CAESAREAN SECTION, in obstetrics (q.v.) the operation for removal of a foetus from the uterus by an abdominal incision, so called from a legend of its employment at the birth of Julius Caesar. This procedure has been practised on the dead mother since very early times; in fact it was prescribed by Roman law that every woman dying in advanced pregnancy should be so treated; and in 1608 the senate of Venice enacted that any prac titioner who failed to perform this operation on a pregnant woman supposed to be dead, laid himself open to very heavy penalties. But the first recorded instance of its being performed on a living woman occurred about 150o, when a Swiss pig-gelder operated on his own wife. From this time onwards it was tried in many ways and under many conditions, but almost invariably resulted in death of the mother from sepsis or haemorrhage. Even as recently as the first half of the 19th century the recorded mor tality is over 50%. Hence craniotomy—in which the life of the child is sacrificed to save that of the mother—was almost in variably preferred. The introduction of asepsis and use of an improved method of suturing the incised uterine wall have reduced the mortality to so low a point for mother and child that the operation is frequently performed. Where possible, however, in duction of premature labour from the seventh month onwards is usually to be preferred.
This operation is now advised for (I) extreme degrees of pelvic contraction, (2) any malformation or tumour of the uterus, cervix or vagina, which would render birth of the child through the natural passages impossible, (3) maternal complications, as eclampsia and concealed accidental haemorrhage, and (4) at the death of the mother for the purpose of saving the child.