No. 98 Fourth Avenue, New York, 1852.

CONTENTS.

Introduction Page [v]
LETTER I.
HISTORY OF MIDWIFERY.
The Art of Midwifery in Ancient and Modern Times—To what extent may the Perils of Childbirth be Lessened? [19]
LETTER II.
OF MENSTRUATION.
Puberty—The Menstrual Discharge—The Marriageable Age [34]
LETTER III.
OF MENSTRUATION.
The Menses—Names—Source—Commencement—Periodicity—Nature—Quantity of the Menstrual Discharge [40]
LETTER IV.
OF MENSTRUATION.
Cessation of the Menses—Turn of Life—Management at this Period [49]
LETTER V.
OF MENSTRUATION.
Tardy and Suppressed Menstruation—Chlorosis—Sudden Check of the Menses [61]
LETTER VI.
OF MENSTRUATION.
Menorrhagia and Dysmenorrhea—Their Nature and Treatment [81]
LETTER VII.
SIGNS OF PREGNANCY.
Importance of the Subject—Difficulties of ascertaining Pregnancy in some Cases—Means by which it is to be Known [92]
LETTER VIII.
DURATION OF PREGNANCY.
Difficulties of Ascertaining it—Rules by which it is to be Known—At what Age can a Fetus Live? [99]
LETTER IX.
MANAGEMENT IN PREGNANCY.
Importance of Attention to the Health at this Period—Clothing, and its Effects—How to Regulate it [108]
LETTER X.
MANAGEMENT IN PREGNANCY.
Of Solar Light—Its Effects on Life and Health—Air and Exercise—Rules of Management [118]
LETTER XI.
MANAGEMENT IN PREGNANCY.
Of the Diet Proper in this Period—Animal and Vegetable Food—Superiority of the latter—The Drink [123]
LETTER XII.
DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY.
Nausea and Vomiting—Means of Prevention, and Cure Page [132]
LETTER XIII.
DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY.
Fainting—Its Causes—Symptoms—Results—Treatment [139]
LETTER XIV.
DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY.
Abortion—Its Nature and Ill Effects—Its Causes—Means of Prevention [143]
LETTER XV.
DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY.
The Evils of Abortion—The great Danger of bringing it on purposely—Cases—Illustrations of the Methods of Cure—Uterine Hemorrhage—Cases of Cure [152]
LETTER XVI.
DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY.
Its Febrile Condition—Acute Disease—Sleeplessness—Heart-burn—Constipation—Diarrhea—Piles and Hemorrhoids—Their Treatment [165]
LETTER XVII.
DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY.
Headache: the Nervous and the Plethoric kinds—Stye in the Eye—Salivation—Hemorrhage from the Stomach—Cramp of the Stomach—Toothache—Jaundice [179]
LETTER XVIII.
DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY.
Difficulty of Breathing—Pain in the Right Side—Itching of the Genitals—Swellings of the Limbs—Cramps of the lower Extremities—Pain of the Breasts—Hysteria—Physical Hindrances—Exposure to Disease [190]
LETTER XIX.
DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY.
Nervousness—Mental Despondency—Longing—The Imagination—Effects of Fright Page [200]
LETTER XX.
DRUG-TREATMENT IN PREGNANCY.
Effects of Blisters—Emetics—Purgative Medicines—Bleeding [218]
LETTER XXI.
STERILITY OR BARRENNESS.
Their Causes—The Catamenial Discharge as affecting it—Fluor Albus—Corpulency—The Treatment appropriate in these Cases [224]
LETTER XXII.
THE PELVIS AND ITS ORGANS
General Description—Differences between the Male and Female Pelvis—The Bladder and Urethra—The Vagina—The Uterus and its Appendages [229]
LETTER XXIII.
ANATOMY OF THE FETUS.
Its Length and Weight—Its Osseous, Muscular, and Vascular Systems—The Fetal Circulation—Nervous System—Organs of Sense—Its Lungs, Heart, and other Internal Organs [243]
LETTER XXIV.
PHENOMENA OF LABOR.
Meaning of the Term—Its Divisions—Duration—Is Pain a Natural Condition of Labor?—Ether and Chloroform [253]
LETTER XXV.
MANAGEMENT OF LABOR.
Its Premonitory Signs—Progress of Labor—Its Different Stages—Age as Affecting it [260]
LETTER XXVI.
MANAGEMENT OF LABOR.
The Placenta, or After-Birth—The Membranes—Management of the After-birth—Rules for Extracting it—Of Flooding after Delivery Page [272]
LETTER XXVII.
ADVICE CONCERNING LABOR.
The Medical Attendant—State of Mind—The Room—State of the Bowels—The Dress—The Bed—The Position, Exercise, Food, and Drink [280]
LETTER XXVIII.
MANAGEMENT AFTER DELIVERY.
Importance of Attention to this Period—Evils of too much Company—Bathing—The Bandages, Compresses, etc.—Sleep—Sitting up soon after the Birth—Walking about—The Food and Drink [285]
LETTER XXIX.
MANAGEMENT OF THE CHILD.
Of Separating the Umbilical Cord—Practices of different Nations—Of Still-Birth, and Resuscitation of the Child—Washing and Dressing it [292]
LETTER XXX.
HYGIENE OF NURSING.
Lactation a Natural and Healthful Process—Rules for Nursing—At what time should Lactation cease?—Food and Drink proper during the Period [308]
LETTER XXXI.
OF TWINS, TRIPLETS, ETC.
Twins, Triplets, and Quadrigemini of comparatively rare Occurrence—Of the Signs of two or more Children in the Womb—Management of Twin and Triplet Cases—The Nursing of Twins [316]
LETTER XXXII.
TREATMENT OF AFTER-PAINS.
The Nature of After-Pains—The different Kinds—Their Causes—Treatment—The great Value of Water-Cure Page [328]
LETTER XXXIII.
THE LOCHIAL DISCHARGE.
The Mosaic Law concerning Purification of Women—Nature of the Lochia—Excessive and Offensive Discharge—Treatment of Suppression of the Lochia [336]
LETTER XXXIV.
OF CHILDBED FEVER.
Milk Fever as distinguished from Puerperal Fever—The great Danger of Childbed Fever—Its Symptoms and Nature—Modes of Treatment—Is it a Contagious Disease? [342]
LETTER XXXV.
OF SORE NIPPLES.
This Complaint is a very common one—Its Causes—Methods of Prevention and Cure [362]
LETTER XXXVI.
INFLAMMATION OF THE BREAST.
Structure of the Mammary Gland—Nature and Causes of Inflamed Breast—Means of Prevention and Cure [370]
LETTER XXXVII.
CASES IN MIDWIFERY.
A Collection of Facts Illustrative of the Effects of Water-Treatment before, during, and after Childbirth [383]
LETTER XXXVIII.
CONCLUDING REMARKS.
Hysteria—Its Prevention and Cure—Leucorrhea, or Whites—Falling of the Womb [428]

LETTERS TO WOMEN

LETTER I.
HISTORY OF MIDWIFERY.

The Art of Midwifery in Ancient and Modern Times—To what extent may the Perils of Childbirth be Lessened?

Midwifery is the art of aiding women in childbirth. In some mode—rude, simple, or complex—it has been practiced in all ages of the world. According to the records of medicine, however, the great mass of the human family has been born and brought up without the aid of the so-called obstetrical science of modern times. The ruder nations anciently, as well as the savage nations in later times, appear to have exhibited, practically at least, a much greater confidence in the prophylactic and healing powers of nature than we see among the more civilized and enlightened portions of our race.

But let us, for a little, glance at midwifery as it has existed at different periods of the world.

We read in the Book of Genesis, chapter thirty-fifth, that as Jacob and Rachel were journeying from Bethel, Rachel travailed, and had a hard labor.

“And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, Fear not, thou shalt bear this son also.