Midwifery: France, Provence

Collection of documents relating to Midwives in Provence, preceded by a License to Practise granted by the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris to Jeanne Villot. All the above, except No. 1, are addressed to 'M. Ricard, Subdélégué' de l'Intendance de Provence' at St. Maximin. Produced in Paris (etc.).

1. Villot, Jeanne - License to practise as a Midwife. Dated 23 September, 1785. Signed by the 'Gouverneurs et Administrateurs' of the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, endorsed and certified by [Marie Jonet] Dugés [1730-1797], Maîtresse Sagefemme at the Hospital.

2. La Tour, C. J. B. des G. de (1715-1802) Signed printed letter, dated Aix, 6 April 1786. An official request for particulars concerning Midwives in Provence. La Tour was 'Intendant de la Provence' from 1744 to 1787.

3. Tourves, Mayor and Consul of - reply dated 18 May, 1786.

4. Bras, Mayor and Consul of - reply dated 19 May, 1786.

5. Pourcieux, Mayor and Consul of - reply dated 19 May, 1786.

6. Nans, for the Mayor and Consul of - reply dated 20 May, 1786. Actually by the hand of 'J. Ollivier, Chirurgien'.

7-8. St. Maximin, Mayor and Consul of - replies dated 21 May, 1786, and 30 May, 1786.

9. Seillons, Mayor of - reply dated 27 May, 1786. The date is given on the endorsement.

10. Rougiers, Consul of - Reply dated -/May, 1786. At this place, one of the two Midwives mentioned is stated to have 'fort peu d'intelligence'.

1785-1786

1 volume 10 docs. v.s. The first document is on vellum.

Purchased 1936.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).