The Early Modern Commons

Early Modern Medicine

Recent Posts

Struck upon the Belly

14 July 2021

Reading Thomas Chamberlayne's 1656 publication, The Compleat Midwifes Practice, that shared the knowledge and case notes of Louise Bourgeois, a French Royal midwife, there are numerous...

St. David’s Day Daffodils

1 March 2021

1 March is St. David’s Day, Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant celebrating the patron saint of Wales, St. David, who was a bishop of Mynyw in the 6th century. As a part of this celebration...

Gender Concealed: How to get a boy in the early modern era

10 February 2021

Gender reveal parties, which started some time in the 2000s, have become increasingly elaborate and Instagram worthy. Some excessive stunts have even caused raging wildfires. When I...

Learning to Walk

12 January 2021

The baby walker is a device to support an infant who is not yet independently mobile to ‘walk’ around. In the past they were thought to aid the child’s development...