Facets

c. 1475

#13544

Secreta mulierum et virorum (cum commento).

This work on the physiology and procreative "secrets" of women was attributed to Albertus Magnus, but is now thought to have been written by one of his disciples. It was one of the most widely printed medical works in…

1486 –1487

#6316.1

Opusculum aegritudinum puerorum.

A work on disorders of pregnant women as well as on pediatrics. It describes 52 childhood diseases, providing the name, the causes, symptoms, prognosis and treatment of each, drawing on Greek authors, Arabs (especiall…

1495

#6137.1

Büchlein der schwangeren Frauen.

The first obstetrical book printed in the vernacular. Facsimile edition, Munich, 1910. Ortoloff also wrote the first German pharmacopoeia. See No. 1794. ISTC No. io00113000. Digital facsimile from the Bayerische Staat…

1502 –1503

#9325

Enneas muliebris.

This work was prepared for and dedicated to Lucrezia Borgia by her physician, Bonaccioli, who guided her through 14 pregnancies, the last of which was fatal to both mother and child. The first three chapters concern f…

1513

#6138

Der Swangern Frauwen und Hebammen Rosegarten.

The earliest printed textbook for midwives. It underwent over 100 editions, being used as late as 1730. The first edition was published in Strassburg by Martin Flach in 1513. This was demonstrated most recently by Law…

1521

#367

Commentaria cum amplissimis additionibus super anatomia Mundini una cum textu ejusdem in pristinum et verum nitorem redacto.

Giacomo Berengario da Carpi (Jacobus Berengarius Carpensis, Jacopo Barigazzi, Giacomo Berengario da Carpi or simply Carpus) introduced iconography and independent anatomical observation into the teaching of anatomy. H…

1532

#12764

De partu hominis, et quae circa ipsum accidunt.

Eucharius Rösslin the Younger translated his father's Der schwangeren Frauwen und Hebammen Rosengarten (1513) into Latin, from which it is was translated into French, Dutch, and English, and was frequently reprinted. …

1533 –1534

#6974

Aetii Amideni quem alii Antiochenum vocant medici clarissimi libri XVI. tomos divisi : quorum primus & ultimus Ioan. Baptista Montano Veronensi medico, secundus Iano Cornario Zuiccauiensi, & ipso medicinae professore, interpretibus latinitate donati sunt. In quo opere cuncta quae ad curandi artem pertinent congesta sunt, ex omnibus qui usq[ue] ad eius tempora scripserant, diligentissime excerpta. Additus est index in omneis tomos copiosissimus. 3 vols.

J. B. Montanus and Janus Cornarius prepared the first edition of Aetius's collected works in Latin translation. That edition was the first to include Aetius's writings on obstetrics, which epitomized all previous know…

1540

#6139

The byrth of mankynde.

The first English treatise on midwifery, translated by Richard Jonas from the 1532 Latin translation by Roesslin the Younger (De partu hominis) of Roesslin's work (1513). The 1540 English edition was illustrated with …

1544

#6009.1

Experimentarius medicinae. Continens Trotulae curandarum aegriudinum muliebrium ante, in & post partium lib. unicum, nusquam antea editum…[Georg Kraut]

First printed edition of the gynecological writings attributed to the woman physician, Trota, who is frequently called Trotula after the name of the collection of works with whom she is associated. Trota is said to ha…

1549

#6140

Briefve collection de l'administration anatomique: avec la manière de conjoindre les os: et d’extraire les enfans tant mors que vivans du ventre de la mere, lors que nature de soy ne peult venir a son effect.

Paré’s revival of podalic version repopularized the procedure, which had been described by Soranus of Ephesus (No. 6008). English translation in The Workes of Ambroise Parey [sic], London, 1634. Digital facsimile of t…

1550

#6142

Ordnung eines erbarn Raths der Statt Regenspurg, die Hebammen betreffende.

The earliest public document in the vernacular containing legislation governing midwives. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1554

#463

Ein schön lustig Trostbüchle von den Empfengknussen und Geburten der Menschen…

An improved version of Rösslin’s Swangern frawen. This contains the first true anatomical pictures in an obstetrics book. Rueff described smooth-edged forceps for delivery of a live baby, preceding Chamberlen, and a t…

1564

#464

De humano foetu.

According to Charles Singer, Aranzi gave the first adequate printed account of the gravid uterus, and finally dispelled the idea of a human cotyledonous placenta. He gave by far the best description of fetal anatomy u…

1566

#6011

Gynaeciorum, hoc est, de mulierum turn aliis, tum gravidarum, parientium et puerperarum affectibus et morbis, libri veterum ac recentiorum aliquot, partim nunc primum editi, partim multo quam antea castigatiores.

The first encyclopedia of gynecology and obstetrics, originally conceived by Conrad Gesner, who collected material for the purpose. Wolff, Gesner’s literary executor, added material and published the collection one ye…

1566

#6136

Moschionos Peri gynaikeion pathon, id est…De morbis muliebribus liber unus; cum CONARDI GESNERI… scholiis & emendationibus nun primum editus opera ac studio CASPARI WOLPHII.

The earliest text specifically for midwives, based on the teachings of Soranus, the greatest obstetrical writer of antiquity. Muscio was a pupil of Soranus. His book, the earliest copy of which is a manuscript dating …

1570

#5372

Opera medicinalia.

Opera medicinalia was the first medical book printed in the Western Hemisphere, and its botanical images were the first illustrations of plants printed in the Western Hemisphere. Of the original edition only two copie…

1573

#534.51

Deux livres de chirurgie. I. De la generation de l’homme… II. Des monstres tant terrestres que marins avec leurs portraits.

Many reports of real malformations are intermixed with mythical accounts. English translations, 1634, and later. Recent English translation, Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1982. Digital facsimile of the 1573 ed…

1573

#6143

Reformation oder Ordnung für die Hebammen.

Legislation governing the practice of midwifery was introduced in the city of Frankfurt in 1573, Digital facsimile from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek at this link.

1575

#5565

Les oeuvres de M. Ambroise Paré.

Paré was the greatest of the army surgeons before Larrey. Born in poor circumstances, he became the most famous surgeon in France. He is particularly remembered for his abandonment of boiling oil and the cautery (No. …

1581

#6236

Traitte nouveau de l’hysterotomotokie, ou enfantement caesarien.

Rousset records 15 successful Caesarean sections carried out by various persons during the preceding 80 years.

1586 –1588

#6012

Gynaeciorum sive de mulierum affectibus commentarii Graecorum, Latinorum, barbarorum, iam olim & nunc recens editorum: in tres tomos digesti, et necessariis passim imaginibus illustrati. 4 vols.

A hugely enlarged version of No. 6011, with texts in Greek as well as Latin. Digital facsimile of vol. 1 from Google Books at this link.

1587

#7337

De humano foetu liber tertio editus, ac recognitus. Eiusdem anatomicarum observationum liber: ac De tumoribus secundum locos affectos liber nunc primum editi.

First edition of Aranzi's Anatomicarum observationum published with the third edition of De humano foetu. In the Anatomicarum observationum Aranzi pointed out that the eye muscles arise from the margin of the optic ca…

1596

#6144

La commare o riccoglitrice.

First Italian book on obstetrics. It is a work of importance for the study of the history of Caesarean section; in it Mercurio advocated the Caesarean operation in cases of contracted pelvis.

1597

#802

Opusculum physiologum & anatomicum in duos libellos distinctum: In quibus primùm, de integritatis & corruptionis virginum notis, deinde, de grauiditate & partu naturali mulierum in quo ossa pubis & ilium distrahi, dilucidè tractatur ....

In 1595 Pineau demonstrated the vestigial foramen ovale in the adult heart, settling the question of the perviousness of the septum of the heart. His work was first published in 1597. He published this study in a fran…

1597

#6013

Gynaeciorum sive de mulierum tum communibus, turn gravidarum, parientum, et puerperarum affectibus et morbis, libri Graecorum, Arabum, Latinorum veterum et recentium quotquot extant, parti nunc primum editi, partim vero denuo recogniti, emendati, necessariis imaginibus exornati, & optimorum scriptorum autoritatibus illustrati.

Spach was the editor of this collection of gynecological writings. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1600

#6144.1

De natura partus octomestris adversus vulgatam opinionem libri decem ... In quo absolutissima de humani partus natura cognitio traditur; nimirum de conceptione, articulatione, maturitate, de partuum numero, pariendique terminis ac temporibus; utrum ante septimum mensem, ac post decimum, undecimique initium partus naturaliter edi possit. De septimestri, nonomestri, decimestri, undecimestrique partu, deque veris horum omnium causis plenissime Aristotele duce disputatur ... Item ejusdem auctoris compendiosa de eodem partu disceptatio ...

An encyclopedic work on ancient and contemporary medical, scientific and juridical opinion on premature birth and the period of gestation. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1603

#11873

De universa mulierum medicina, novo et antehac a nemine tentato ordine opus absolutissimum. Et studiosis omnibus utile, medicis vero pernecessarium. Pars prima theorica. Quatuor comprehensa libris, in quibus cuncta, quae ad mulieribus naturam, anatomen, semen, menstruum,… Pars secunda, sive praxis …. 2 parts in 1.

The first treatise on gynecology written by a Portuguese author, the work was written in two parts: Part one, about theory, was titled De natura mulierum (On female nature) and was divided into four books: (1) Anatomy…

1606

#6013.1

Gynaeciorum commentarius, de gravidarum parturientium, puerperarum & infantium, cura… Accessit elenchus auctorum in re medica cluentium, qui gynaecia scriptis clararunt & illustrarunt. Opera e studio Joan. Georgii Schenkii …

Schenck compiled the first bibliography of gynecology, entitled Pinax auctorum in re medica, Graecorum, Latinorum priscorum, Arabum Latinobarbarorum, Latinorum recentiorum, tum & peregrinis liniguis cluentium, Exstant…

1609

#6145

Observations diverses sur la sterilité, perte de fruict, foecondité, accouchements, et maladies des femmes, et enfants nouveaux naiz.

The first book on obstetrics published by a midwife. Louise Bourgeois was accoucheuse to the French court. She was one of the pioneers of scientific midwifery; her Observations was the vade mecum of contemporary midwi…

1609

#6145.1

De l’heureux accouchement des femmes.

Actual origin of the so–called “Mauriceau” manoeuvre, usually credited to Mauriceau (No. 6147). Guillemeau was not only responsible for this technique for delivery of the after coming head so important before the forc…

1612

#9518

Traité des hermaphrodits parties génitales accouchements des femmes et traitement qui est requis pour les relever en santé, et bien élever leurs enfants. Où sont expliquez la figure des laboureur, et verger du genre humain, signes de pucelage, defloration, conception, et la belle industrie dont use nature en la promotion du concept et plante prolifique.

In 1601 the Rouen physician Duval was summoned by the Rouen parlement to examine Marie Le Marcis, who at the age of 20 had discovered she was a man and had determined to marry, only to be imprisoned for lesbianism and…

1643

#6014

De virginum et mulierum morbis liber.

1651

#467

Exercitationes de generatione animalium.

Harvey was among the first to disbelieve the erroneous doctrine of the “preformation” of the fetus; he maintained that the organism derives from the ovum by the gradual building up and aggregation of its parts. The ch…

1655

#6146.1

De nutritione foetus in utero paradoxa.

Page 245 contains a report of successful symphysiotomy.

1663

#6015

Heel-konstige aanmerkkingen betreffende de gebreeken der vrouwen.

Roonhuyze’s book is regarded as the first work on operative gynecology in the modern sense. He successfully performed caesarean section several times, and he used retractors for the repair of vesicovaginal fistulae. E…

1668

#6147

Des maladies des femmes grosses et accouchées.

The outstanding textbook of the time. Mauriceau, leading obstetrician of his day, introduced the practice of delivering his patients in bed instead of in the obstetrical chair. It was to Mauriceau that Hugh Chamberlen…

1671

#6156.1

The midwives book: or the whole art of midwifery discovered.

The first book written by an English midwife. Sharp was the most accomplished midwife of 17th-century England. Scholarly, extensively annotated edition edited by Jane Hobby, New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press,…

1684

#7030

Aristoteles master-piece, or the secrets of generation displayed in all the parts thereof . . .

The first sex manual in English, neither by Aristotle or a "masterpiece", provided its readers with practical advice on copulation, conception, pregnancy and birth.This anonymous, inexpensively printed work proved to …

1685

#6148

La pratique des accouchemens soutenue d’un grand nombre d’observations.

Portal’s important treatise included his demonstration that version could be done with one foot. He also taught that face presentation usually ran a normal course. English translation, 1705.

1690

#6149

Die Chur-Brandenburgische Hoff-Wehe-Mutter.

With Mauriceau, Justine Siegemundin was responsible for introducing the practice of puncturing the amniotic sac to arrest hemorrhage in placenta praevia. She was midwife to the Court of the Elector of Brandenburg, and…

1701

#6253

Manuale operatien, I. deel zijnde een neiuw ligt voor vroed-meesters en vroed-vrouen.

This work gives the first accurate description of the female pelvis and its deformities, and the effect of the latter in complicating labor. The first edition contains a relatively unattractive frontispiece portrait o…

1703

#11667

Emmenologia: In qua fluxus mulierbris menstrui phaenomena, periodi, vitia cum medendi methodo, ad rationes mechanicas exiguntur.

Translated into English as Emmenologia: Written, in Latin, by the late learned Dr. John Freind. Translated into English by Thomas Dale, M.D. London: Printed for T. Cox, 1729. Digital facsimile of the 1752 English tran…

1717

#10530

Syphilis: A practical dissertation on the venereal disease. In which, after a short account of its nature and original; the diagnostick and prognostick signs, with the best ways of curing the several degrees of that distemper, together with some historical observations relating to the same, are candidly and without reserve, communicated. In two parts.

The first work published in English to include the word syphilis, and also the first English work to include the word condom. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1721

#6150

Traité complet des accouchemens.

Mauquest de la Motte applied podalic version to head presentations. English translation, prepared at the suggestion of William Smellie, 1746.

1724

#6016

Ausführliche Abhandlung von den Zufällen und Kranckheiten des Frauenzimmers.

1726

#6017

An account of a dropsy of the left ovary of a woman, aged 58, cured by a large incision made in the side of the abdomen.

Houstoun was the first to treat ovarian edema by tapping the cyst, 1701. For biographical note, see J. Obst. Gynaec. Brit. Comw., 1973, 80, 193-200.

1733

#6156.2

An essay on the improvement of midwifery.

Gives the first published account of the forceps, kept secret by the Chamberlen family for generations. Chapman was the second person in England to teach midwifery publicly. The first edition of his book was not illus…

1734

#6156.3

Cases in midwifry. Revised by Edward Hody.

Giffard was one of the first, after the Chamberlens, to use the forceps. His book contains, under case 14, the earliest published record of the use of the hitherto secret Chamberlen forceps, in 1726, together with ill…

1735 –1756

#6113

Ueber die Vortheile der suprasymphysären Fascienquerschnitts für die gynäkologischen Koeliotomieen.

“Pfannenstiel’s incision”.