From Witchcraft to Wisdom: A History of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the British IslesThis fascinating and beautifully illustrated book tells the story of childbearing since 1540, from an event so dangerous that many women made their wills before labour began to the high-tech deliveries of today. The book also reveals the battles which had to be fought with the surgeons, with the church and against public opinion to bring these advances about. The story is told against a background of significant social and historical events in the British Isles and, where relevant, abroad. The book also contains quotations from a variety of sources, some of which history has proved correct and others which have been proved lamentably wrong. Individuals of special importance and developments of particular significance are highlighted. |
Contents
Chapter Two The Tudor era 15401603 | 19 |
Chapter Three Stuart times 16031688 | 35 |
Chapter Four Enlightenment 16881783 | 63 |
Chapter Five The Industrial Revolution 17831837 | 97 |
Chapter Six Victorian improvements 18371901 | 121 |
Chapter Seven Early modern history 19011945 | 165 |
Chapter Eight Modern times 19452000 | 211 |
Appendix One A brief history of | 275 |
Appendix Two Time lines | 295 |
Common terms and phrases
abdominal accoucheur anaesthesia antenatal baby became birth Blair-Bell bleeding blood Bonney breech Britain British College Byrth of Mankynde caesarean section cancer carcinoma cervix child childbirth chloroform clinical College of Obstetricians College of Physicians considered delivered delivery Denman disease doctors early Edinburgh England examination fetal head fetus forceps GVP Chamberlain Hospital for Women hysterectomy ideas infection introduced John labour laparoscopy later London Lying-in Hospital man-midwife Maternal Deaths maternal mortality Maternity Hospital Medical School medicine midwifery midwives mother National Birthday Trust National Health Service neonatal nitrous oxide obstetricians Obstetricians and Gynaecologists obstetrics and gynaecology oophorectomy operation ovarian ovaries patient pelvis percent performed perinatal placenta praevia postpartum haemorrhage practice practitioners pregnancy Queen Charlotte's Hospital RCOG realised reported Royal College Simpson Smellie Society Spencer started stillbirths surgeon surgery surgical transfusion treatment tube ultrasound University College Hospital uterine uterus vaginal Victorian Wales Wellcome Library William woman World