of the Weftminfter General Difpenfary. 361 
I feldom faw them above once or twice, I cannot give the re- 
fiuit. But as few of them were able to indulge themfelves with 
reft, or to comply with the rules neceflary for their cure, it is 
to be feared, that in many of them the complaint would gra- 
dually inc reale ; and that in a CQurfe of years, the uterus 
would make its appearance externally, when, finding it an im- 
pediment to their activity, they would apply and fubmit to 
wear a peflary, or to fuch palliatives as in that ftate can only 
be adminiftered. Excepting this accident, and the iluor albus, 
to which many of them are lubjedt after child-bearing, but 
which, I think, does not often materially affedt their healths 
until late in life, I am inclined to believe, that the lower fort 
of people recover more certainly after parturition than perfons 
in higher ftations of life : at leaft, they are lefs fubjedl to the 
puerperal fever, which is fo fatal, if not checked on its firft 
.attack ; and which, if not caufed, is certainly nourifhed, and 
its malignancy increafed, by great fires, dole rooms, warm 
feptic diet and coftivenefs. But the apartments of the poor are 
generally fo crazy, that without opening doors or windows, to 
which they are fufficiently averfe, the air pours in upon them 
from all lides. To this circumftance, added to their inability 
to keep great fires, or to indulge themfelves with animal food, 
and to the care that is taken very early to empty their bowels, 1 
have been induced to attribute their fo generally efcaping this 
fatal difeafe ; and by adopting rules in my private practice con- 
fonant to this idea, I have the fatisfadtion to be able to fay, that 
I have not feen the puerperal fever among my private patients 
for more than three years'. 
table 
