Blake speaks of a
case of congenital amputation of both the upper extremities.
Gillilam a mentions a case that shows the deleterious influence
of even the weight of a fetal limb resting on a cord or band. His
case was that of a fetus, the product of a miscarriage of
traumatic origin; the soft tissues were almost cut through and
the bone denuded by the limb resting on one of the two umbilical
cords, not encircling it, but in a sling. The cord was deeply
imbedded in the tissues.
The coilings of the cord are not limited to compression about the
extremities alone, but may even decapitate the head by being
firmly wrapped several times about the neck. According to
Ballantyne, there is in the treatise De Octimestri Partu, by
Hippocrates, a reference to coiling of the umbilical cord round
the neck of the fetus. This coiling was, indeed, regarded as one
of the dangers of the eighth month, and even the mode of its
production is described. It is said that if the cord he extended
along one side of the uterus, and the fetus lie more to the other
side, then when the culbute is performed the funis must
necessarily form a loop round the neck or chest of the infant. If
it remain in this position, it is further stated, the mother will
suffer later and the fetus will either perish or be born with
difficulty.
Pages:
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189