Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 913.5

DR. JOHN MOWBRAY (fl. 1732) 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. Printed for James Holland 1724 1st edition. xxiv, 420, [2] p. 8vo.

Author also known as “Maubray”. First edition of this guide to obstetrics, the first separate treatise on the subject written in English, and described by Cutter & Viets as “one of the most attractively printed publications of the early eighteenth century” (Cutter & Viets, p.11-15). As Maubray [sic] says, “What books of midwifery have we ever had but bare translations?” Whilst displaying little original thought the work nevertheless provides an excellent insight into the prevailing ideas and practices of the time, Maubray illustrating the “continuing importance of the old numerological superstitions” referring “solemnly to the astrologers’ views on the magic of the number seven in connexion with a birth at seven months” (Eternal Eve, p.264). He is staunchly against the use of instruments believing them to cause more harm than good, and even in difficult cases he would still “excuse himself from the use of an Educator, and debar myself from the practice of any instrument” (p.307). He discusses many different aspects of midwifery including deformed conceptions. Although aware of the recent achievements of Deventer, Maubray passes little comment upon his teachings, and spends more time discussing ‘monsters’ especially his ‘moodiwarp’ (an old Scottish word for ‘mole’) than on the latest innovations! He apparently delivered such a creature “the lies of anything in shape and size to a Moodiwarp, having a hooked snout, fiery sparkling eyes, a long round neck, an acuminated short tail, and an extraordinary agility of feet” (p.375). Discussing his experience with Holland’s learned me, Maubray is told that such births were common amongst the ‘meaner and seafaring sort of people’ (p.376). Whilst it is amazing to think that he believed in such creatures, this work was written at a time when great curiosity had been aroused by the apparent delivery of a litter of rabbits to one Mary Toft of Guildford. Choosing to disregard Harvey’s De Generatione, Maubray apparently believed that there had been a lack of English midwifery books, and attributed this to a lack of central lying-in hospital in England. He attempted to run a theoretical and practical course in midwifery from his house in New Bond Street, and published a work in 1725based on his lectures. Although his venture was not wholly successful, Maubray deserves credit for being the first to attempt such a course and also the first to suggest the establishment of a large lying-in hospital to rival that of the Hôtel-Dieu in Paris. This book is exceptionally rare: 2 editions were published between 1724 and 1730 in English and held by 5 libraries worldwide (WorldCat).

Cited references: Waller 6326; Wellcome IV p.82

John Martin M.D. Endowment