Note 103 — III. ITS VICTIMS.
Reading edition
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.