Introductory Lecture On The History Of Midwifery
Item
Title
Introductory Lecture On The History Of Midwifery
Subject
England; Victorian; Medicine; Lecture; Midwife; Man Midwife; obstetrics
Description
This item depicts a lecture given by Edward Murphy, a Professor of Midwifery at University College London, where he mentions only the contributions of men, like the use of forceps by Peter Chamberlen and craniotomy by Mauriceau (used for breach births) for the development of the field.
He stated that William Hunter “gradually took the place of the midwife, was, in fact, superseded, except in the lower classes.” and “Hence, during this century, midwifery had been undergoing a gradual change in its character. Previously, it had been very much neglected; left altogether to midwives, unless the efforts of Nature failed in completing the delivery; then, the "man-midwife" was called in.” Asserting the contributions of men on the medical field for upper and middle-class women.
He stated that William Hunter “gradually took the place of the midwife, was, in fact, superseded, except in the lower classes.” and “Hence, during this century, midwifery had been undergoing a gradual change in its character. Previously, it had been very much neglected; left altogether to midwives, unless the efforts of Nature failed in completing the delivery; then, the "man-midwife" was called in.” Asserting the contributions of men on the medical field for upper and middle-class women.
Creator
Edward W. Murphy
Date
May 14, 1864
Place
University College, London, England
Type
Lecture
Source
The British Medical Journal, through JSTOR
Publisher
The British Medical Journal
Rights
Public Domain
Format
Murphy, Edward W. “Introductory Lecture On The History Of Midwifery.” The British Medical Journal 1, no. 176 (1864): 523–28. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25200790.
Contributor
Nixie Young
