The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-27
MedIcnl Intelligence.

AND OF WOMEN AND CHiLDAEH, ueuSereu OCtO-
Der 30, isas, by O. g. Bedford h. D.. Professor in the
New York University, Department ofMedicne.
For the last few the students in the medi,al de-
parment of the University have been in the habit of pro-
curing the publication of Of the Introductory lee
lures That are delivered at the commencement OF each
session by the various professors of the different
branches At general meeting of the class the 9th
November last, committee appointed to solicit at
the hands of the several proesso copy of these lee
lures for this purposes and in accordance with that re.
quest three Of them granted, viz: The Lectures
delivered by the Professors of Obstetrics Chemistry and
the Theory and Practice Of Medicine As proof Of the
great and deserved popularity of this school, We may
mention that the committee appointed to make this re-
quest included gentlemen from twentythree States Of
the Union, besides others from Canada, Ireland and
South America Among the States thus represented
some of the distant ones. such Arkansas Flor
d. Louisana Texas &c. This shows in eminent de-
gree how widely ard favorably the institution is known
But present purpose to speak Of the Lecture
Obstetrics.
In the whole range of disease, there is probably
more interesting subject than tho diseases to which the
female system peculiarly incidents and none perhaps
which, until the present time less justice has been
done. The period however; has now passed away
when these diseases TO be looked trivial
ties below the consideration of scientific enquiry and
the suffering female is longer condemned TO undergo
haphazard and ignorant treatment which she former
ly experienced minds of the highest order have con-
CcDtTateu
culiar diseases and the consequence s that they
treated with great success.
In this introductory lecture Professor Bedford has
also of the difficulties attending the practical pur
suit Of it. And do not know that can better illus
trate them, than by giving the following extract
1.-The maadies peculiar to females from their very
ture lead vast deal of the part of
the practitioner II is too often the case that his opinion
is not requested until serious if not fatal progress has
been made in the disease. The decacy of the female
very naturally urges her to conceamen OF her suffer
ngs until finally bodily torture, which she Is longer
able to endure in silence compels her to invoke profess
sona counsel But alas! how often does happen that
that the disease is beyond the efficacy
Of medicine and his duties limited to the pallaton Of
present suffering Again the practitioner will be sent
him in reference to her situation; she contents herself
with stating that her health is inrm, that she is trou
bled less with pain in her back and is anxious
to receive from the doctor Strengthening medcine
This is but generally the substance of the
ton between the patient and physician and hence it is
what shaken in the efficacy of art; and that people,
sensible all other subjects should thoughte ssly
nit their health and lives to nosrum vendors and reck
less empirics".
This, undoubtedly, is the true that see 20
much vile trash publicly advertised under the head Of
general knowledge Of ply siology and the laws which
the Almighty has laid down for the governance of these
women, how much pain and suffering might they not
avoid But so they are educated thoroughly as far
sophy astronomy chemistry, sc. &C. are all unfoided
to them in our various seminares but the still more
wonderful organism of their own frames an organism
con pared with which the most elaborate and delicate
machinery made by man. is nothing, is studiously
hidden from their view. We are by means for the
own an end cannot be obtaned for il not
only requires years of study, the most intense, to
boo acquainted with the correct principles Of med
cal science bn also the continual practice 0fthe know
ledge thus obtained in order to apply them; but We
certainly do say that the principles OF physiology and
the mechanism OF frames be, and ought to
be taught in seminary in the cOunrv: and
this kdone we are persuaded that not only life
disease would be- less prevalent because people Would
then know somewhat how to take care OF themselves
Nor this want Of knowledge the only source from
whence these evils arise; there is another cause at
work and though no rational man can suppose that the
whole mechanism of our present social condition
sentiments expressed IN the following extract and we
give it in the hope, that it may perhaps awaken the
feelings Of some mothers who are at present nesectng
Those Of you whose taste or preference may lead to
special study of the diseases of women will discover
that they numerous, and almost of endless variety
they produce not only great steal Distress but often
bring sorrow to the domestic hearth. Woman, at every
period of her existence liable to disease and suffering
and would seem to the casual observer that God for
some wise yet purpose, had imposed her
penalties and Affections heavier than those which
engendered in the vulgar mind after contemplating the
constant and imminent perils by which the female is
more or less surrounded during the various of e
But the philosophic glancing does at the admit
rable laws which all he Ah is basd once that
it is the violation Of these laws alone which produces
such disastrous effects the female frame. The refine
ments of civilization and the departure from
those sauary influences necessary to that harmony
of action without which healthy condition of the sys.
tenn cannot be maintained making fearful inroads
the females of the present generation that whilst,
the one hand the scholar s gaddened by the triumphs
Of civilization, the phanthropi the other, cannot
but lament the evils which necessarily follow in its
train It the pride Of the ancients to mpa to their
children robust and vigorous constitutions and could
mother of those sensible times again visit earth look
at the present condition Of society, and examine
It's effects on the females OF our day. she woui indeed
would search in vain for those who would remind her of
her own rudy and vigorous daughters-and, from the
uness of her heart che would drop tear poor de-
generate humanity. Honor say, to the man who may
succeed in awakening parents to- proper of the
" and physically by subservency to the demands Of
modern society"
One more quoetisn and we have done with this lecture
The subject to which it refers is which 10 made
great handle Of by the ignorant and presumng, and
that readers will accord with the sentiments
here expressed they full Of good and should
not pass UNDECIDED =
Another common error in practice is to mpute the
various ailments Of the female to falling of the womb; and
hence if to credit what il said this subject by
certain practitioners falling Of the womb il the true
cause Of all female complaints II would indeed be
much nearer the truth to srm that this affection is very
commonly the result of on the part Of the
sican in not detecting early peod disease Of
the cervix of this hch by being suffered to pro-
70 proap
sion 1t has been shown by EisfraDc, to whom the pro-
fession is under deep obligations for the light he has
thrown the aud restment of affections Of the
womb that prolapsus uer is rarely primary disease,
but usualy consequent enlargement Of tho cervix
which, by its increased weight pulls the uterus into the
vagina. With this simple explanation. which undoubt.
eddy 10 based facts il must be evident that the very
means usually resorted to for the cure Of falling Of the
womb are the direct agents Of nischisf; they. not
only fail to do good, but are positively inju-
rious. Every medical nsn, who possesses a
proper knowledge of his profession well aware that
this disease 10 extremely among unmarried ladies
what therefore, be the character Of practitioner
who other for the suferings and i'll.
health OF young lady than falling Of the womb, and
quenty subjects her to the most cruel and upjus
Sable examination have heard of several young crea
lures. in family. averaging from sixteen to eighteen
OF age condemned to this most shameful desecra
ton of their. persons physician, to be habually
guilty OF such practices must in all truth, either be
knave, or labor under confirmed monomana-not how
ever, confirmed than the mental delusion, which
could induce mothers to tolerate this unnecessary and
indicate exposure Of their guieless daughters"
On the whole this lecture il we'll worthy the perussl
Of ALL both professional and professionsl, and
trust hst will be extensively circulated The subject
is one TINT comes home to every for who s there
lonely this world that he has not ofgcnter