A CASE OF PREMATURE DELIVERY (1798)

Abstract

Thomas Denman (1733-1815), an English obstetrician, was the first in his country to recommend the induction of premature labor in cases of narrow pelvis. This had been suggested before but never successfully established as a rule of practice. His case report below published in 1798 describes his procedure.1 In the year 1798, a lady of rank, who was six months gone with child, came from Ireland to London for the purpose of procuring advice; Dr Savage and myself were called into consultation. She had been many years married, and in her first pregnancy, through some accident, was brought to bed of a living child about the seventh month. Since that time, though she had enjoyed a good state of health, she had been delivered, after very severe labours, of four children, all of whom were still-born. From the account given us, there was every reason to believe that she had been conducted with great patience and judgment through her labours; but that the pelvis was so much reduced in its dimensions, as to render it impossible for a full-grown living child to pass through it. When we had collected all the information we could, and duly weighed and deliberated upon the circumstances, we agreed in proposing to bring on her labour in the eighth month. Our opinion being represented to her friends, they having heard all the reasons we had to urge in support of it, gave their consent to the measure, though not without some hesitation; but the patient agreed to it very readily.