The Obstetrical Society of London and its examinations for midwives : a chapter in the history of the midwives question / by Charles J. Cullingworth.

  • Cullingworth, Charles J. (Charles James), 1841-1908.
Date:
1907
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Obstetrical Society of London and its examinations for midwives : a chapter in the history of the midwives question / by Charles J. Cullingworth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    THE OBSTETRICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON AND ITS EXAMINATIONS FOR MIDWIVES ; A GHAPTKK IN THE HISTORY OF THE MIDWIVES QUESTION. “ Several young physicians in my department of practice have been endeavouring to start an obstetrical society—Dr. Tyler Smith, Dr. Graily Hewitt, Dr. Priestley, &c They have requested me to become President and this evening our first meeting took place at the Freemasons’ Tavern to pass a series of resolutions and inaugurate the society.” So writes in his diary ^ Dr. Edward Kigby (the second) under date Dec. 16th, 1858. He goes on to speak of what happened at the meeting and to express his private opinion of one or two of the speakers as well as of Sir Henry Halford and the Royal College of Physicians of London, but for whose illiberal opposition, he says, there would liave been an Obstetrical Society of London long before. My object, however, in this paper is- not to relate the history of the Obstetrical Society, but, now that the passing of the Midwives Act has rendered it unnecessary for the society to continue its voluntary examinations, to trace, in somewhat greater detail than has hitherto been attempted, the various occurrences that led the society to become actively interested in the midwives question and to place on record the manner in which that interest has from time to time been manifested. Having therefore glanced for a r This diary has never been published. I was kindly allowed to see it some little time ago by its present possessor, a member of Dr. Rigby’s family, who very courteously gave me leave to make a few extracts from it. 2 Summaries of the various practical steps taken by the Society to further the better training and education of midwives have been drawn up from time to time and published. See for example v;)I. xxxiii. of the Transactions for 1891, p. 59 ; Dr. F. H. Cliampneys’s inaugural address as presidoit of the society (see Transactions of the Obstetrical Society of London, vol. xxxvii. for 1895, pp. 94 et seq.); an unsigned article in “Nursing Notes,” February, 1900, p. 22 (after- wanls reprinted) and a pamphlet by Dr. Amand Routh, dated April, 1902.