Doctor Chamberlen’s Forceps
Childbirth in the early modern period was a battleground between midwives and surgeons. The Chamberlen family of surgeons sought to reform the system with a revolutionary new tool: the forceps.
Doctor Peter Chamberlen was summoned to a meeting with the College of Physicians on 28 August 1634 to explain a proposal he had lately made to the king for a new organisation of midwives – a document he had not seen fit to show the physicians. The registrar recorded what took place:
Mrs Hester Shawe and Mrs Whipp Midwives presented a petition to the College. It being read it appeared merely to concern Dr Chamberlen, concerning the making of midwives a Corporation and himself to be the governor of it. Dr Chamberlen desired to have the copy of the petition but it was denied him till he should give into the college his propositions made to the King; or that he should submit his cause to the Censors, which he refused.
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