Irvine Loudon
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198204992
- eISBN:
- 9780191676444
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198204992.003.0005
- Subject:
- History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This chapter examines puerperal fever epidemics in lying-in hospitals in England during the 18th century. Though lying-in hospitals were intended to bring skill and comfort to the poor in childbirth, ...
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This chapter examines puerperal fever epidemics in lying-in hospitals in England during the 18th century. Though lying-in hospitals were intended to bring skill and comfort to the poor in childbirth, they were from the early years plagued by recurrent epidemics of puerperal fever with appalling mortality rates. Some critics have suggested that it was so much safer for poor pregnant women to give birth in the worst of slums with an untrained midwife than in a lying-in hospital.Less
This chapter examines puerperal fever epidemics in lying-in hospitals in England during the 18th century. Though lying-in hospitals were intended to bring skill and comfort to the poor in childbirth, they were from the early years plagued by recurrent epidemics of puerperal fever with appalling mortality rates. Some critics have suggested that it was so much safer for poor pregnant women to give birth in the worst of slums with an untrained midwife than in a lying-in hospital.
Irvine Loudon
- Published in print:
- 1992
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198229971
- eISBN:
- 9780191678950
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198229971.003.0020
- Subject:
- History, World Modern History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This chapter examines the condition of lying-in hospitals in the US during the period from 1850 to 1910. Lying-in hospitals had very high maternal mortality rates, but for humanitarian or ...
More
This chapter examines the condition of lying-in hospitals in the US during the period from 1850 to 1910. Lying-in hospitals had very high maternal mortality rates, but for humanitarian or self-serving reasons they were supported by the medical profession and civic authorities. In addition to this, some lying-in hospitals employed the so-called ‘waiting women’. They are mostly homeless women who spent their pregnancy working as cleaners in lying-in hospitals in exchange for maternity services.Less
This chapter examines the condition of lying-in hospitals in the US during the period from 1850 to 1910. Lying-in hospitals had very high maternal mortality rates, but for humanitarian or self-serving reasons they were supported by the medical profession and civic authorities. In addition to this, some lying-in hospitals employed the so-called ‘waiting women’. They are mostly homeless women who spent their pregnancy working as cleaners in lying-in hospitals in exchange for maternity services.
Irvine Loudon
- Published in print:
- 1992
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198229971
- eISBN:
- 9780191678950
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198229971.003.0026
- Subject:
- History, World Modern History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This chapter examines the lying-in or maternity hospitals and the obstetricians in Europe. Though there was more childbirth in lying-in hospitals in Europe compared to Great Britain and the U.S., ...
More
This chapter examines the lying-in or maternity hospitals and the obstetricians in Europe. Though there was more childbirth in lying-in hospitals in Europe compared to Great Britain and the U.S., European countries also experienced high maternal mortality rates caused by puerperal fever. Most of the cases were in hospital delivery. The chance of a woman contracting puerperal fever was around seven times higher if she was delivered in a maternity hospital in the mid-19th century than it would have been if she had been delivered at home.Less
This chapter examines the lying-in or maternity hospitals and the obstetricians in Europe. Though there was more childbirth in lying-in hospitals in Europe compared to Great Britain and the U.S., European countries also experienced high maternal mortality rates caused by puerperal fever. Most of the cases were in hospital delivery. The chance of a woman contracting puerperal fever was around seven times higher if she was delivered in a maternity hospital in the mid-19th century than it would have been if she had been delivered at home.
Irvine Loudon
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198204992
- eISBN:
- 9780191676444
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198204992.003.0012
- Subject:
- History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This chapter reviews the epidemiology and some of the main features of the history of childbed or puerperal disease. Puerperal fever became recognized as a specific disease only during the first half ...
More
This chapter reviews the epidemiology and some of the main features of the history of childbed or puerperal disease. Puerperal fever became recognized as a specific disease only during the first half of the 18th century when midwifery started to become part of regular medical practice and lying-in hospitals were established. It discusses endemic and epidemic puerperal fever, the trend in puerperal fever mortality from 1859 to 1940, the importance of microbiological research on Group A streptococcus.Less
This chapter reviews the epidemiology and some of the main features of the history of childbed or puerperal disease. Puerperal fever became recognized as a specific disease only during the first half of the 18th century when midwifery started to become part of regular medical practice and lying-in hospitals were established. It discusses endemic and epidemic puerperal fever, the trend in puerperal fever mortality from 1859 to 1940, the importance of microbiological research on Group A streptococcus.
Irvine Loudon
- Published in print:
- 1992
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198229971
- eISBN:
- 9780191678950
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198229971.003.0024
- Subject:
- History, World Modern History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This chapter examines maternal care and mortality in Europe, focusing on the continent of Europe including Scandinavia but excluding Great Britain. It compares certain aspects of childbirth in some ...
More
This chapter examines maternal care and mortality in Europe, focusing on the continent of Europe including Scandinavia but excluding Great Britain. It compares certain aspects of childbirth in some parts of Europe with those in Britain and the US Compared to their British and American counterparts, European midwives were better trained, more closely regulated and more highly regarded by the public and the medical profession. In the conduct of labour, Dutch and Scandinavian obstetricians were less prone to unnecessary interference. European lying-in hospitals were larger, more prestigious, and funded by the state, unlike the voluntary hospitals in Britain and the U.S.Less
This chapter examines maternal care and mortality in Europe, focusing on the continent of Europe including Scandinavia but excluding Great Britain. It compares certain aspects of childbirth in some parts of Europe with those in Britain and the US Compared to their British and American counterparts, European midwives were better trained, more closely regulated and more highly regarded by the public and the medical profession. In the conduct of labour, Dutch and Scandinavian obstetricians were less prone to unnecessary interference. European lying-in hospitals were larger, more prestigious, and funded by the state, unlike the voluntary hospitals in Britain and the U.S.
Sujata Mukherjee
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780199468225
- eISBN:
- 9780199087426
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199468225.003.0001
- Subject:
- History, Indian History, Cultural History
This chapter shows how in the context of the growth of a new paradigm of medical knowledge based on anatomical dissection hospital medicine became more important than bedside medicine in colonial ...
More
This chapter shows how in the context of the growth of a new paradigm of medical knowledge based on anatomical dissection hospital medicine became more important than bedside medicine in colonial India and female (as also the male) patients were subjected to an institutionally validated gaze. The earliest institutions devoted to women’s health were lock hospitals, which treated prostitutes suspected to be suffering from venereal diseases. The Contagious Diseases Act of 1868 required the prostitutes to register who were subjected to different kinds of crude and obnoxious medical examinations and were kept under filthy conditions in lock hospitals. Lying-in hospitals also treated female patients belonging to different communities. Throughout the nineteenth century, however, the number of female patients attending hospitals remained very low—a fact which strengthened the view in different circles that Indian women were averse to treatment by male physicians.Less
This chapter shows how in the context of the growth of a new paradigm of medical knowledge based on anatomical dissection hospital medicine became more important than bedside medicine in colonial India and female (as also the male) patients were subjected to an institutionally validated gaze. The earliest institutions devoted to women’s health were lock hospitals, which treated prostitutes suspected to be suffering from venereal diseases. The Contagious Diseases Act of 1868 required the prostitutes to register who were subjected to different kinds of crude and obnoxious medical examinations and were kept under filthy conditions in lock hospitals. Lying-in hospitals also treated female patients belonging to different communities. Throughout the nineteenth century, however, the number of female patients attending hospitals remained very low—a fact which strengthened the view in different circles that Indian women were averse to treatment by male physicians.
