The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-01-19 00:00:00

THE ACCOUCHMENT OF THE PRINCESS OF

WALES.
The mermehment of her Royal Highness (says tlso
Lancer) was not altogether ea sudden and without pre-
monitory warnings as bas been currently reported, nor
is there any reason to suppose that it was preniaterely
hastened by her visit to the toe. Blight symptoms
*listed in the earlier part of the day, which some of
the more experienced of the ladies around the Princess
attributed to what proved later to be the true eases
But her Royal Highness, equally with the Prince, has
the strongest dislike to what, n ordinary phrase, is
called " making a f um," and on this occasion prose,"
to pus over these matters as of no moment. On re-
turning from the ice, at about 6 o'clock, the symptoms
were more urgent. A telegram we. then dispatcis, to
London for Dr. Sieveking, of St. Mary'. Hospital,
Physician in Ordinary to her Royal Highness. pee-
windy the ...peon of affairs became unmistakeable. A
second telegram was then dispatched for Dr. Farm, of
Flertford-street, who had been appointed aceoucheur to
her Royal Highness. Meantime, however, it was
evident that more immediate aid was required, and Mr.
Henry Brown, of Windsor, was summoned, and had the
happiest.s of bringing the infant Prince into the
world. Mr. Brown is a general practitioner of con-
siderable local repute, and enjoys the confidence of the
Royal family, with whom he has been habitually
brought into professional relations. The fortuitous
circumstances which placed in the hands of a general
practitioner the honour of officiating on this in-
teresting occasion will not be devoid of gratifyim
reflections to the important and bard-working body 07
men who constitute the general practitioners of Great
Britain, whose ability and excellent qualities are well
represented in Mr. Brown, and have always been mit],
appreciated by the members of the Royal household.
Dr. &melting reached Frovnore Mahout 9 p.m.. imme-
diately after the infant we, born, and Dr. Arthur Parra,
who had come down by a special train, itutently on
receiving his summon., arrived afterward.. All the
arrangements had been made, as is known, for the
accouchment to have taken place at the beginning of
March. at Marlborough-house; as it waa, there was sot
anything in readiness, nor was any nurse present, and
the maternal experience of the Countess of Macclesfield
was most useful. Dr. Ferro has remained at Frogman
in continuous attendance throughout the week. Dr.
Siereking has also visited her Royal Highness dolly,
until Wednirday, when he was attacked no severely
with muscular rheumatism of an acutely painful
character, after returning from his visit, that he has since
been and is now temporarily confined by it to bed. It
may be well, perhaps, here to explain the various tit
natures of the bulletins, which have attracted some
attention. The explanation Is simple. The first
bulletin was signed by Dr. &arcking and Mr. Brown,
for they were the two medical gentlemen actually in
attendance on the Princess at the moment the bulletin
was Issued—that is, immediately after the birth of the
infant. On Dr. Ferro's arrival be was, of course, put
In charge of the case; Mr. Brown, who had so happily
performed the important functions which an emergency
celled for, retiring and leaving the illustrious patient,
as is the proper and necessary custom, in the hands of
her appointed attendants. Dr. Faire. as accouitheur,
and Dr. Sieveking, as phydcian in ordinary, continued
in attendance, and therefore signed the daily bulletins
during the week. Subsequently, Dr. Sieveking being
temporarily disabled, Dr. Farm, who has throughout
been in constant charge of Her Royal Highness, saved
singly the bulletins, which he issues on his individual
responsibility. The health of the Princess is ereellent,
and her convalescence has been uninterrupted. This
infant Prince is, happily, a fine and healthy child. Per
perm/Aim, he is said to present already a striking
likeness to his }loyal father, his features being un-
usually well marked. Very precise statements
have been made as to tho uterine age of the infant
Prince, and his weight; but these statemeate
have been more precise than accurate. He is believed
by those beet able to form an opinion to be somewhat
more than " • seven-months child." The weight of
nine pounds gravely assigned to the young Print" ls
altogether incorrect. We are assured that he bas
been weighed at all; and this will certainly diced
relief to many anxious mothers and nurses, who balm
declared, almost with one voice, that "it was a shwa
to weigh the little Priam, for it is so unlucky to weigh
a child" His weight is estimated at considerably leas
than nine rounds, which is • good weight for a fine
child of fully nine months' development; six pounds
would probably be nearer to the truth, and yet leave
nothing to regret. Every one is, of college, anxiows to
know how the Prince is to be brought up. He will he
suckled by a wet nurse. The same difficulties presented
themselves in this as in other matters, from the nom,
petted and premature arrival of the little stranger. k
nurse was, however, carefully selected in the ee
by Dr Sieveking from those on the list of Lr::
road Lying-in Institution—Mrs. Connor, a married
woman, of irreproachable character, good health and
antecedents, and possessing the requisite physical
qualities. The little Prince feeds well, and is in
excellent health.