François Mauriceau, The diseases of women with child, and in child-bed: as also, the best means of helping them in natural and unnatural labours. With fit Remedies for the several Indispositions of New-Born Babes. To which is prefix'd an exact description of the parts of generation in women. A Work much more perfect than any now extant, and very necessary for all, especially Midwives and Men practising that Art. The fourth edition corrected, and augmented with several new figures, and with the Description of an excellent Instrument to bring a Child that comes right; All correctly Engraven in Copper. Written in French by Francis Mauriceau. And translated by Hugh Chamberlen M.D. 1710
Full text of later edition available:
https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_the-diseases-of-women-wi_mauriceau-francois_1736
| Date | 1710 |
|---|---|
| Location | London |
| Description |
Modern obstetrics can be traced to the lying-in wards of the Hotel Dieu in Paris in the 17th century, before gaining traction in London and then Edinburgh. Scottish man-midwives such as William Smellie studied in Paris and were heavily influenced by French ‘accoucheurs’. One of the most notable, the surgeon François Mauriceau (1637-1709) established midwifery as a distinct and separate science. This prolific treatise was first published in 1688 and went on to be the foremost work on midwifery for midwives and surgeons, going through many editions for nearly a century. It includes detailed commentary on the mechanism of labour and Mauriceau’s preferred practice of delivering women in bed instead of the chair. This edition was translated into English by the man-midwife Hugh Chamberlen the elder, who studied under Mauriceau. Chamberlen was the grand-nephew of Peter Chamberlen the elder, the inventor of obstetrical forceps. The invention was vehemently guarded as a family secret for over one hundred years, which is believed to have been sold by Hugh Chamberlen in 1692. |
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