A monthly nurse, who looks after a mother and a newborn baby for the first month after the birth. Wood engraving by Orrin Smith, ca. 1840, after Kenny Meadows.

  • Meadows, Joseph Kenny, 1790-1874.
Date:
1840
Reference:
11737i
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Description

In 'Heads of the people' (p. 98), Leigh Hunt interprets Meadows's drawing as showing the monthly nurse settling down in her armchair after the mother and baby have both gone to sleep, taking snuff, a cup of tea, and a glass from a bottle of spirits

Publication/Creation

1840

Physical description

1 print : wood engraving

Lettering

The monthly nurse. "From the very moment the mistress of the house is brought to bed, every female in it, from my lady's gentlewoman down to the cinder-wench, becomes an inch taller for it." Tristram Shandy. K.M.

Reference

Wellcome Collection 11737i

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