PAGE

PURE STIMULANTS.

Ijurdock

lyy

Cubebs

201

Cayenne Pepper ...

. 173

SarsapariUa

200

Chamomile

. 181

Cinnamon

. 178

ASTRimENTS.

Cloves

. 177

Agrimony

Bayberry-Baik

183

G-inger

. 175

188

Lobelia

. 169

Ground Ivy

184

Nutmeg

. 177

Oak-Bark

186

Pennyroyal

. 178

PeruTian-Bark

186

Vervain

. 180

Red Raspberry

183

Yarrow

. 179

Torraentil-Root

185

White Pond Lily

184

i: U IvurAXi V iiib.

COMPOUNDS.

Mountain Flax

. 206

Acid Tincture of Lobelia

209

Rhubarb

. 204

Composition-powder

206

Senna

. 205

Directions for Vapour

Bath

Stomach Bitters Powder

209
207

TONICS.

Tincture of Myrrh

207

Bitter Almonds ...

. 193

"White Wax Ointment . . .

209

Bog-bean

Centaury

. 191

. 190

DIURETICS.

Columba-Root

. 194

Clivers

196

G-um-Myrrh

. 194

Dandelion

197

Horehound

. 191

Juniper-Berriea

198

Poplar-Tree

. 189

Tansey

. 196

NERVINES.

Wormwood

. 195

Assafcctida

203

Valerian

201

Burdock Seed

202

Prt'ce List of Herbs, ^-c. page 211.
Ai^pcndix, j)agc 22.").

APPENDIX.

The following letters are inserted for the pur-
pose of proving that the remedies I have recom-
mended in my " Treatise " have proved successful
in every case where they have been properly ad-
ministered. The writers of them will willingly
answer any inquiries that may be made : — ^

To Dr. Coffin. — Dear Doctor, — I received
yours in due course, and in answer to it I beg to
say that I have invai'iably found the remedies de-
scribed and recommended in your " Treatise on
Midioifery,'''' to succeed in the worst of cases. I
have no particular cases to communicate at present,
but my experience fully corroborates the truth of
your theory ; and although I possess the works
of some of the most able physicians, I consider
your " Guide to Health " and " Treatise on Mid-
wifery " superior to them in every respect. They
in truth contain iimltum in parvo, and embrace
the healing art, as it were, in a nutshell. — I have
the honour to be, yours most respectfully,

Luke Sbddon.

Glasgow, Artfjiist SLs/, 1852.

226

ArrBNUix.

Dr. Coffin, — Dear Sir, — I return you many
thanks for writing such a valuable work as the
" Treatise on Midwifery.'''' I do not think there is a
more useful woi'k. I have cured many children
by simply following the instructions contained
therein. I only know one female who has had
resolution enough to rely on your new system of
medicine in her confinement ; I am happy to say,
however, that she was very successful. Another
female who was troubled with a tumour in the womb
for eight yeai's, cured herself. She has had a fine
healthy child since, and expects to be delivered of
another very shortly. I could mention many
other successful cures if time would permit. I am
glad to hear that you are in the enjoyment of good
health. — That you may be spared for many more
years to advocate your noble system of medicine,
is the fervent wish of yours, &c., J. Walter.

12, St. Mary-street, Sontliamfton,
Sept. 5, 1852.

To Dr. COFFTN. — Dear Sir, — In answer to your
favour, I beg to inform you that I consider your
" Treatise on Midinfery'' to be a great volume of
knowledge in a little space— sufficiently large to
contain a correct guide for females. I have tried
the remedies recommended therein, and such has

API'EKDIX.

227

been their efficacy, that I have had no cases of
fiiihive. The following case is that of a joung
lady who, at he;* previous confinement, was at-
tended by three medical men, who, Avith all their
skill and college-learning, brought forth a still-
born child, stating it had been dead three days.
The lady, however, believed their cruel treatment
was the cause of the child's death ; she therefore
determined upon having a female attendant instead
of a medical man in future. Some thirteen or
eighteen months after, she was again confined and
seemed to be lingering as before. The nurse who
attended her, having some knowledge of your
system, asked the patient if she had any objection
to trying your remedies. She said she did not
care, as they would do her no harm, if they did
her no good. This, Sir, in my opinion is one of
the principal merits of your practice. The nurse
accordingly came to my shop for the remedies,
which she soon gave to the patient. She had not
long taken the medicine before she persi:)ired pro-
fusely. In a very short time after taking them
she was delivered of a fine healthy child. She
recovered speedily, and is, at the present time,
along with her boy, quite well. The old nurse's
expenses for medicines and attendance were five
^hillings. The doctor's expenses for the dead
child was five pounds.

Another lady who was enciente, residing in the
same house, seeing the success attending the above
case, was induced to give the system a trial. She
did so, and was so astonished and pleased with it,
that she determined to have no so-called (?) scion-

228

APPENDIX.

tific doctors at her future confineuients. Any
iuquirer who wishes to have any further information
respecting these cases, by writing to me, may obtain
it. — I desire to remain, in the bonds of friendship,
yours respectfully,

William E. Ford,
JVfl. 1, Bridge-gate, Derby, SeptemJifr 10th, 1853,

To Dr, Coffin, — Dear Sir, — Hearing that you
Avere desirous of having sent you some facts that
had come under the observation of those persons
Avho are practising your neAV system of treatment
in midwifery, I avail myself of this opportunity to
send you the following particulars : — On the 5th
of January last I was requested to see a female,
who, it Avas expected, Avould die. I Avent, and
found her lying on the bed, having been deliA'ered
of a living child three hours before, Avithout the
placenta being expelled. I immediately prepared
her a strong decoction of raspberry-leaf tea,
SAVcetened, and, Avhen cool, added a little cayenne
pepper. I ordered her to drink freely of that
medicine. I afterwards put a bottle of hot Avater
to her feet. A short time after taking this medi-
cine she felt quite AA'arm and comfortable. I then
directed one of her female attendants to extract
the placenta. It required no force, being expelled

APPENDIX.

229

naturally. She took more of the medicine, and
felt more easy and comfortable. I afterwards
prepared her a bottle of medicine, according to
one of the prescriptions in your invaluable
" Treatise on Midwiferij and in a week she was
sitting down stairs, and, in a fortnight, quite well.
If necessary, I could relate many cases where I
have been very successful by simply following out
the instructions contained in your " Treatise on
Midwifery.'''' — I remain, your obedient servant,

J. Newman.

Melkshcan, September l-ith, 1852,

To Djb, Coffin, — My dear Sir, — In answer to
your communication, I beg to inform you that I
have always found the remedies recommended in
your " Treatise on Midwifery,^'' successful. They
act like a charm in producing natural labour-pains,
and allaying false ones. Some time since I was
sent for by a lady, Avho was about seven months
gone in the fiimily way. She Avas suffering ex-
cruciating pain. I gave her some medicine, and
told her to " go to bod, and she would be better."
I then left her, but in half an hour after\\ards I
was again sent for, and before I got into her room,
the child was born, which is now living, and quite

230

APPENDIX.

well. About three or four months back, I was
sent for by another lady who was near her confine-
ment. She suffered very severe pain, I gave the
same medicines, and, after taking the first dose,
she exclaimed, " Why, I am better !" After taking
more of it, she said she felt better than she had
done for some months. She remained tolerably well
for eight days, at the end of which time she was de-
livered of a fine, healthy girl. — With best wishes
for your health and success, I remain, yours
respectfully, Sarah Marriott.

35, Pelham-street, Nottingham, Sep. loth, 1852.

To Dr. Coffin. — Dear Sir, — I have been a mid- •
wife thirty-two years. I was instructed in the art
of midwifery at the " City of London Lying-in
Hospital," and have attended a great number of
cases. I practised midwifery, according to tlie old
system, twenty-eight years. During the last four
years I have practised according to the instructions
laid down in your " Treatise of Midicifery.'" From
these facts you will see that I have had ample oppor-
tunity of testing which of the two systems is the
best ; and I must say that the old system sinks
into insignificance when compared with yours.
Since I have practised it I have seen the happy

APPENDIX.

231

and wonderful effects attending it. — Wishing you
every success in your labours, I am, sir, in the
bonds of Christian charity and medical reform,
yours, &c.,

Mary Crowthek.
Devhi), September 16th, 1852.

To Dr. Coffin. — Sir, — Having learned, from
your valuable Journal, that you are about to revise
your "Treatise on Midwifery,^'' and, therefore, wish
to have communicated to you any information that
may be of service on the occasion, I beg to send
you the following facts : — On the morning of June
8th, 1852, my wife, who was pregnant and near
her confinement, felt a very bad pain in the lower
part of her abdomen. I got up, and made her
some medicine according to your work, in hopes
that it would relieve her in the same manner as it
had done previously ; but after taking two or
three doses, she got so much worse, that I was
obliged to call in one of the neighbours. As soon
as she came she requested me to send for the mid-
wife immediately. I did so, and in about half an
hour after her arrival, the child was born — a fine
girl. She declared to me that she had scarcely
ever seen a case like this where the mother and
child were both saved. I gave the mother the

232

APPENDIX,

usual i-einedies ; she was up on the third da}', and
in a fortnight she was out again.

On the third or fourth day we perceived that the
child's mouth was affected. On examining it we
found it to be the " thrush ; " but by the application
of the treatment laid down in your works, she was
cured in a few days, and has continued so ever
since. — That you may still go on in the cause you
have so indefatigably promulgated, is the wish of
your humble servant, B. J ,

Bilslon, Oct., 1852.

To Dh. Coffin. — Dear Sir, — My wife was con-
fined on the 17th of August, 1850, and was treated
according to the instructions laid do^^•n in your
" Treatise on Midwi/ert/.'^ She had no doctor cor
midwife ; her mother fulfilling both these offices ;
and who is more adapted to perform these duties
than a mother ? She found ffroat benefit from it.
On the 1st of November she was again confined,
and was treated the same as before, and in a few
days afterwards was quite well and hearty. — I
remain. Sir, your obedient servant,

Thomas Blinkhorn.

JS'o. 2, Essex-place, Stratford, Esscv, Nov., 1852,

APPENDIX.

233

To Dk. Coffin. — Dear Sir, — I tried your system
of medicine, as laid down in your " Treatise on
Midwifery,'''' during my last confinement, and
derived great benefit from it. It was the shortest
and best labour, and the child was the finest I have
had ; in fact, Sir, I am so satisfied with it, that I
intend never to take any other medicine, except
those recommended by you in your invaluable
work. — I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

Catherine Saybrs.

No- 4, Brigliton-terrace, Rocleswell-road, JEssex,
JSfovemher ith, 1852,

To Dr. Coffin. — Dear Sir, — I beg to give you
the following simple statement of the good I have
received from your system of Medical Botany, as
laid down in your " Guide to Health " and
"Treatise on Midw'iferyr The first benefit I
derived was when subjected to what the doctors
called an overflow of blood to the head. I was
bled in the arm at least five times by them ;
besides taking no small quantity of their medicine.
I got gradually worse. About this time I became
acquainted with one of your adherents. He told
me of the good he had received from your system,
and urged me to try it. I gave it a trial, and

234

APPENDIX.

instead of my arm being cut with the lancet, and
my blood taken from me, I had a bottle of hot
water applied to my feet, and drank a dose of
yarrow and cayenne tea, which soon gave me
relief, and finally cured me. The second benefit I
derived from your system was about six or eight
weeks previous to my confinement, at which time
I was subject to fainting-fits. I took your medi-
cines, and the result was, I was speedily relieved
from them. During my labour I also took the
remedies, and such was their efficacy that they
seemed to give me strength every time I took
them ; and although this was my first child, and I
had only a midwife in attendance, on the third da}'
I was quite strong and healthy, and on the ninth
day walked a distance of eleven miles. Having
been so much benefited by your system, I recom-
mend it to all my friends. — With heartfelt thanks,
I am, Sir, yours gratefully,

Emma Jones.

Plough Cottage, Hford Lane, Barking, Essex,
November Ath, 1852.

To Dr. Coffin. — Dear Sir, — In reply to your
letter I beg to say that I have attended a great
number of very difficult cases of labour, in all of
which I have required no assistance, as I have
found the remedies prescribed in your Treatise

APPENDIX.

235

on Midwifery " to effect everything I have wished.
They will do more good than the remedies of the
faculty will ; for my own part, I do not believe
there is another system of medicine to equal it. I
have had all kinds of cases to contend with, and
have ever found your system to prove successful.
During the last year, I attended four hundred and
ninety-three labour cases, and I have attended
nearly two hundred cases since last January.
Last week I met a doctor who said to me, " Well,
Mrs. Naylor, you find nothing to do after your
labour cases." I told him that the reason of it
was because I administered freely of Lobelia
Inflata and cayenne pepper ; which prevented
inflammation from setting in. He said, " It sur-
prises me how you can manage difficult cases with-
out other assistance." I told him that it was all
owing to Dr. Coffin's system of treatment laid
down in his " Treatise on Midiviferi/.'" He ex-
claimed, " Oh ! Mrs. Cayenne," and walked away.
In conclusion, I wish the females of England
would abstain from all intoxicating drinks, and
study more the simple and beautiful truths of
Medical Botany ; also hoAV to cure themselves
and their little children. They would be healthier,
have healthier children, and would have no neces-
sity to employ the doctors. — I remain, yours truly,

Ann Naylor.

47, West John-street, Sheffield, August, 1852.

236

APPENDIX.

To Dr. Coffin. — Dear Sir, — I think it my duty
to inforin you and the public of the benefits I
have derived from following out your gystem of
Medical Botany. I attended your lectures, and
purchased your invaluable " Guide to Health'''' and
" Ti'eadso on Michoifery,^^ I studied them very
carefully, and found much information in them.
In a short time after this, we had our little family
of three children attacked with scarlet fever. We
used the remedies presoi-ibed in the " Guide to
Health,^' and they soon recovered. Many of my
neighbours' children were troubled with the same
complaint, and several died from the effects of it.
One of them asked me what means I had used to
cure my children. I told her. She asked me if
I would administer the same remedies to her child,
Avho was given up as incurable by one of the
faculty. (She had also lost two previously under
the same medical man). I thought it was my
duty to accede to her request. I administered the
same medicines I administered to my own children,
and, on the day after she had first taken them, she
w'as nearly w^ell. When the doctor saw the child
he was astonished to see such a change, and said
she would get better. He was right, inasmuch as
she was soon quite well.

Having succeeded so Avell in curing my children,
and being pregnant, I thought of trying to get
through my confinement without the aid of the
doctor. I asked my mother what she thought of
this. She said she thought that, with the assist-
ance of Dr. Coftin'.s " 7Vt'(?//.-t' on .]fidiri/c>y''
although she was not experienced in these matters,

APPfiNDix.

237

she could manage it. When the time came, she
did so with great success. In order that you may
judge of her success, I may as well state that it
was all finished in three hours ; whereas, under
the old system,. I thought myself very fortunate if
it was over in twenty-four hours. I am happy to
say that I suffered very little pain under your
system, whilst under the old system I suffered
excruciating pain. It is now five weeks since my
confinement, and I am in the enjoyment of good
health. This is more than I can say of my former
labours, as I was generally attended by the doctor
five or six weeks afterwards. With many thanks
to you. Sir, for so noble a Avork as the " Treatise on
Miclioifery,^'' I beg to subscribe myself, yours most
gratefully.

Sarah Bishop.

Sicindon, Fehrnarii 5th, 1853.

To Br. Coffin. — Dear Sir, — Having derived so
much benefit from your system of Medical Botany,
I feel it my duty to send you the particulars of
my case, in order that they may be generally
known. Having tried both your system and the
faculty's, I am able to give my own humble
opinion as to which of the two systems is the best.
To enable your readers to judge for themselves, I

238

APPENDIX.

will give you the course of treatment pursued,
and the results in both confinements. About
Christmas, 1850, I was in labour seven days and
six hours ; during which time I was attended by
Dr. Moore, Bethnal Green-road. After seven
days had elapsed, and he had tried every means to
deliver me, and, not being able to succeed, he sent
for Dr. Conquest, Finsbury-square, who came and
extracted the child Avith instruments. On Mon-
day, June 15th, 1853, I was again confined, and
instead of sending for my former medical atten-
dants, I was persuaded by a kind neighbour and
firm admirer of your principles, to try your system .
I therefore sent for your assistant, Mr. Waters.
He came, and in eight hours delivered me of a fine
child, which is now alive and well. I am sure I
need not say that in future my humble voice will
be always raised in favour of your excellent system.
— With best wishes for your future health and
success, 1 am. Sir, your obedient seiTant,

Mary Ellis.

No. 18, Dunk-street, Brich-lane, Spitalfields,
London, Jnly 1st, 1853.

To Dr. Coffin. — Dear Sir, — Last Februaiy I

was requested to visit Mts. C , residing at No.

10, Vincent-street, Limehouse-fields, who, I was
told, bad been forty-eight houra in labour. Xot

APPENDIX.

239

beiuor able to attend at the time, I sent some
medicines, telling the bearer of them, should they
not succeed in relieving her, to send for me.
Being again soon afterwards sent for, I went, and
found the patient fast sinking into the jaws of
death. From the lower extremities to the navel
was quite cold ; the action of the uterus quite sus-
pended ; the pulse ver}^ Ioav, and the breathing-
difficult. I at once ordered her the remedies re-
commended in your Treatise on Midwifery,''''
which produced a gradual improvement ; the pains
returned, 'and she was delivered of a fine child.
This patient took nearly one ounce of cayenne
pepper, and half an ounce of Lobelia Inflata, -sAathin
four hours previous to her delivery. She is now
in the enjoyment of good health ; a living proof of
the efficacy of your invaluable system of Medical
Botany in the practise of midwifery. — Yours very
truly, William Stubbs.

Botameal-hall, Salmon'' s-Iane, LimeJion.fe,
May Uth, 1853.

THE END.

KING'S
College

LONDON

201096040 0

KING'S COLLEGE LONDON