An introduction to the practice of midwifery / by Thomas Denman.

  • Denman, Thomas, 1733-1815.
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introduction to the practice of midwifery / by Thomas Denman. 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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    little of importance, except that the first account of the small pox, and of a few other diseases of less consequence, was given by the Arabians ; and that Avicenna was the first who described the forceps, or an instrument contrived for the purpose of de- livering women in cases of difficult parturition, preserving at the same time the life of the child. After the destruction of the library at Alexandria, the Grecian manuscripts, which were preserved, were translated into the Sy- riac, Persian, and Indian languages ; and the learned were dis- persed in different countries. For it appears, that, in the year 767, Almanzar, the founder and Caliph of Bagdat, sent for a skilful and learned physician from India ; which I mention, as it seems to explain an observation made by the Raja of Kishina- gur, and reported by the learned Mr. Halhead in the preface to his Persian Grammar, without any violence to other chronolo- gies Thus wars and apparent devastation became, in the hands of Providence, the means of diffusing learning over many countries, which might otherwise have remained in ignorance. But the first schools, from which the western part of Europe immediately derived knowledge, were established in Italy in the eighth century ; and the most famous of those in which the art of medicine was taught, were at Padua ; whither all who aimed at excellence resorted, with the view of pursuing their studies, and of.qualifying themselves for practice. From the contiguity of the two countries, from the frequent wars carried on between France and Italy, or from other causes, the French had many and early opportunities of acquiring knowledge. Schools were established among them, encouragement was given to learning, many able men arose, and France, by its more convenient situa- tion to Britain and the northern nations, succeeded Italy in lite- rary reputation; Paris and Montpellier being the places, to which students in medicine, as well as other arts, resorted for in- struction even down to the beginning of the 18th century. But it will now be necessary to direct our attention to a more early period, in order to gain some notion of tHie progress of learning in this country.