37t) Medicine. [Chap. IV. 



Avitliln the period in question. The anatomical 

 structure of the l)ocly, so far as it concerns this art, 

 was well understood in former ages. But the in- 

 tricate and interesting relations of one part to 

 another, their distances and their inclinations, both 

 with respect to each otlier, and to different parts of 

 the bod}^, as well as with regard to the foetus, form 

 a branch of inquiry on this subject which has been 

 prosecuted to advantage only in modern times. 

 Dr.Smellie, is supposed to deserve the praise of be- 

 ginning this improvement and pursuing it to con- 

 siderable extent*. 



By the light of the eighteenth century, not only 

 many new truths have been brought into view, but 

 a multitude of errours, prejudices, and superstitious 

 opinions, which formerly misled the obstetrical art, 

 have been in a great measure banished f. Nature 

 has resumed it.s dominion, and is now followed as 

 the safest guide. Much of the officious and violent 

 interposition of former practitioners, to hasten or 

 control tlie natural process of parturition, has been 



* Dr. Smellie is said to have been the first writer who consi- 

 dered the shape and size of tlie female pelvis as adapted to the 

 head of the I'oetusj to have abolished many superstitious no-" 

 tions, and erroneous customs, that prevailed in the management of 

 women in labour and of children; and to have had the satisfaction 

 of seeing most of iiis maxims adopted in the greater part of 

 Europe. — Ramsay's Kcvic-j:, p. l.'}. 



■\ Van Swieten quotes several authors of reputation, who had 

 advised lying in women to keep their beds till the tenth or twelfth 

 day after parturition j and this was frequently done without chang- 

 ing their bed-linen. The children were also incased from head to 

 foot, so as to be totally deprived of the use of their limbs. ThesG 

 absurd and unnatural practices have, witluu the last half cenairy, 

 ?^!i ;idd'CkA\\y ey.ploded. — Ihid. 



