Sect. IV.] Surgerij and Obstetrics. 315 



which the eighteenth ceutitry can boast, consists in 

 the maxim o^ Saving Skin in all operations, and in 

 the universal doctrine and practice of Jdhesiony as 

 now received. This improvement is so simple and 

 so important that it is wonderful to find it re- 

 served for the surgeons of so late a period. Tlic 

 merit of this discovery does not seem to belong 

 exclusively to any individual. A share of it doubt- 

 less attaches to Mr. Alanson of Liverpool, and 

 several others who directed their inquiries to this 

 object about the same time. But to !Mr. John 

 Hunter more is certainly due than to any other 

 person. This improvement was first applied to 

 amputation^ then to the operation of the trepan^ 

 next to the extirpation of scirrhous breasts, after- 

 wards to all the great operations, and, lastly, to all 

 recent wounds. In short, it would not be too 

 much to assert, that this doctrine and practice of 

 adhesion have done more to promote the progress of 

 surgery, within a lew years, than any discovery of 

 modern times, not excepting, perhaps, even that 

 of the circulation of the blood. 



It remains to offer a few remarks concerning the 

 progress of Obstetrics in the late century. By this 

 term it is usual now to understand not only the 

 art of facilitating the birth of children, but that of 

 managing pregnant and puerperal women. During 

 the period of our retrospect, the improvements which 

 this art has received may justly ])e considered as 

 numerous and important, and fully equal to those 

 which are claimed in the other departments of me- 

 dicine. 



Both the theory and practice of obstetrics have 

 assumed a much more regular and scientific form 



