A Ladies' Handbook
I was looking in my parents' bookshelves for a particular volume that I thought would be of interest to Isabelle. There is an interesting collection of old books here, which get more interesting as time passes. I remember the titles as I scan the shelves - ah yes, there it goes - Three Hundred Things a Bright Boy Can Do - just along the shelf from 101 Things a Girl Can Do. Biggles next to A Complete Course for Ground Engineers' Licences.
In the end, I needed help to find it, but I eventually located what I was looking for: Ladies' Handbook of Home Treatment. First published in 1939, this 1949 edition was purchased in 1950 for sixty shillings. It features a wonderful "Manikin of the Female Figure" at the front. Pictured is a naked woman's torso at the end of her pregnancy in profile, (sheet modestly draped to the front). Fold her back and her internal parts are revealed - first the muscles and skeleton, then the internal organs. Fold back the pelvic bones and the full-term uterus is revealed. Fold this back and you see a foetus in the foetal sac. Next is the inner wall of the full-term uterus, then the uterus in early pregnancy with a little embryo inside. Higher up, folding back the ribcage gives you the lungs, then the heart. As expected, Isabelle was very interested (layering schema anyone?). Also as predicted, both her and Aidan had a particular interest in the little baby nestled inside the woman.
It would be very easy to poke fun at a volume like this. Of course, it did give me a giggle here and there:
At other times it was simply alarming:
Five or six FEET?! But, bearing in mind the times, it would have provided a wealth of factual information and description that was most probably simply not as readily available as it is today. Most of the information is concerned with women's and children's health and includes detailed drawings, some in colour. It exhorts factual discussion of delicate personal matters between mothers and daughters and open sharing of important medical information about our bodies.
The discussion of diseases made me think. Living in the 21st century and enjoying the benefits of modern medicine, it is easy to forget just how devastating many of the common childhood diseases could be:
The discussions of cancer of the cervix, uterus and breast imply that the diseases were often diagnosed too late to do much about.
Of interest also were the current fashions and knowledge of infant care. Four hourly feeding was recommended - but eight-nine months was the age given for weaning (although the volume notes that contemporary experts were recommending that this be started earlier). Breast feeding is promoted. Interesting recipes for artificial milks (should this be required) are provided. A link is made between extended breast feeding and breast cancer prevention (although the tone of the book strongly implies that women at this time no longer breastfed for the 1-3 years period mentioned in the text).
Some things never change though. Number one on the list of necessary qualifications for a child's nurse is that she must be in good health - and in particular be free of tuberculosis or syphilis. Quite right! ;-)
In the end, I needed help to find it, but I eventually located what I was looking for: Ladies' Handbook of Home Treatment. First published in 1939, this 1949 edition was purchased in 1950 for sixty shillings. It features a wonderful "Manikin of the Female Figure" at the front. Pictured is a naked woman's torso at the end of her pregnancy in profile, (sheet modestly draped to the front). Fold her back and her internal parts are revealed - first the muscles and skeleton, then the internal organs. Fold back the pelvic bones and the full-term uterus is revealed. Fold this back and you see a foetus in the foetal sac. Next is the inner wall of the full-term uterus, then the uterus in early pregnancy with a little embryo inside. Higher up, folding back the ribcage gives you the lungs, then the heart. As expected, Isabelle was very interested (layering schema anyone?). Also as predicted, both her and Aidan had a particular interest in the little baby nestled inside the woman.
It would be very easy to poke fun at a volume like this. Of course, it did give me a giggle here and there:
"During cold weather the feet should always be warmly clothed, but especially so during menstruation...It is a simple matter to exchange wet shoes for dry ones, but it is not so easy a matter to cure the serious inflammation ofthe womb which may result from a neglect of this precaution during the menstrual period".
At other times it was simply alarming:
"Articles needed in giving a vaginal douche....2. Five or six feet of rubber tubing".
Five or six FEET?! But, bearing in mind the times, it would have provided a wealth of factual information and description that was most probably simply not as readily available as it is today. Most of the information is concerned with women's and children's health and includes detailed drawings, some in colour. It exhorts factual discussion of delicate personal matters between mothers and daughters and open sharing of important medical information about our bodies.
The discussion of diseases made me think. Living in the 21st century and enjoying the benefits of modern medicine, it is easy to forget just how devastating many of the common childhood diseases could be:
"Diphtheria is doubtless one of the most dreaded of the contagious diseases of childhood...even now it still causes many deaths amongst young children....Whooping-cough is a highly infectious and really dangerous disease....".
The discussions of cancer of the cervix, uterus and breast imply that the diseases were often diagnosed too late to do much about.
Of interest also were the current fashions and knowledge of infant care. Four hourly feeding was recommended - but eight-nine months was the age given for weaning (although the volume notes that contemporary experts were recommending that this be started earlier). Breast feeding is promoted. Interesting recipes for artificial milks (should this be required) are provided. A link is made between extended breast feeding and breast cancer prevention (although the tone of the book strongly implies that women at this time no longer breastfed for the 1-3 years period mentioned in the text).
Some things never change though. Number one on the list of necessary qualifications for a child's nurse is that she must be in good health - and in particular be free of tuberculosis or syphilis. Quite right! ;-)
posted by Mary at 8:05 pm
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