Historic Publications

XXX Quotes ~ by Dr. J. Whitridge Williams from his 1914 book “Twilight Sleep: Simple Discovery in Painless Childbirth

by faithgibson September 2, 2015

This small book was written in 1914 by Dr. Henry Smith Williams, an MD, attorney and science writer, at the request of Dr. J. Whitridge Williams. Dr JW Williams was associate professor of gynecology in at Johns Hopkins University Hospital beginning in 1894, vice-president of the American Gynecological Society in 1903-04, and Chief of Obstetrics […]

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XYZ ~ Excerpt: “How the Invention of Elective Hospitalization became the Economic Engine for General Hospitals in the US:  

by faithgibson August 28, 2015

 Synopsis:   This critically important but unknown story comes from a very small (28-page) book published in 1914 by a famous American obstetrician — Dr. J. Whitridge Williams. A copy from Stanford’s medical library (Lane Library) collection was digitized as a part of Google’s archival library project and is available on-line as a PDF.   Dr. J. […]

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Joseph B. DeLee & Practice of Preventive Obstetrics by Judith Walzer Leavitt, PhD; AJPH 1998

by faithgibson August 19, 2015

Editor’s Note — needs editing! http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1349440/pdf/amjph00249-0095.pdf Public Health – Then and Now AJPH October 1988, Vol. 78, No 10 page 1353 Joseph B. DeLee and the Practice of Preventive Obstetrics by Judith Walzer Leavitt, PhD Editorial Comments and Background: 1. Dr. Delee’s impact on childbirth practices in America — ultimately resulting in the complete obstetricalization of […]

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Obstetricians promoting the “New Obstetrics” 1910 to 1923 ~ #4

by faithgibson February 23, 2015

Forth in a 5-part series Obstetricians promoting the “New Obstetrics” 1910 to 1923 ~ “If the profession would realize that parturition, viewed with modern eyes, is no longer a normal function, but that it has imposing pathologic dignity, the midwife would be impossible of mention.” [1915-C; DeLee, MD p.117] ~ “If obstetrics is ever to […]

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Medical Education and the Campaign to Abolish the Midwife ~ #3

by faithgibson February 21, 2015

Third in a 5-part series Medical Education and the Campaign to Abolish Midwifery Only by being familiar with obstetrical science and education in the US in the early 1900’s can one reasonably evaluate the obstetricians’ campaign to eliminate the midwife. Obstetrical education in the early 1900s in United States was not primarily based on clinical training […]

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