MS Japanese 127

A woodblock printed work on obstetrics, written in katakana-majiri, by Kondō Naoyoshi (also known as Taizō 退蔵 or Kenzan 謙山; 1814-1861), and published in 1858. At the outset he provides a detailed explanation of the female genital organs and their relation to the womb and goes on to examination and diagnosis, all illustrated with line drawings. He recommends various kinds of massage, and when preparing for birth he, like others before him, insisted on the use of a rolled-up bed cover for the patient to sit up against and showed how this was to be folded. The process of birth is covered in numerous illustrations showing each stage, and he also deals with still births, post-partural problems and the care of babies.

Japan, 1858

Material: paper; ３冊 | 3 volumes; binding dimensions: height 259mm, width 186mm, depth 40mm