Books and babies: Communicating reproduction

RuthieG · Post by **RuthieG** » July 12th, 2011, 8:27 am

On BBC Health: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14110843

Interesting short slideshow to publicize an exhibition at the University of Cambridge, on how books were used to communicate information to women from earlier centuries. Some fascinating old books.

Includes:
Treasury of human inheritance (1909) http://www.archive.org/details/treasuryofhumani01bull

The works of Aristotle, the famous philosopher, containing his complete masterpiece, displaying the secrets of nature in the generation of man: to which is added, the family physician ... also his experienced midwife ... and his last legacy (1830)
http://www.archive.org/details/worksofaristotle1830aris

Ruth

carolb · Post by **carolb** » July 20th, 2011, 2:54 am

Thank you, Ruth.

I particularly enjoyed glimpsing the 15th century manuscript. A recent visit to Trinity College, Dublin to drool over the Book of Kells found me in the Long Room upstairs, where books on amputation, plus the instruments used were on display.

Hmmm, maybe the microphone isn't such a vicious tool after all!

Carol

jollyrogered · Post by **jollyrogered** » July 20th, 2011, 11:23 am

That is fascinating. I wish I could go.... silly Atlantic Ocean getting in the way.

I dont think I've ever been disturbed by a medical picture until I just saw that one with a transparent woman's torso and the child in the womb, maybe its because the thighs werent there, but it seriously made me cringe.

Really makes you appreciate living now though!

carolb · Post by **carolb** » July 20th, 2011, 12:55 pm

Me too - and it just reminded me of the saw in that glass case beside the book of instructions!!

catchpenny · Post by **catchpenny** » July 21st, 2011, 10:36 am

jollyrogered wrote: I dont think I've ever been disturbed by a medical picture until I just saw that one with a transparent woman's torso and the child in the womb, maybe its because the thighs werent there, but it seriously made me cringe.

The.. the.. the one where the thighs looked like steak? It's almost as bad as watching my grandmother's shoulder surgery on tape. Doctors can be brutal with those pointy things.

Post by **philchenevert** » July 21st, 2011, 10:53 am

Boy, am I glad I never looked at any of that stuff. Squishy things inside me make me nervous.