
A thorough early‑ eighteenth‑century guide to women’s health, this work gathers everything known at the time about the illnesses that affect females—from the youngest maidens to married women and widows. It lists causes, symptoms, degrees of danger and offers practical advice on prevention and treatment, while also presenting an updated art of midwifery that includes the qualifications a midwife should possess and step‑by‑step directions for handling difficult or extraordinary births. Readers also find advice on diet and daily regimen for both mother and child, reflecting the period’s holistic view of wellness.
Written as a humble offering to learned physicians and experienced practitioners, the author frames his observations as the result of careful experiment and classical learning. He stresses the responsibility of medical professionals to share knowledge for the common good, blending scholarly references with clear, actionable instructions. The text provides a vivid snapshot of how early modern medicine approached female physiology and obstetric care, offering modern listeners a window into the evolving science of health and childbirth.
Full title
The Female Physician Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child.
Language
en
Duration
~12 hours (739K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2020-12-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
d. 1732
An early 18th-century Scottish physician and man-midwife, he became one of Georgian London’s most talked-about figures in childbirth and women’s medicine. He is best remembered for mixing practical obstetric teaching with bold, often controversial ideas about pregnancy and birth.
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