An introductory lecture, to the course on obstetrics and diseases of women and children : delivered in the University of Pennsylvania, November 5, 1846 / by Hugh L. Hodge.

  • Hodge, Hugh L. (Hugh Lenox), 1796-1873.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introductory lecture, to the course on obstetrics and diseases of women and children : delivered in the University of Pennsylvania, November 5, 1846 / by Hugh L. Hodge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Gentlemen of the Medical Class,—I appear before you as the representative of the Obstetric department of this University. In this capacity, I must teach you the science and the practice of Obstetrics, or, as it has been well named, Tokology. It constitutes that division of the medical profession which takes cognizance of those wonderful phenomena which occur in the female system from the moment of con- ception to the full period of utero-gestation; which examines, with sci- entific accuracy, the minute and varied changes which occur during labour, ascertains what are the fundamental laws which regulate this important process, and studies every deviation from the natural course of parturition. From these sources are deduced those principles which render our science so eminently useful—so important to the welfare of the community. That I may teach, and that you may learn this science, the first and the greatest desideratum is to form right conceptions of the nature and importance of the Obstetric art; that, being fully persuaded of its great—I had almost said its inestimable value—we may devote to its culture every talent we possess, with a zeal and a perseverance, which will overcome every obstacle and defy every opposition. On former occasions, when I had the honour of introducing this sub- ject to a medical class, I felt so deeply the importance of forming cor- rect and elevated notions of our science, that I cheerfully embraced the opportunity to explain the true character of Tokology, and, by various considerations, to urge its claims on the time and thoughts of a medi- cal student. It was then demonstrated that this branch of medicine truly deserved the name of a science; that it was not merely an art— a fortuitous collection of facts, to be learned merely by observation and experience; but that it was founded on the peculiar structure and functions of the female system : of course demanding, as a preliminary stiulv, a knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Moreover, it was shown that it was involved so intimately with the other branches of medicine, that no man can be a good obstetrician who is not a good physician. All the sciences, a knowledge of which