us that they deserve mention.
Epidemics of abortion are spoken of by Fickius, Fischer, and the
Ephemerides. Exposure to cold is spoken of as a cause, and the same is
alluded to by the Ephemerides; while another case is given as due to
exposure white nude. There are several cases among the older writers in
which odors are said to have produced abortion, but as analogues are
not to be found in modern literature, unless the odor is very poisonous
or pungent, we can give them but little credence. The Ephemerides gives
the odor of urine as provocative of abortion; Sulzberger, Meyer, and
Albertus all mention odors; and Vesti gives as a plausible cause the
odor of carbonic vapor. The Ephemerides mentions singultus as a cause
of abortion. Mauriceau, Pelargus, and Valentini mention coughing.
Hippocrates mentions the case of a woman who induced abortion by
calling excessively loud to some one. Fabrieius Hildanus speaks of
abortion following a kick in the region of the coccyx. Gullmannus
speaks of an abortion which he attributes to the woman's constant
neglect to answer the calls of nature, the rectum being at all times in
a state of irritation from her negligence. Hawley mentions abortion at
the fourth or fifth month due to the absorption of spirits of
turpentine. Solingen speaks of abortion produced by sneezing. Osiander
cites an instance in which a woman suddenly arose, and in doing so
jolted herself so severely that she produced abortion. Hippocrates
speaks of extreme hunger as a cause of abortion. Treuner speaks of
great anger and wrath in a woman disturbing her to the extent of
producing abortion.
The causes that are observed every day, such tight lacing, excessive
venery, fright, and emotions, are too well known to be discussed here.
There has been reported a recent case of abortion following a
viper-bite, and analogues may be found in the writings of Severinus and
Oedman, who mention viper-bites as the cause; but there are so many
associate conditions accompanying a snake-bite, such as fright,
treatment, etc., any one of which could be a cause in itself, that this
is by no means a reliable explanation. Information from India an this
subject would be quite valuable.
The Ephemerides speak of bloodless abortion, and there have been modern
instances in which the hemorrhage has been hardly noticeable.
Abortion in a twin pregnancy does not necessarily mean the abortion or
death of both the products of conception. Chapm
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