67 



Section VII'. 



Obstetrics in Ireland. 



Since women formally, rejected 1 the assistance of ; male praci 

 titioners in their labour, progress in the art of ' midwifery was 

 difficult. We have progressed wonderfully since the days of 

 Agnodice of Athens. Yet this Grecian lady can still be held 1 

 up as a model to our present day midwife despite the fact 

 that the modern Trotula is much in evidence. 



The hereditary physicians of the clans are not known to 

 have specially practised this branch of the profession. But it 

 is not at all unlikely that a better system prevailed than that 

 obtaining in the years that followed: 



As late as 1753 the College of Physicians refused to license 

 anybody in physic who was concerned in the practise of 

 midwifery. We can therefore readily imagine what a barrier 

 to progress existed when the art remained absolutely in the 

 hands of the uneducated: 



Although in the charter granted to the College of Physicians 

 in 1692 was given "full power and' authority to examine all' 

 midwives," no use was made of the privilege. 



Previous to 1740 iour persons were examined by the College 

 of Physicians for License in Midwifery ; Mrs. Cormack, 

 1696-7, was the first womanthus licensed. 



We have undoubted evidence that the hereditary physicians 

 were acquainted with the Hippooratic writings, which include 

 reference to version, position and dismemberment of foetus 

 and table for facilitating delivery. All the achievements of 

 ancient times seem to have been forgotten by the physicians 

 and surgeons of the later centuries. 



To Fielding Ould credit must be given for calling attention 

 to the fact that no means existed ; in Ireland by whioh medical 

 men could obtain instruction in midwifery. In 1740 he stated 

 in a preface to his Manual of Midwifery that he was indebted 

 to the Paris school for his practical 1 knowledge. His descrip- 

 tion of the mechanism of labour, although incomplete, is the 

 first attempt to put this subject' on a scientific footing. He 

 advocated turning and extraction by the feet in cases of' slight 

 contraction of the pelvis. He was the inventorof a contrivance 



