84 Observations on the Natural History 



3. That the rigid os uteri, with or without inflam- 

 mation, is a rare occurrence, there not being more than 

 ten cases in a thousand of ordinary practice, where the 

 accoucheur would be called on for the aid of his art. 



4. That blood-letting has been considered and pre- 

 scribed as a remedy, " for diminishing pain, disposing 

 the os uteri to dilate, the external parts to unfold," &c, 

 by Smellie, by Denman, by Hamilton, and by Baude- 

 locque*. 



I will close this letter, with a short admonition to 

 young practitioners. It would be well for gentlemen, 

 when they enter the room of a lying-in patient, to carry 

 with them, not their lancet, for I have understood that 



* " I am aware that this remedy (blood-letting) is not a new one 

 to a certain degree ; but, I believe it has never yet been advised nor 

 used in the copious manner, nor regulated by the morbid pheno- 

 mena" (rigidity, local inflammation, unyielding disposition of the 

 soft parts, &c) " of child-bearing, which have been mentioned." 

 Hush. Rep. vol. VI, p. 20. 



" This remedy (blood-letting) is by no means a new one, in la- 

 bour; but employed for the express purpose of diminishing pain, 

 and subduing the various species of rigidity just spoken of, and car- 

 ried to an extent that will ensure these objects, that is, diminishing 

 pain, disposing the os uteri to dilate, the external parts to unfold, 

 Sec, originated, as far as I am acquainted) with myself.'' Dcivees. 

 Essay, p. 62. 



If, sir, you will compare these two paragraphs, I think you will 

 coincide in opinion with me, that, were they in different languages, 

 the one might, with the strictest justice, be considered as a Free 

 translation of the other. Did Dr. Dcwees ever read Dr. Hush ? 



