Part 26

Ibid., ii. pp. 316, 317.

Ibid., i. p. 452, foot-note.

Ibid., i. p. 447.

Nouveaux Principes, &c., liv. vii. ch. 5.

Medical Ethics, p. 79.

Since our last article, the report of the Committee appointed in 1858 to investigate the Health Department of the City of New York has appeared, and we find that our statements regarding the frequency of the crime in the metropolis are fully corroborated. Not merely are additional official statistics on this point given (pp. 182, 183), but valuable testimony from Drs. Griscom (pp. 25, 30), McNulty (p. 55), Francis (p. 64), and Bulkley (p. 133). Dr. Reese’s paper on Infant Mortality, republished by the Committee (pp. 90-100), from the Transactions of the American Medical Association for 1857, also contains incidental reference to the frequency of abortion, and for its direct and earnest dealing with the subject deserves unqualified commendation.

In this connection we would call attention to the evidence of the extent of the crime in Boston, afforded since our own remarks upon that point were in type, by Dr. Walter Channing. (Boston Med. and Surg. Journal, March 17, 1859.)

Annales d’Hygiène Publique, 1856, p. 122.

Les Consummations, etc.

Comptes Rendus Annuels, etc.

MAYER, Des Rapports Conjugaux, considérés sous le triple point de vue de la population, de la santé et de la morale publique. Paris, 1857.

CANGIAMILA, Embryologia Sacra, p. 15.

In verification of this statement I am enabled to quote from the last authorized edition of the Canon Laws of the Church of Rome. “Omnes, qui abortûs seu fœtûs immaturi, tam animati quam inanimati, formati vel informis, ejectionem procuraverint, pœnas propositas et inflictas tam divino quam humano jure, ac tam per canonicas sanctiones et apostolicas constitutiones quam civilia jura adversus veros homicidas incurrere, hâc nostrâ perpetuo valiturâ constitutione statuimus et ordinamus.” REIFFENSTUELL, Jus Canonicum Universum, tome iii. Paris, 1854.

Decreta Synodi plenariæ Episcoporum Hiberniæ, apud Thurles habitæ anno 1850. Art. de Baptismo, p. 20.

Dublin Review, April, 1858, p. 100.

DEVENTER, 1734, p. 366; STERNE, Tristram Shandy, p. 54; Med. Times and Gazette, Aug., 1858, p. 196. Though the fact of this decision has been doubted, it is nevertheless strictly true. Through the kindness of Bishop Fitzpatrick I have been favored with a copy of BARRY’s Medico-Christian Embryology, as presenting upon this point the authorized and generally received doctrine of the Catholic Church. I quote the following from the chapter “On Baptism in Impracticable and Difficult Labors:”

“In case of impacted head and at all times that one is obliged to apply the forceps, whether at one of the straits or in the pelvic excavation, it becomes necessary to baptize the child on the part which presents at the uterine orifice after the rupture of the bag containing the waters.

“In order to baptize the child, a syringe charged with natural water may be used. If this be not at hand, a person may use a sponge, or a linen or cotton rag, wetted with water, which is to be carried to the child by the fingers, a pair of forceps, or any other suitable contrivance, and then squeezed or pressed on the surface of the part presenting.” (Loc. cit., p. 45.)

“Any person, whether man, woman or child, may baptize an infant when in danger of death.” (Ibid., p. 76.)

If the facts now stated should be generally known and acted upon by the profession, hundreds of lives, infant and maternal, would annually be saved.

MS. Letter, dated Nov. 14th, 1858.

It is not of course intended to imply that Protestantism, as such, in any way encourages, or indeed permits, the practice of inducing abortion; its tenets are uncompromisingly hostile to all crime. So great, however, is the popular ignorance regarding this offence, that an abstract morality is here comparatively powerless; and there can be no doubt that the Romish ordinance, flanked on the one hand by the confessional, and by denouncement and excommunication on the other, has saved to the world thousands of infant lives.

PASSOT, Des dangers de l’avortement provoqué dans un but criminel; Gazette Méd. de Lyon, 1853.

Ann. d’Hygiène, 1856, p. 147.

DUBOIS and DEVERGIE, ibid., tome xix. p. 425; tome xxxix. p. 157.

Ibid.

Review of MONTGOMERY’s Signs of Pregnancy; The North American Medico-Chirurgical Review, March, 1857, p. 249.

Principles of Midwifery, p. 547.