working life of women seventeenth century - School of Economics ...

PROFESSIONS PROFESSIONS 271Several handbooks on Midwifery were written inresponse to the demand for opportunities for scientifictraining by the more intelligent members of the profession.One of the most popular of these books,which passed through manv editions, was publishedin 1671 by Jane Sharp " Practitioner in the art ofMidwifery above jo years." The preface to the fourthedition says that " the constant and unweariedIndustry of this ingenious and well-skill'd midwife,Mrs. Jane Sharp, together with her great Experienceof Anatomy & Physick, by the many years of herPractice in the art of Midwifery hath . . . . .made them . . . . much desired by all thateither knew her Person . . . . or ever read thisbook, which of late, by its Scarceness hath been somuch enquired after . . . . as to have manyafter impressions." The author says that she has" often sate down sad in the Consideration of themany Miseries Women endure in the Hands of unskilfulMidwives ; many professing the Art (withoutany skill in anatomy, which is the Principal parteffectually necessary for a Midwife) meerly for Lucressake.I have been at Great Cost in Translationsfor all Books, either French, Dutch or Italian of thiskind. All which I offer with my own Experience.'"Jane Sharp points out that midwives must be bothspeculative and practical, for " she that wants theknowledge of Speculation, is like one that is blindor wants her sight : she that wants the Practice, islike one that is lame & wants her legs, . . . . .Some perhaps may think, that then it is not properfor women to be of this profession, because they cannotattain so rarely to the knowledge of things as men may,who are bred up in Universities, Schools of Learning,or serve their Apprenticeship for that end and purpose,,where anatomy Lectures being frequently read theU*Sharp, Mm. Jane,ducovmcd.7be Midwives BOOR, or tbe dole Art of Mzdwzfsysituation of the parts both of men and women . . .are often made plain to them.But that objection iseasily answered, by the former example of the Midwivesamongst the Israelites, for, though we womencannot deny that men in some things may come to agreater perfection of knowledge than women ordinarilycan, by reason of the former helps that womenwant ; yet the Holy Scriptures hath recorded Midwivesto the perpetual honour of the female Sex.There not being so much as one word concerning menmidwives mentioned there . . . . it being thenatural propriety of women to be much seeing intothat art ; and though nature be not alone sufficientto the perfection of it, yet further knowledge may begain'd by a long and diligent practice, and he communicatedto others of our own sex. I cannot denythe honour due to able Physicians and Chyrurgions,when occasion is, Yet . . . . where there isno Men of Learning, the women are sufficient toperform this duty . . . . It is not hard wordsthat perform the work, as if none understood the Artthat cannot understand Greek. Words are butthe shell, that we oftimes break our Teeth with themto come at the kernel, I mean our brains to know whatis the meaning of them ; but to have the same in ourmother tongue would save us a great deal of needlesslabour. It is commendable for men to employ theirspare time in some things of deeper Speculation thanis required of the female sex ; but the art of Midwifery chiefly concerns us."'Though the schools of Medicine and Anatomy wereclosed to women, individual doctors were willing toteach the more progressive midwives some of thescience necessary for their art ; thus Culpeperdedicated his " Directory " to the midwives of Englandin the following words :-" Worthv Matrons, You are of' S*Mn. Jane .7bc Midroivcr Book, pp. 1-q.