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

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 (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, A Course of Lectures upon Midwifery, wherein the Theory and Practice of that Art are Explain’d in the Clearest Manner (1742); William Smellie, These are to Certify that [blank] hath Carefully Attended my Lectures on Midwifery, by which he has had the Opportunity of being Fully Instructed in all the Different Operations and Branches in that Art (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] Shewing the Impropriety of his New-invented Wooden Forceps: as Also, the Absurdity of his Method of Teaching and Practising Midwifry (1748); Anon., An Answer to a Late Pamphlet Intituled, ‘A letter to Dr Smellie, Shewing the Impropriety of his New Invented Wooden Forceps, &c.’ (?1748); Anon., A Second Letter to Dr Smelle [sic] and an Answer to his Pupil, Confirming the Impropriety of his Wooden Forceps (?1748)

Volume 6: Elizabeth Nihell

Elizabeth Nihell, A treatise on the art of midwifery, setting forth various abuses therein, especially as to the practice with instruments : the whole serving to put all rational inquirers in a fair way of very safely forming their own judgment upon the question, which it is best to employ, in cases of pregnancy and lying-in, a man-midwife, or, a midwife (1760); An answer to the author of the Critical review, for March, 1760. Upon the article of Mrs. Nihell’s Treatise on the art of midwifery. (1760)

Volume 7: Lying-in Hospitals, Male/Female Midwifery Debates

Richard Manningham, The Institution and Oeconomy of the Charitable Infirmary for the Relief of Poor Women Labouring Child, and during their Lying-in (1739); Richard Manningham, An Abstract of Midwifery, for the Use of the Lying-in Infirmary (1744); An Account of the Rise and Progress of the Lying-in Hospital for Married Women, Situated in Brownlow-Street, Long-Acre, From its Institution in November 1749, to July 25, 1751 (1751); An Account of the Westminter New Lying-in Hosptial, begun and finished under the patronage of the Right Honorable Earl Percy, President (1767?); An Act for the better regulation of lying-in hospitals, and other places, appropriated for the charitable reception of pregnant women; and also to provide for the settlement of bastard children, born in such hospitals and places. Public General Acts. 1772-1773. 13 Geo.111.c.82 (1773); A Short Account of the Institution, Plan, and Present State of the New General Lying-in Hospital, in Store Street, Tottenham Court Road (1787); John Maubray, Midwifery Brought to Perfection, by Manual Operation; Illustrated in a Lecture (1725), A Vindication of man-midwifery, being the answer of Dr. Pocus, Dr. Maulus, and Dr. Barebones and others, their brethren, who, like legion, are many to the Petition of the unborn babes, etc. In a letter to the President and Censors, and the elect of the College of Physicians, London. (1752); Dr Peter McGripes, pseudonym, An answer to that heterogeneous letter, addressed to Dr. Wessels, and subjoined to The petition of the unborn babes. Dedicated to the young physicians, by Dr. McGripes, late student under Dr. Wessels. (1759); 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 analyzed: and the tendency of that practice detected and exposed (1764); The Danger and Immodesty of The Present too general Custom of Unnecessarily Employing Men-Midwives. Proved Incontestibly in the Letters which Lately appeared under the Signature of A Man-Midwife. With an introduction, a treatise on the milk, and an appendix. With corrections by the author (1772); Martha Mears, The Pupil of Nature; or Candid Advice to the Fair Sex, on the Subjects of Pregnancy; Childbirth; the Diseases Incident to Both; the Fatal Effects of Ignorance and Quackery; and the Most Approved Means of Promoting the Heath, Strength, and Beauty of their Offspring (1797); Margaret Stephen, Domestic Midwife; or the Best Means of Preventing Danger in Childbirth, Considered (1795); Samuel William Fores, John Blunt, pseud. Man-midwifery dissected, or, The obstetric family-instructor for the use of married couples and single adults of both sexes : containing a display of the management of every class of labours by men and boy-midwives, also of their cunning, indecent, and cruel practices, instructions to husbands how to counteract them. (1793); A man-mid-wife, or a newly discovered animal, not known in Buffon’s time. . . A full length frontal figure divided in half, one half representing a man and the other a woman. Coloured etching by I. Cruikshank, (1793)

Volume 8: Midwifery Lectures, Essays, and Addresses: 1750–1769

Thomas Young, A Course of Lectures upon Midwifery (1750); Thomas Young, Notes on [his] Lectures on Midwifery (?1777); 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 Gooch, Lectures on Midwifery (1760); Thomas Cooper, Proposals for Teaching the Art of Midwifery, with a Syllabus of Lectures (?1766); Robert Wallace Johnson, Some Friendly Cautions to the Heads of Families: Containing Ample Directions to Nurses who Attend the Sick, and Women in Child-bed, &c. (1767); John Harvie, Practical Directions, Shewing a Method of Preserving the Perinaeum in Birth, and Delivering the Placenta Without Violence (1767); McKenzie of London, Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1769)

Volume 9: Midwifery Treatises: 1737–1784

Henry Bracken, The Midwife’s Companion (1737); Fielding Ould, A Treatise of Midwifry: in Three Parts (1742); Brudenell Exton, A New and General System of Midwifery: in Four Parts (1751); George Counsell, The Art of Midwifry, or, The Midwife’s Sure Guide: wherein the Most Successful Method of Practice are Laid Down, in the Plainest, Clearest, and Shortest Manner (1752); Benjamin Pugh, A Treatise on Midwifery, Chiefly with Regard to that Operation, with Several Improvements in that Art; to which is Added, some Cases, and Descriptions with Plates of Several New Instruments Both in Midwifery and Surgery (1754); John Memis, fl, The Midwife’s Pocket-companion, or, a Practical Treatise of Midwifery, on a New Plan: Containing Full and Plain Directions for the Management and Delivery of Child-bearing Women in the Different Cases, and the Cure of the Several Diseases Incident to them and New-born Children, in the Safest Manner, and According to the Best Improvements: Adapted to the Use of the Female as Well as the Male Practitioner in that Art (1765); David Spence, A System of Midwifery, Theoretical and Practical: Illustrated with Copper-plates (1784)

Volume 10: Midwifery Essays, Lectures, and Addresses: c.1770–1800

John Aitken, Principles of Midwifery, or Puerperal Medicine. ‘The Author to his Pupils’ Dated at End: Edinburgh, Anatomical Theatre, April 1784 (1784); John Aitken, An Address to the Chirurgo-Obstetrical Society; Delivered at their First Meeting (1786); John Aitken, A System of Obstetrical Tables, with Explanation; Representing the Foundations of the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1786); Andrew Thynne, Lectures on Midwifery: Taken by William L[l]oyd (1794–95); David Orme and William Lowder, Lectures on Midwifery Taken in 1780 by Henry Gore Clough, MD (1799); William Lowder, A Syllabus of the Lectures on Midwifery, Delivered at Guy’s Hospital, and at Dr Lowder’s and Dr Haighton’s Theatre in St Saviour’s Churchyard, Southwark (1797); John Haighton, A Syllabus of the Lectures on Midwifery, Delivered at Guy’s Hospital, and at Dr Lowder’s and Dr Haighton’s Theatre (1797); John Haighton, A Syllabus of a Course of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery: Including the Diseases of Women and Children (1797); Thomas White, A Syllabus of Lectures, on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery; Including, the Pathology, or General Doctrine of the Acute and Chronical Diseases (1787); William Lowder, Abstracts of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1776); William Lowder, Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1782); Alexander Hamilton, Elements of the Practice of Midwifery. Includes ‘Explanation of Difficult Words’ (1775); John Armstrong, Medical Essays (1773); Edward Foster, The Skeleton or Syllabus, of a Course of Lecture, on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery: in which the True Principles of that Art are Distinctly Laid Down (1772); John Gibson, Some Useful Hints and Friendly Admonitions to Young Surgeons on the Practice of Midwifery (1772); John Leake, Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (c.1768); John Leake, A Course of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery (1767); John Leake, A Lecture Introductory to the Theory and Practice of Midwifery: Together with Animadversions on the Qualifications and Deportment of an Accoucheur (1773); John Leake, Syllabus or General Heads of a Course of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery, Including the Nature and Treatment of Diseases Incident to Women and Children (1787); John Trusler, The Practice of Midwifery, with the Anatomy of the Gravid Uterus. By a Pupil of the Late Dr W Hunter (1783); William Hunter, Lectures on the Gravid Uterus, and Midwifery; as Taught and Practiced by the Late Dr Hunter (1783); William Hunter, Lectures on midwifery (undated)

Volume 11: Cesareans, Difficult Births and Reproductive Abnormalities

Giles Watts, Reflections on Slow and Painful Labours and Other Subjects in Midwifery. Together with Observations on Several Disorders Incident to Pregnant Women (1755); William Goldson, An Extraordinary Case of Lacerated Vagina, at the Full Period of Gestation (1787); Andrew Douglas, Observations on an Extraordinary Case of Ruptured Uterus (1785); Thomas Pole, An Anatomical Description of a Double Uterus and Vagina (1792); William Cockell, An Essay on the Retroversion of the Uterus; Illustrated with Cases and Observations (1785); Thomas Denman, Essays on the Puerperal Fever, and on Puerperal Convulsions (1768); Thomas Denman, An Essay on Uterine Hemorrhages Depending on Pregnancy and Parturition (1785); Thomas Denman, Aphorisms on Uterine Hemorrhages (?1785); Thomas Denman, An Essay on Difficult Labours (1787); W (William) Simmons, Reflections on the Propriety of Performing the Caesarean Operation: to which are Added, Observations on Cancer; and Experiments on the Supposed Origin of the Cow-pox (1798); John Hull, A Defence of the Cesarean Operation, with Observations on Embryulcia, and the Section of the Symphysis Publis (1798); Charles White, A Further Statement of the Case of Elizabeth Thompson, upon whom the Caesarean Operation was Performed in the Manchester Lying-in Hospital; in Addition to that Published by Mr Wood (1799); William Osborn, An Essay on Laborious Parturition: in which the Division of Symphysis Publis is Particularly Considered (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)

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); 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 (1770); Mr (Hassil) Hutchins, A Descriptive Catalogue of a Very Extensive and Capital Collection of Anatomical Preparations, Original Casts of the Gravid Uterus (1787); John Leake, The Description and Use of a New Pair of Forceps (1773); Thomas Denman, Remarks on Dr Leake’s Paper on the Use of his Forceps (1773); Etching from W H Hall, The New Royal Encyclopaedia; or, a Complete Modern Dictionary of Arts and Sciences: Surgical Instruments for Use in Midwifery (1788/95); 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

Related titles

• The Correspondence of Dr William Hunter

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