The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-13

Medical.
New YoRK UrrvER.rrr-Dr. s. BEproRp's Introdue-
tory Lecture to course an Obstetrics and the Diseases
Tvomen and Chiidrew.The lecture on the above i'm
portant interesting subjects by Dr. Bedford deliver
ed at the University of New York. is of character to
demand than ordinary attention, and to call Tor
than merely transient notice There Ii not, per-
hsps in all the range ofmedical SCIENCE extensive as IL
is, any branch highly important a. that which
forms the Of this lecture and while we are ready
at all times to do Justice to the American and English
schools while willing to admit their general &C
knowedged superiority medical practitioners over the
physicians of all other countries candor and justice
compel to say that In this particular department OF
medical practice they smentaby and deporaby de-
fcient There time when five had said that Paris
was only theatre where this branch successfully
cultivated, the observation would have been generally
correct. But able to say, with equal pride
pleasure that New York CITY, by the labors and ia
Tents Of the medical department Of the New York Uni
versity vie with Paris itself In being its equal in the
extensive thorough and skul of this most
important department Of medicine 1t is perhaps, meal
oulable how many amiable and estimabe woman have
been sent to untmey grave by medical treatment
founded on general symptoms, without regard or
consideration of the connection of these symptoms with
uterus The following mentioned by DR.. Bedford
In his lecture will better explain this interesting SUBJ
ject =:
The practitioner who desires to treat SUGGEST uy the
aladios incident to the female must bear constantly
in mind the numerous sympathies by which the womb
Of the patient, indeed will often depend this know
ledge How often for example, does 1t occur that the
by sny local disturbance Of that organ but by the mani
festation OF of the numerous sympathetic pheno
havs repeatedly been consulted by ladies who
suffered severely for months from local pain In the
stomach kidneys liver some other important organ
They have had various remedies applied, having been
treated disease of tho liver kidneys &c., but without
benefit On minute Investigation of their case, have
found disease of the neck Of the sometimes slight
sometimes aggravated character to be the sole
cause Of all their suffering 10 restoring the womb
healthy condition. their pains have at once subsided
The following will illustrate iorcibly the absolute
sxertsd by the womb in certain forms OF disease
ths month of February last, was requested to visit
lady in consultation with DE- whsng o. NJ TINS 0ity
Parker had previous to VISIT seen and prescribed
this patient. When saw her, in company with Dr..
Whiting, she was apparently near dissolution. Her
prostration extreme her countenance almost hip
pocratic in word, her friends had abandoned all hope
of recovery The particulars OF the these
the mother Of child seventeen months old
About month previous to my seeing her, she had
sonsly been troubled with nausea and vomiting and
for the week previous to my visit she had vomted noes
sanity She could retain nothing on her stomach the
vomiting resisted every remedy that had been admins
tered 1t was under these circumstances that |
called to her The medical who had preceded
in attendance, ordered cups leeches and bisters
over region of the stomach with various internal
needles but all without the slightest appreciabe effect
The vomiting still unchecked and her death hourly
expected. On examining critically her care, arrived
at the conclusion that the vomiting was merely symp
tom Of trouble elsewhere, and that no remedy which
could bs addressed to the stomach would be of the
least avail in rescuing her from tho imminent peril in
which she placed In putting my hand on the abdo-
men, found the uterus enlarged and occupying the
hypogastSc region. The alarming situation of the pa
tsnt would justify delay her life to be
every thing sdmonished US that it was to be done only
by instantaneous My opinion of the
that the vomiting was uec produced by rrita
ton the womb therefore suggested the propriety
endsavoring to induce contraction of this organ IN
order that its contents might be expelled This view
concurred in by DR. Whiting Accordingly, without
moments delay desperate and almost hopeless as tho
case was introduced female catheter into the womb,
and ruptured the membranes In short time the uterus
contracted, and Of hydstds thrown off I'm
The patient after tedious oonvsssosnoe from her sx
treme debility recovered and now in the enjoyment
Of robust health.
There IL one branch of my department which Ihsve
made slusion and yet it is one involving the dis
charge Of the most sacred dIss refer to the Various
sonally bs called upon to Observation-Disclosures on the
Of which will often depend character liberty and
life itself Take by way of illustration the subject Of
pregnancy Your opinion will frequently be invoked in
questions of doubt by the Judges and lawyers of the
the law the execution of retributive Justice and
the accuracy Of your decision may depend, not
society,
individuals, but human life itself will often be at
your mercy The question OF the existence or non-ex
istence Of pregnancy is under certain
one of the most en- barrassng which BY any possibility
can be presented to the judgment of the physician On
the hand female, in the hope Of gain, urged
perhaps by malignant motive charges the ia
Their Of family with having violated her person ana
thus with view to successful plea feigns pregnancy
and who has become mpregnated, anxious to conceal
her shame, applies to practitioner and endeavors
RING off h. vvifh oh
the physician has to contend in arriving at just OPT
MON on this subject Van switen excaims with great
ur incatis" But occasionally, it will devolvs on you
practitioners Of medicine to shield innocence against
scouts Of charges which have been preferred
by reckless and cruel world.
beg your indulgence while cite the following case
not altogether void Of interest Some time since
ceived note requesting to visit without delay,
lady who residing In the State Of New Jersey about
thirty miles from this city Immediately repaired to
father, q venerable and accomplished gentleman. He
seemed broken in spirit and it evident that grief
into his daughters room my sympathies we're at once
awakened beholding the wreck of beauty which
nhtbi,s ana It was manifest from her wasted frame
that Death had claimed his victim. My presence did
not seem occasion the slightest and with
the smile Of angel playing her countensnce she
greeted me with these words Well Doctor, am glad
to see you on my beloved fathers account for will
not believe that cannot yet be restored to health Life
has lost ell its charms for me- and long the
rspose of the grave" These words spoken with
gsntenes. but yet with an emphasis that
at once gave insight into the character Of this
lovely woman From her own lips received the follow
ing history of her Her father was clergyman OF
high standing in the English church. and had pastoral
charge in England in which he continued until circum
stances rendered necessary for him to leave that
try and seek residence in America. At very early
aye she mad lost mother and had been entire
" educated by her father, whole talents and attain
ments admirably fitted him for the duty. When she |
had attained eighteenth year there attach
ment formed her anu young barster OF great
promise and respectaDity This attachment resulted
In matrimonial ENGAGEMENT. Soon after the engage
ruept she began unaccountably TO decline in health -
There considerable irtegularty IN her menstrual
with more constant loss OF appe
titc inability to sleep, feverishness and uncontros
BILE dislike to society In addition to these symptoms,
her, WAS srked change in her personal appearance
her abdomen became enlarged her breasts increased in
sc These changes attracted the attention some
of her female acquaintance and the soon spread
that they the result of pregnancy The bsrrstsr