Physical Effects of Abortion

Physical Effects of Abortion
Physical Effects of Abortion
    The Physical Effects of Abortion
     Catholic_Encyclopedia The Physical Effects of Abortion
    Definition. The expulsion of the human ovum occurring during the first three months of pregnancy, and occurring from any cause whatsoever, is called abortion. In the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh months — i.e., from the formation of the placenta to the period of viability — the occurrence is called immature delivery, or miscarriage, and a delivery occurring from the twenty-eighth week (the earliest period of viability) to the thirty-eighth week is called premature.
    Causes of abortion. To understand the physical effects of abortion we must know something of the causes, which are in the main the same as the causes of miscarriage and premature delivery. Abortion may be due to pathological changes in the ovum, the uterus, or its adnexa one or both — to the physical or nervous condition of the woman, to diseases either inherited or acquired (syphilis, tuberculosis, rheumatism); to any infectious, contagious, or inflammatory disease; to shock, injury, or accident. It may be induced knowingly, willingly, and criminally by the pregnant person herself, or by someone else, with the aid of drugs, or instruments, or both.
    Physical effects of abortion. Naturally, therefore, the physical effects of abortion will depend in direct ratio on the causation thereof, and the comparative malignity or benignity of such causation. In any case, abortion is fraught with serious consequences, direct and indirect — and is a sad miscarriage of nature's plan, greatly to be deplored, and earnestly, strenuously, and conscientiously to be avoided. Of course, when brought about with criminal intent, abortion is nothing less than murder in the first degree; and if the law of the land does not discover and punish the criminal, the higher law of the God of Nature and of Nature's inexorable reprisals for interference with, or destruction of her beneficent designs, will sooner or later most certainly do so.
    When abortion is due to pathological causes it is usually preceded by the death of the fetus; so that the causes of abortion are really the causes producing the death of the fetus. The abortion may be complete or partial. If complete, the danger is principally from shock and haemorrhage; if incomplete and any debris remains, there is danger of septicaemia, uraemia, endometritis, perimetritis, diseases of the tubes, ovaries, bladder, cervix uteri, vaginal canal, and rectum; together with catarrhal discharges from one or more of these parts, displacements, impoverished blood supply, various neuroses, and usually a long and expensive convalescence.
    The retention of the dead fetus is not always so dangerous. Even if decomposition or putrefaction occur, Nature frequently — possibly more often than we are willing to give her credit for — eliminates the offending foreign mass without the aid of the obstetrician. But it is not wise to advocate the waiting for such happy and spontaneous events. However while it is true that with proper medical care and attention most cases of abortion (excluding criminal cases and those complicated with other morbid conditions) present a modicum of danger, yet we must not forget that reports and statistics on this subject are very unreliable. First, there may be a false diagnosis; and secondly, concealment on the part of the patient, attendants, and all concerned is exceedingly common today.
    Obstetrical science has made many and important advances; but abortions from one cause or another (especially criminal abortion) continue in abundance; and their results have been and are still crowding the medical offices. To tear out the living products of conception by the roots is, in most cases, to give the pregnant woman gratuitous transportation for eternity. Even in spontaneous cases, as we have seen, death may occur from various causes. How much greater the danger, then, when the vandal hand of the professional abortionist adds wounds and injuries to complete his diabolical work.
    Conclusion. Since so many people today have ceased to look on abortion as a calamity at all times, and as a moral monstrosity in its criminal aspect, they should be deterred from committing it by the fear of physical consequences, if they are not moved by the love of morality and righteousness.
    J.N. BUTLER
    Transcribed by Tomas Hancil

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII. — New York: Robert Appleton Company. . 1910.


Catholic encyclopedia.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Abortion, Physical Effects of — • Covers definition, causes, and physical effects Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Abortion — Induced abortion Classification and external resources ICD 10 O04 …   Wikipedia

  • Abortion and mental health — The relationship between induced abortion and mental health is an area of political controversy.[1][2][3] The issue has been part of the political debate over abortion, dating to 1988 when U.S. President Ronald Reagan directed Surgeon General C.… …   Wikipedia

  • Effects of global warming on South Asia — Lakshadweep, comprising tiny low lying islands, are at risk of being inundated by sea level rises associated with global warming. The effects of global warming on the Indian subcontinent vary from the submergence of low lying islands and coastal… …   Wikipedia

  • Abortion in the United States — has been legal in every state since the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, on January 22, 1973. Prior to Roe , there were exceptions to the abortion ban in at least 10 states; Roe established that a woman has a right to self… …   Wikipedia

  • Abortion — • Briefly defined as the loss of a fetal life. Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Abortion     Abortion     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Abortion in South Africa — was legal for very limited reasons until 1997, when the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (Act 92 of 1996) was passed, providing abortion on demand for a variety of cases. Public opinion and political motives Studies from 2004 have shown… …   Wikipedia

  • Abortion in Finland — was illegal until 1950, when the Parliament of Finland decriminalized abortions when performed to preserve the physical or mental health of the woman, in cases where it could be determined if the child would be handicapped, or if the pregnancy… …   Wikipedia

  • Abortion debate — Antilife redirects here. For the comic book equation , see Anti Life Equation. The abortion debate refers to discussion and controversy surrounding the moral and legal status of abortion. The two main groups involved in the abortion debate are… …   Wikipedia

  • abortion — /euh bawr sheuhn/, n. 1. Also called voluntary abortion. the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy. 2. any of various surgical methods for terminating a pregnancy, esp. during the first six months. 3. Also… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”