Call Number:

Ms. Codex 2154

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

.1 linear_foot (1 volume)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Samuel Head notes on medical lectures delivered by John Clarke, 1802-1803, Ms. Codex 2154, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1802-1803 (inclusive)

Creator:

Head, Samuel, approximately 1773-1837

Form:

Lecture notes

Abstract:

Dr. John Clarke (1760-1850) was an obstetric physician who lectured on midwifery and the diseases of women and children at St. Bartholomew's Hospital and in his home at No. 1, New Burlington Street, in London. This volume contains notes from his lectures, recorded by Samuel Head (circa 1773-1837), a Canadian physician studying in England from 1802 to 1803. These notes provide a glimpse into the education of 18th to early 19th century physicians, who, through the professionalization of the field, became increasingly involved in overseeing pregnancy and childbirth, and taking on the role of "man-midwife."

Samuel Head (circa 1773-1837) was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, the son of surgeon, Michael Head. He traveled to England in order to obtain his medical training, and in 1803 became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of London. He attended and took detailed notes on "Lectures on Midwfry on Diseases of Women & Children &c by Doct. Clark at No. 1. New Burlington Street, London 1802 & 1803."

In 1804, Head returned to Halifax and started a practice in surgery and medicine, and took over the running of the pharmacy which had been established by his father. In 1814, he opened a private hospital on Water Street "for travelers and sick and injured seamen," (Pryke) which he operated with a degree of success until his death. He also advocated for the licensing of doctors, providing health care to those without financial means, and financing sanitation projects designed to reduce the chance of epidemics. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1810, founded the Halifax Poor Man's Friend Society in 1820, and was appointed to the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in 1831.

Dr. John Clarke (1760-1850) was an obstetric physician who lectured on midwifery and the diseases of women and children at St. Bartholomew's Hospital and in his home at No. 1, New Burlington Street, in London. He was educated at St. Paul's School and at the University of Frankfurt. He was granted a license in midwifery from the Royal College of Physicians and became one of only about ten physicians with such a license. During this period, the shift of oversight of pregnancy and childbirth from the female sphere to the male sphere was controversial and resulted in the term "man-midwife." He authored An Essay on the Epidemic Disease of Lying-in Women, of the Years 1787 and 1788 (1788), Practical Essays on the Management of Pregnancy and Labour (1793), and The London Practice of Midwifery (1803).

Works consulted:

Hunter, Kenneth R. "Dr. John Clarke: Licentiate in midwifery of the Royal College of Physicians of London," Clinical Medicine, Vol.2, No. 2, March/April 2002.

Pryke, K.G., "HEAD, SAMUEL," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed November 15, 2023, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/head_samuel_7E.html.

This volume contains a series of lectures following a roughly chronological path from menstruation to conception to childbirth to post-partum topics. Example of lectures include Physiology of Menstruation (1, recto of f. 2), Physiology of Generation (f. 54), Treatments of Disorders &c. during Pregnancy (f. 83), Labors (f. 112), Management of women after delivery (f. 200), and Gravid Uterus (f. 214). There are also lectures on still born children (f. 72) with a note that "medical men are examined before a court of justice to give evidence of children supposed to be destroyed at birth" (f. 75). Miscarriages (called abortions after six months) are addressed (f. 99), as well as efforts to help women weakened during labor, including the use of forceps (f. 148-150), caesarean operations (f. 152-153) and drugs, including opium and laudanum (f. 84 and f. 124). This is followed by a question: "Can ever both lives be saved?" (f. 158). Established concepts and beliefs of men of the time are found throughout the volume; however, Clarke also recognized the importance of the patient's faith and confidence in her physician.

This volume is bound in full leather with a newspaper clipping "Medical Properties of Turpentine," pasted on inside front cover. Head records his title, "Lectures on Midwifry on Diseases of Women & Children &c. by Doctr Clark at No. 1 New Burlington Street, London, 1802 & 1803 – by Samuel Head" on the recto of f. iii. Folios were numbered by Head and are placed on the upper left verso. Lecture notes were written on the verso with additional notes on the facing recto, however, f. 163-223 contain lecture notes written on both rectos and versos. The lower half of f. 37 was cut off, with loss of text. An index begins on the recto of f. 224 and continues to f. 229.