Eighteenth-Century British Midwifery

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Editor: Pam Lieske

Scholars of the British Enlightenment who study obstetrical history traditionally focus on the rise of the male-midwife and competition between the sexes. By reprinting in facsimile primary texts on eighteenth-century midwifery and childbirth, this comprehensive twelve-volume collection gives readers a much deeper, more nuanced understanding of midwives, midwifery students, and women in labour.

The set comprises pamphlets, treatises, lectures for midwifery students, texts on the establishment of lying-in hospitals, and catalogues of obstetrical apparatuses collected by male-midwives. Important themes include medical developments, ‘freaks of nature’, women’s ‘conduct’ and the legal and societal implications of birth and motherhood. Gender is a central issue in works that address the efficacy and propriety of midwifery practice and whether men or women are best suited to the job.

Works from popular or low culture feature: advertisements for midwives’ services, medicinal cures, and monster births; texts on murderous female midwives and lewd male midwives; and the 1726–27 correspondence on the ‘rabbit-breeder’, Mary Toft. Several significant works written by women stand out such as Catherine Elizabeth Weld’s report of legal proceedings against her husband on the charge of impotency; and Elizabeth Nihell’s Treatise on the Art of Midwifery (1760).

Interdisciplinary in nature, this will be of interest to scholars of history, history of medicine, women’s studies and the eighteenth century.

• Sourced from a variety of major holdings, some of the extremely rare texts included are not available on ECCO; and most have not been reprinted since the Eighteenth Century
• Each facsimile page is digitally cleaned and enhanced, significantly improving on the quality and legibility of the original
• Full editorial apparatus includes a substantial general introduction, introductions to each volume, headnotes, endnotes and a consolidated index in the final volume
• A glossary of obstetrical and midwifery terms appears at the end of the collection as does a bibliography of important works not included in the collection

Sample pages

• Volume 1: Vernacular Texts
• Volume 1: Notes
• Volume 9: sample pages and editorial notes
• Volume 10: sample pages and editorial notes

Contents

Volume 1

Popular Culture and Medicine

Nicholas Culpeper, A Directory for Midwives (1651); Robert Barret, A Companion for Midwives, Child-Bearing Women, and Nurses (1699); A M, A Rich Closet of Physical Secrets (1652); Some Observations made upon the Maldiva Nut (1694); J P, The Fruitful Wonder (1674); ‘To Ladies of the Female Sex and All Others’; Announcement of the Birth of Monsters; Advertisement selling Medicine to Cure Barrenness; Advertisement by Stephen Draper; The Cruel Midwife (1693); The Man-Midwife Unmasqu’d (1734)

Midwifery and the Law

At the Council-Chamber in White-Hall (1688); The Trial of a Cause between Richard Maddox, Gent Plaintiff, and Dr M—y, Defendant, Physician, and Man-Midwife (1754)

The Maternal Imagination: The Daniel Turner–James Blondel Controversy

Daniel Turner, ‘Of Spots and Marks … Imprest upon the Skin of the Foetus, by the Force of the Mother’s Fancy’, De Morbis Cutaneis(1726); [James Augustus Blondel], The Strength of Imagination in Pregnant Women Examin’d (1727); Daniel Turner, ‘A Defence of the XIIth Chapter’, A Discourse Concerning Gleets (1729); James Augustus Blondel, The Power of the Mother’s Imagination over the Foetus Examin’d (1729); Daniel Turner, The Force of the Mother’s Imagination upon her Foetus in Utero, Still Farther Considered (1730); John Henry Mauclerc, The Power of Imagination in Pregnant Women Discussed (1740)

Volume 2

The Mary Toft Affair

A Philosophical Enquiry into the Wonderful Coney-Warren (1726); The Wonder of Wonders (1726); Nathaniel St André, A Short Narrative of an Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbets (1727); Thomas Brathwaite, Remarks on A Short Narrative of an Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbets (1726); Sir Richard Manningham, An Exact Diary of What was Observ’d during a Close Attendance upon Mary Toft (1726); James Douglas, An Advertisement Occasion’d by Some Passages in Sir R Manningham’s Diary Lately Publish’d (1727); The Several Depositions of Edward Costen, Richard Stedman, John Sweetapple, Mary Peytoe, Elizabeth Mason, and Mary Costen; Cyriacus Ahlers, Some Observations concerning the Woman of Godlyman in Surrey (1726); A Shorter and Truer Advertisement (1727); Lemuel Gulliver [pseud], The Anatomist Dissected: or The Man-Midwife Finely Brought to Bed Being an Examination of the Conduct of Mr St Andre (1727); A Letter from a Male Physician in the Country, to the Author of the Female Physician in London (1726); St A—D—E’s Miscarriage: or, A Full and True Account of the Rabbet-Woman (1727); Much Ado about Nothing: or, A Plain Refutation of all that has been Written or Said concerning the Rabbit-Woman of Godalming (1727); [Alexander Pope with William Pulteney], The Discovery: Or, The Squire turn’d Ferret (1726); William Hogarth, Cunicularii, or The Wise Men of Godliman in Consultation

Volume 3

Continental Midwives in Translation

François Mauriceau, The Diseases of Women with Child, and in Child-Bed, 2nd edn (1683); Hendrik van Deventer, The Art of Midwifery Improv’d (1716); Pierre Dionis, A General Treatise of Midwifery (1719)

Volume 4

Midwifery Texts for Women

Sarah Stone, A Complete Practice of Midwifery (1737); William Clark, The Province of Midwives in the Practice of their Art (1751); John Grigg, Advice to the Female Sex in General (1789)

Volume 5

The State of Midwifery Considered, William Smellie and his Critics

John Douglas, A Short Account of the State of Midwifery in London, Westminster, &c.: Wherein an Effectual Method is Proposed, to Enable the Midwomen to Perform their Office in All Cases with as Much Ease, Speed, and Safety, as the Most Dexterous Midmen (1736); Edmund Chapman, A Reply to Mr Douglass’s ‘Short Account of the State of Midwifery in London and Westminster’ Wherein his Trifling and Malicious Cavils are Answer’d (1737); John Astruc, ‘A Short History of the Art of Midwifry’ from Elements of Midwifery (1766); A Tolver, ‘The Present State of Midwifery in Paris’ from The present state of midwifery in Paris (1770);

William Smellie and His Critics

William Smellie, A Course of Lectures upon Midwifery (1742); William Smellie, Midwifery Certificate (1750); William Smellie, A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1752); John Burton, A Letter to William Smellie, MD Containing Critical and Practical Remarks upon his Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1753); William Douglas, A Letter to Dr Smelle [sic] (1748); Anon., An Answer to a Late Pamphlet Intituled, ‘A letter to Dr Smellie, Shewing the Impropriety of his New Invented Wooden Forceps, &c.’ (c.1748); William Douglas., A Second Letter to Dr Smelle [sic] (c.1748); John Burton, A Letter to William Smellie (1753)

Volume 6

Elizabeth Nihell

Elizabeth Nihell, A treatise on the Art of Midwifery (1760); [Tobias Smollett], Review of Elizabeth Nihell's A Treatise on the Art of Midwifery, in Critical Review (1760)

Volume 7

Lying-in Hospitals

'The Institution and Oeconomy of the Charitable Infirmary' (1744); An Account of the Rise and Progress of the Lying-in Hospital for Married Women (1751); An Account of the Westminter New Lying-in Hosptial ([c.1767]); A Short Account of the Institution, Plan, and Present State of the New General Lying-in Hospital ([1787])

Male/Female Midwifery Debates

A Defence of Dr Pocus and Dr Malus, against 'The Petition of the Unborn Babes' ([1751]); A Vindication of Man-Midwifery, Being the Answer of Dr. Pocus, Dr Maulus, and Dr Barebones...to 'The Petition of the Unborn Babes' (1752); [Philip Thicknesse], A letter to a young lady (1764); [John Roabard], A letter to the author of 'A letter to a Young Lady' (1764); [Philip Thicknesse], Man-Midwifery Analysed (1764); The Danger and Immodesty of The Present too general Custom of Unnecessarily Employing Men-Midwives, 2nd edn. (1772); Martha Mears, The Pupil of Nature; or Candid Advice to the Fair Sex (1797); Margaret Stephen, Domestic Midwife; or the Best Means of Preventing Danger in Childbirth, Considered (1795); John Blunt, [pseud. Samuel William Fores], Man-Midwifery Dissected, or, The Obstetric Family-Instructor (1793)

Volume 8

Midwifery Lectures, Essays, and Addresses: 1750–1769

Thomas Young, A Course of Lectures upon Midwifery (1750); N Torriano, Compendium Obstetricii, or, A Small Tract on the Formation of the Foetus, and the Practice of Midwifery (1753); Christopher Kelly, A Course of Lectures on Midwifery (1757); [Robert Wallace Johnson], Some Friendly Cautions to the Heads of Families (1767); John Harvie, Practical Directions, Shewing a Method of Preserving the Perinaeum in Birth (1767); John Leake, A Course of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1767); Notes Taken by an Anonymous Student of Lectures on Midwifery by Dr Colin Mackenzie at the General Lying-In Hospital (1770)

Volume 9

Midwifery Treatises: 1737–1784

Henry Bracken, The Midwife’s Companion, or, A Treatise on Midwifery (1737); Fielding Ould, A Treatise of Midwifry (1742); Brudenell Exton, A New and General System of Midwifery (1751); George Counsell, The Art of Midwifry, or, The Midwife’s Sure Guide (1752); Benjamin Pugh, A Treatise on Midwifery, Chiefly with Regard to that Operation (1754); John Memis, The Midwife’s Pocket-Companion, or A Practical Treatise of Midwifery (1765); David Spence, A System of Midwifery, Theoretical and Practical (1784)

Volume 10

Midwifery Essays, Lectures, and Addresses: c.1770–1800

Thomas Denman, Essays on the Puerperal Fever, and on Puerperal Convulsions (1768); John Gibson, Some Useful Hints and Friendly Admonitions to Young Surgeons on the Practice of Midwifery (1772); Edward Foster, The Skeleton, or Syllabus, of a Course of Lectures, on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1772); Robert Bland, 'Some Calculations on the Number of Accidents or Deaths which Happen in Consequence of Parturition' Philosophical Transactions (1781); John Aitken, Principles of Midwifery, or Puerperal Medicine ([1784]); John Aitken, A System of Obstetrical Tables, with Explanations (1786); John Aitken, An Address to the Chirurgo-Obstetrical Society (1786); John Sheldon, Proposals for a Course of Anatomical, Physiological, and Chirurgical Lectures ([1780?]); [William Hunter], Lectures on the Gravid Uterus, and Midwifery (1783); Thomas Pole, A Syllabus of a Course of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1797); [John Haighton], A Syllabus of the Lectures on Midwifery (1799)

Volume 11

Difficult Births and Reproductive Abnormalities

Giles Watts, Reflections on Slow and Painful Labours and Other Subjects in Midwifery (1755); William Goldson, An Extraordinary Case of Lacerated Vagina, at the Full Period of Gestation (1787); William Cockell, An Essay on the Retroversion of the Uterus (1785)

Caesarian Birth, Embryulcia and the Division of the Symphysis Pubis

William Osborn, An Essay on Laborious Parturition (1783); Alexander Hamilton, Outlines of the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1784); Alexander Hamilton, Letters to Dr William Osborn, Teacher and Practitioner of Midwifery in London, on Certain Doctrines Contained in his Essays on the Practice of Midwifery, &c. (1792); Robert Bland, Observations on Human and Comparative Parturition (1794); William Simmons, Reflections on the Propriety of Performing the Caesarian Operation ([1798]); John Hull, A Defence of the Caesarian Operation, with Observations on Embryulcia, and the Section of the Symphysis Pubis, Addressed to Mr W Simmons ([1798]); Charles White, Richard Hall, George Tomlinson and John Thorpe, A Further Statement of the Case of Elizabeth Thompson, upon whom the Caesarean Operation was Performed in the Manchester Lying-in Hospital (1799)

Volume 12

Midwifery Artifacts, Instruments, and Illustrations

Edmund Chapman, An Essay on the Improvement of Midwifery; Chiefly with Regard to the Operation (1733); Edmund Chapman, A Treatise on the Improvement of Midwifery, Chiefly with Regard to the Operation (1735); Philosophical Society of Edinburgh, Medical Essays and Observations (1737-8); William Giffard and Edward Hody, Cases in Midwifery (1734); Samuel Patterson, A Catalogue of the Entire and Inestimable Apparatus for Lectures in Midwifery … by the Late Ingeneous Dr William Smellie, Deceased (1770); Hassil Hutchins, A Descriptive Catalogue of a Very Extensive and Capital Collection of Anatomical Preparations (1787); John Leake, The Description and Use of a New Pair of Forceps (1773); A Vindication of the Forceps Described and Recommended by Dr Leake (1774); Edward Foster and James Sims, The Principles and Practice of Midwifery (1781); William Dease, Observations in Midwifery, Particularly on the Different Methods of Assisting Women in Tedious and Difficult Labours (1783); John Savigny, A Collection of Engravings, Representing the Most Modern and Approved Instruments in the Practice of Surgery (1798); John Savigny, A Catalogue of Chirurgical Instruments (1800); Stephen Freedman, The Ladies' Friend; and Family Physical Library (1787); William Nisbet, The Clinical Guide, or A Concise View of the Leading Facts, on the History, Nature, and Treatment of the Various Diseases that Form the Subject of Midwifery (1800); James Hamilton, A Collection of Engravings, Designed to Facilitate the Study of Midwifery, Explained and Illustrated (1796)

Reviews

'The first four volumes of this series are a delight for the sociocultural critic or medical historian of the eighteenth century, who can look forward with much anticipation to the appearance of the next eight volumes. These books should be part of every respectable library dealing with the history of medicine in general and of midwifery or obstetrics in particular.'
– L Lewis Wall, Journal of the History of Medicine and the Allied Sciences

'The materials are of an impressive and fascinating variety ... these volumes are rich with analysis and historiographic context.'
– Anne Z. Cockerham, Nursing History Review

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