Midwifery in early modern Germany, 1650-1810
This thesis explores the occupational structure and culture of urban midwifery practice in early modern Germany between 1650 and 1810. Following the Thirty Years War many larger cities began to reform midwifery provision. They were motivated partly by depopulation anxieties and partly by burgeoning civic confidence and prosperity. In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century the Leipzig Council began to appoint midwife apprentices, introduced a municipal obstetrician (Stadtaccoucheur) to supervise its licensed midwives and carry out difficult operative deliveries, and began to provide its midwives with formal anatomical and obstetric instruction through the new Stadtaccoucheur. Drawing on municipal council records in the city of Leipzig, this thesis traces the varieties and forms of midwifery practice that existed within the urban setting and examines the impact of these reforms on the traditional culture of urban midwifery. It explores the structure of formal and informal midwifery, the socioeconomic and life cycle of midwives, client networks and the way in which midwives demarcated their occupational territory amongst themselves and with other practitioners. This thesis argues that these reforms
Robilliard, Gabrielle
DD Germany ; RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Midwifery in early modern Germany, 1650-1810. This thesis explores the occupational structure and culture of urban midwifery practice in early modern Germany between 1650 and 1810. Following the Thirty Years War many larger cities began to reform midwifery provision. They were motivated partly by depopulation anxieties and partly by burgeoning civic confidence and prosperity. In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century the Leipzig Council began to appoint midwife apprentices, introduced a municipal obstetrician (Stadtaccoucheur) to supervise its licensed midwives and carry out difficult operative deliveries, and began to provide its midwives with formal anatomical and obstetric instruction through the new Stadtaccoucheur. Drawing on municipal council records in the city of Leipzig, this thesis traces the varieties and forms of midwifery practice that existed within the urban setting and examines the impact of these reforms on the traditional culture of urban midwifery. It explores the structure of formal and informal midwifery, the socioeconomic and life cycle of midwives, client networks and the way in which midwives demarcated their occupational territory amongst themselves and with other practitioners. This thesis argues that these reforms
early_modern germany explores occupational_structure culture urban practice early_modern germany following many large_city begin reform provision motivate partly depopulation anxiety partly burgeon civic confidence prosperity council begin appoint apprentice introduce municipal supervise license carry difficult operative delivery begin provide formal anatomical instruction new drawing municipal council record city trace variety form practice exist within urban set examines_impact reform traditional culture urban explores structure formal_informal socioeconomic life_cycle client network way demarcate occupational territory amongst practitioner argues reform