80 Observations on the Natural History 



" In lingering labours, when the parts are rigid, if the 

 patient is of a plethoric habit, with quick strong pulse," 

 says Smellie, " the contrary method (opposed to cor- 

 dials) is to be used, such as venesection, antiphlogistic 

 medicines*," &c. Here is the doctrine recognized by 

 old Smellie, an unfashionable writer it is true, in all its 

 principles. He advises venesection in rigidity of the 

 softer parts. For what purpose? Surely " to dispose 

 them to dilate, to unfold" before the head of the child, 

 to prevent or cure, as the case might be, inflammation. 

 He could not, nor could any other rational man, suggest 

 to us blood-letting, merely for the ceremony of the 

 thing. He must have intended it to be in its extent 

 commensurate with the circumstances of the case. 



Thus, where Baudelocque remarks, that " af bleed- 

 ing made to the purpose (a happy expression), with 

 emollient, mucilaginous injections, the warm-bath, &c, 

 * * * * can relax the rigidity of the neck of the womb, 

 and render its dilatation easy." He does not restrict us 

 to any given quantity. There is, however, but one 

 thing to be understood. The bleeding is to be " a pro- 

 pos ;" suited to the circumstances of the case, as to ex- 

 tent, and done in time. What reasonable man could 

 have said more ? 



* Smellie, vol. I, p. 221. 



t " Une salgnee faite a/irofios, des injections emolienteset muci- 

 lagincuscs, les bains » * * * pour affoiblir la roideur du col dc la 

 matrice, et en facililer I'ouverture." Tom. I, par. 1 \4.5. Baudcloa/ur. 



