Europe as the Cradle of Scientific Obstetrics Antonín Doležal, Vítězslav Kuželka, Jaroslav Zvěřina 2007 Authors prof. MUDr. Antonín Doležal, DrSc. Gynaecological-obstetric clinic at the 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and the General Faculty Hospital in Prague RNDr. Vítězslav Kuželka Anthropological department, National Museum in Prague doc. MUDr. Jaroslav Zvěřina, CSc., Head of the Sexological Institute at the 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and the General Faculty Hospital in Prague Reviewer doc. MUDr. Rudolf Linc Department of Anatomy and Biomechanics at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Charles University in Prague Editor doc. MUDr. Milan Špála, CSc. Institute of Medical Information, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague Publication issued to mark the occasion of the exhibition entitled “Europe, Cradle of Scientific Obstetrics”, held in the building of the European Parliament in Brussels from 2nd to 5th October 2007. Exhibition devoted to the famous and unknown warriors who, hundreds of years ago, created a community of scholars in Europe and were responsible for the lives of countless children and their mothers. The following institutions were involved in hosting the exhibition and releasing this publication: 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague, the National Museum in Prague, the Medical Museum of the National Medical Library in Prague, in collaboration with other institutions. Exhibition and publication sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, www.gsk.cz Antonín Doležal, Vítězslav Kuželka, Jaroslav Zvěřina Europe as the Cradle of Scientific Obstetrics Published by GALÉN, Na Bělidle 34, 150 00 Praha 5, www.galen.cz in collaboration with the 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague The cover features illustrations by Leonardo da Vinci (UK, Windsor, Royal Library): “Studies of the Foetus in the Womb“ (1510–1512) and “The Foetus in the Womb“ (1510–1513) Typesetting, graphic layout, cover and printed by: RUDI, a.s. Komenského 1839, 390 02 Tábor 2, www.rudi.cz Special-purpose publication – Non-marketable copy Translation and correction: SKŘIVÁNEK, s.r.o. All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part thereof may be reproduced, stored in a search system or distributed by any means (including mechanical, electronic, photographic or other records) without the written consent of the authors. Copyright © Antonín Doležal, Vítězslav Kuželka, Jaroslav Zvěřina 2007 Copyright © Galén, 2007 ISBN 978-80-7262-507-9 ISBN 978-80-7262-506-2 (Czech version) Front page of “De humani corporis…” Vesalius l543 ~ Contents ~ Foreword .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................7 Biological Fundamentals of Human Reproduction..................................................................................8 Prehistory ...................................................................................................................................................11 Antiquity ....................................................................................................................................................12 Babylon and Egypt . ...............................................................................................................................12 Hebrews .................................................................................................................................................13 Ancient India ..........................................................................................................................................13 Greece ....................................................................................................................................................13 Ancient Rome ........................................................................................................................................17 Middle Ages and Early Modern Times ...................................................................................................22 Midwifery and Surgery ..........................................................................................................................23 Caesarean Section (sectio caesarea) .......................................................................................................24 Teaching of Midwifery ...........................................................................................................................27 Boom of Science in Modern Times ..........................................................................................................28 Anatomy and its Importance .................................................................................................................30 Anatomy of Pregnancy ...........................................................................................................................33 Microscopy .............................................................................................................................................37 Women in the Field ................................................................................................................................40 Examinations ..........................................................................................................................................41 Paris as the Cradle of Obstetrics .............................................................................................................42 Forceps ...................................................................................................................................................44 Boom of Surgery ....................................................................................................................................49 Superstitions ...........................................................................................................................................51 Schools of Obstetrics .............................................................................................................................51 Scientific Progress .....................................................................................................................................52 Development of Anatomy and Physiology ............................................................................................53 Obstetrics as a Science ...........................................................................................................................55 Midwives ................................................................................................................................................62 The Enlightenment .................................................................................................................................63 Viability of the Foetus ............................................................................................................................65 Delivery Stool ........................................................................................................................................66 Paediatrics ..............................................................................................................................................66 Embryotomy ...........................................................................................................................................67 Caesarean Section ..................................................................................................................................67 Symphyseotomy .....................................................................................................................................68 Artificially Induced Premature Birth ......................................................................................................68 Narcosis – Fighting Pain ........................................................................................................................68 Scientific and Technical Discoveries .......................................................................................................70 The Prague School ....................................................................................................................................72 Puerperal Fever ......................................................................................................................................72 Microbiology - Bacteriology .................................................................................................................74 Caesarean Section ..................................................................................................................................75 Changes at the End of the 19th Century and at the Turn of the Century ...........................................76 Blood Transfusion ..................................................................................................................................77 Inventions and Discoveries ....................................................................................................................78 Social Factors .........................................................................................................................................80