The use of patent pills as abortifacients : with a special reference to the basophilic granulations of the erythrocytes of the blood

Abstract

From my experience in the Sheffield Royal Hospital, I have reason to believe that the use of patent pills as an abortifacient is a fast growing evil and a social scandal. Any woman can procure "Female corrective Pills" from almost any so-called respectable chemist without running any risk of being asked difficult questions. From the analysis of some of these pills it is shown that she can get sufficient of a powerful drug, not only to remove so-called obstructions, but to produce grave disease of bowels, kidneys, central and peripheral nervous systems, not unfrequently wrecking the health temporarily but permanently and even leading to fatal results as evidenced by several writers. Added to this the desired result is not always secured as there is a wide margin of uncertainty in the action of the drug which always endangers life and sometimes destroys it, at least leaving behind it some temporary enfeeblement of body or mind.