13.07.2015 Views

History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

220 <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> Medical Practice <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>oisbeen active <strong>in</strong> the work <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Society</strong>, and it has assumed a prom<strong>in</strong>entplace <strong>in</strong> the ranks <strong>of</strong> similar societies throughout the United States. It is tobe regretted that no similar organization embrac<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>medical</strong> men <strong>in</strong>other parts <strong>of</strong> the state was developed at this time. 9Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Progress. The advances made <strong>in</strong> the <strong>practice</strong> <strong>of</strong> obstetricsand gynecology are recorded <strong>in</strong> the papers and reports presented beforethe Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical <strong>Society</strong>. 10 As <strong>in</strong>terest and knowledge <strong>in</strong> these twosubjects <strong>in</strong>creased, they became more def<strong>in</strong>itely established as specialtieswith<strong>in</strong> the general field <strong>of</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e.1850—1860What was thought to be the first recorded case(1853) <strong>of</strong> development <strong>of</strong>the placenta <strong>in</strong> the fallopian tube <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois by Dr. C. N. Andrews <strong>of</strong> Rockford,probably was a pregnancy <strong>in</strong> an arcuate type <strong>of</strong> bicornuate uterus.The patient delivered a small child, follow<strong>in</strong>g which she had a reta<strong>in</strong>edplacenta and an uncontrollable postpartum hemorrhage. The placentawas removed piecemeal by <strong>in</strong>struments and the hemorrhage controlledby a pack. The same result was encountered with her second pregnancy andaga<strong>in</strong> with severe postpartum hemorrhage. With her third pregnancy,while walk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the garden, she suddenly was seized with a severe pa<strong>in</strong>,then fa<strong>in</strong>ted and died almost immediately. Autopsy showed a rupture <strong>of</strong>the uterus, possibly predisposed to by the previous manipulations necessaryfor <strong>in</strong>strumental removal <strong>of</strong> the placenta <strong>in</strong> the two previous pregnancies.The fact that the autopsy report did not mention the type <strong>of</strong> bicornuateuterus means that the degree <strong>of</strong> deformity was m<strong>in</strong>imal.In1857, Dr. W. M. Chambers <strong>of</strong> Charleston reported on a conditioncalled "stomatitis materna." This is probably the first mention <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois<strong>of</strong> vitam<strong>in</strong> deficiency disease dur<strong>in</strong>g pregnancy. He stated that gestationand nurs<strong>in</strong>g furnished the cause <strong>of</strong> the disease s<strong>in</strong>ce nonpregnant and nonlactat<strong>in</strong>gwomen did not have it. He noted also that the correction <strong>of</strong>dietary deficiencies resulted <strong>in</strong> cure.He expla<strong>in</strong>ed the etiology by say<strong>in</strong>gthat the entire nervous system is sympathetic with the pregnant uterus andthat the manifestations <strong>of</strong> the disease were brought about by shatter<strong>in</strong>g thenervous system. He thought that it must be a blood disease, not due to anypoison but rather to a deficiency <strong>in</strong> the natural healthy constituents <strong>of</strong> theblood, or to a portion <strong>of</strong> its constituents be<strong>in</strong>g below the standard <strong>of</strong> normalgestation. He quoted Simon who had exam<strong>in</strong>ed the blood <strong>of</strong> n<strong>in</strong>epregnant women and found that pregnancy exercised a marked <strong>in</strong>fluence9This defect has been corrected <strong>in</strong> recent years and a nourish<strong>in</strong>g Ill<strong>in</strong>ois Obstetricaland Gynecological <strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> over 100 members has been organized (1945) and is grow<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong> importance and <strong>in</strong>fluenc<strong>in</strong>g the development <strong>of</strong> specialization throughout the state<strong>in</strong> a very significant manner.10Transactions <strong>of</strong> the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical <strong>Society</strong> 1850 to 1900.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!