THE INDUCTION OF ABORTION, OR PREMATURE DELIVERY.
The practice of abortion in some so=called Christian nations, and not the least in the our own country, is as extensive as infanticide ever was among the most degraded heathen nations. And while the former custom is in reality no less wicked than the latter, and should be no les revolting to the maternal feeling, it obviously exerts a much more destructive influence, often upon the life, always upon the health of mother.
The civil law, in making a distinction between the criminality of the production of abortion before and after the period of quickening, opened the door for a very low estimate of the moral turpitude of the former act. And while in fact the spirit of the law seems now to be improving, the tendency of the practice of many otherwise most estimable physicians, and of some recent publications on this subject, serves rather to lower than to elevate the standard or moral sentiment in this respect. But since we are permitted to look into the most secret recesses of reproductive vitality, and to understand the true nature of conceptions, as the wonderful marriage union of two distinct living forms into one which, though still dependent, is not more so at that moment than it is after the period of quickening, and since we realize that his new creation will, if undisturbed by the the ruthless hand of the destroyer, become a new creature, we must reverence the higher law, and assume for ourselves, in this most important respect, the highest ground!
Those were noble words of our colleague, “form a child still- born we can hope nothing, but a child born alive, however feeble, MAY BECOME A MAN! ( Dr. C. Hering). “Modern physiological researches have left us in no doubt as to the precise point and time where and when the work of independent organization begins, which constitutes the distinct individuality organization beings, which constitutes the distinct individuality of the new being. It is from the fusion or junction of the male and female principles, represented by the ovule and the spermatozoa. From that hour, soul and body, the subjective and the objective, in their mysterious union, are being created. The pure instinct of primal Christianity voiced itself in the grand words of Saint Augustine, “Homo est, Qui futurus est. “What will be a man, is one. The old civil laws taught it in their axiom, “Infans jam concepts, pro jam nato habetur: “A child conceived is to be considered a child born. Modern science teaches it beyond all doubt. The British Parliament, in the new Salmon Act, discarding the old absurdities about quickening and viability, declares conception to be the proper date from which human life, in its entire sanctity, is to be estimates.( Dr. W. H. Holcombe, United States Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. i., p. 390). These remarks and quotations are intended to show that there is the same moral guilt, as there is the same destruction of a living child, in the improper production of ovular, embryonic and foetal abortion as there is in such unjustifiable induction of premature labor as would be acknowledge to be equivalent to infanticide.
The moral aspect of the question of induction of abortion, is thus forcibly presented by the same writer, and we transfer to our pages Dr. Holcombe’s own words, not only because they so admirably express the sentiments we wish to convey, but also from the hope express the sentiments we wish to convey, but also from the hope that the name of one so widely known and so much esteemed in the Homoeopathic ranks, may promote the adoption of principles which we cannot but regard as alike essential to the true dignity of the moral position is this: The destruction of the ovum is always homicide, justifiable, perhaps, under a few extraordinary and painful conditions, after the failure of all reasonable medical and surgical means, and then imposing such solemn and fearful moral responsibilities, that is should only be accomplished after the nature deliberation and concurrent advice of several respectable members of the profession. Holcombe. “The procuring of abortion, under all circumstances, is a direct violation of the laws of the physical constitution, and almost always a violation of that holy commandment, Thou shalt not kill. Professor A.E.Small. The only substantial ground upon which the conscientious physician can justify the induction of abortion or premature labor to himself and to the moral sense of his fellow-men, is to be found the necessity which may exist of saving the life of the mother, by this, as the only feasible means.
And the legal aspect of the question is not different. “If the Foetus be already, and from the very outset, a living human being, and existing independently of its mother, though drawing its substance from her, its destruction, in every stage of pregnancy, is stance from her, its destruction, in every stage of pregnancy, is MURDER. Every act of procuring abortion, rules Judge King, of Philadelphia, contrary to the usual interpretation of the law, is murder, whether the person perpetrating such act intended to kill the woman, or merely feloniously to destroy the fruit of her womb. ( Vide Dr. Hale’s Treatise on Abortion, p. 315). Without undertaking to give the various forms of law and practice in the different nations of Europe, and States of our own country, many of which may be found in the Treatise of Dr. Hale, already referred to, suffice it to say that the induction of abortion can only become legally, as it only morally, justifiable, when it becomes the only means for the preservation of the mother’s life.
The conditions which may require thee induction of abortion at nay stage of pregnancy, and the means by which such a result may be secured with least danger to the mother, will be considered in a subsequent section, on The Induction of Premature Labor.
TREATMENT OF ANTICIPATED OF THREATENED ABORTION.
The anticipative treatment of abortion will consist in the removal by the appropriate medication of those constitutional dyscrasias, sometimes apparently local, but always in reality constitutional and often hereditary, which either have before existed, or have become developed under the influence of of the pregnancy itself. In this connection therefore we have but to refer to the preceding chapter on the Disease Peculiar to Women, and on the Disorders of Pregnancy. These include the first and second divisions of our classification of thee causes of abortion. Those cases of still more imminently threatened abortion which arise under the operation of the third class, or independent influences, will in like manner require treatment especially adapted to each particular exciting cause and to each individual case.
Those cases which arise from physical violence, nervous irritability or moral excitement, will of course require the most perfect quiet both of body and of mind. When the symptoms of an impending abortion result from the operation of drugs, they should be remedied by the exhibition of such antidotes as are most strongly indicated by the symptoms themselves. The removal of the cause, as rapidly as possible, will be found the best method or arresting the tendency to abortion which may arise from the attacks of disease primarily local, or of those more general fevers of infectious, zymotic, or malarious origin.
The principal object of the physician, of course, should be to remedy the abortive tendency, to anticipate and prevent the attack, and when for the first time consulted at a more advanced period, to arrest if possible the disorganizing and destructive process. But when the physician is called in too late, and it is evident that abortion must take place, he should treat the case very much as if it were one of labor requiring especial attention. For abortion, particularly when resulting from any of the wide range of causes enumerated above under the head of independent influences, is much more dangerous than ordinary labor. And in those most critical causes in which the mischief to the ovum is already irreparable, the careful administration of the Homoeopathically indicated remedies will go far to moderate the violence of the symptoms, diminish the loss from hemorrhage and preserve the life and subsequent health of the mother.
In abortion, as in labor, the principal danger, which is from hemorrhage, arises after the expulsion of the foetus, and from the retention of the membranes, or placenta. In these cases the efforts of nature must be assisted by the appropriate medicines; or the finger may be used to remove the membrane or placenta; or failing that, resort may be had to the placental forceps, to be subsequently described. (See Induction of Premature Labor). IT is desirable to remove the ovum entire, if possible, both from the greater ease with which this is accomplished by nature and on account of the mischief which will inevitably result form the retention within the uterine cavity of any portion of the ovular membranes. But “as a general rule, the membrane remain after the expulsion of the foetus; and the earlier the abortion, the longer the placenta or membranes have a tendency to remain. This is probably owing to the extended adhesion of the ovum to the internal superfices of the uterus, and the feeble power of the uterus to contract on its contents. T. Smith. Sometimes thee membranes of an early ovum will remain for weeks; keeping up a more or less constant hemorrhage as before stated; and for his condition China has proved a most efficient remedy, being indicated by the very considerable less of blood, and serving in a remarkable manner to arouse the expulsive action of the uterus. This indication for the selection of China has been strongly confirmed by the prompt result which followed its exhibition in some cases of long retained membranes, and consequent hemorrhage, in twin pregnancies.
