ABSTRACT
A ‘renaissance of midwifery’ occurred in the sixteenth century, and this new era in maternity care was signaled by the appearance of a series of books designed for the instruction of midwives. The general populace could now gain knowledge that was previously only available in Latin or Greek manuscripts owned by physicians, clerics and the well educated upper classes. During the sixteenth century the foundations of obstetric science became established with the study of human anatomy and ‘physiology’ of reproduction. The art of midwifery slowly developed and the processes of pregnancy and childbirth, so long steeped in superstition and ignorance, were questioned. The same contaminant caused uterine spasms and although in use as a labor stimulant by European midwives of the time, ergot is not referred to in the sixteenth century obstetric books or herbals. Turner offered nine different herbal remedies to alleviate the symptoms of ‘the fire’.
