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Home » Health, Welfare and Charity » Hospitals and medical care » Pregnancy

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  • This essay was written by Dr Richard Williams, a surgeon in Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth and its full title reads 'Observations on parturition amongst the poor in the upper district of Cardiganshire'. Dr Williams begins his essay by giving a brief account of the history of Wales and the county of Cardiganshire before going on describe, in fascinating detail, not only the ways in which women gave birth but also their courting habits and living conditions. He is very critical of the moral standards of the peasantry but is more tolerant of some of their customs. Further background information on Dr Richard Williams, as well as a full transcript of the essay, is provided in Emyr Wyn Jones, 'Medical Glimpse of Early Nineteenth Century Cardiganshire, 'National Library of Wales Journal' (1966), pp. 253-275. The first page reads as follows:
An essay on childbirth amongst the poor of north Cardiganshire, c. 1837, folio 1r [image 1 of 23]
A set of prescriptions for the poor, 1761, page 16 [image 14 of 38]