(Obstetrics) — Dr. Edward Rigby | Ward books from the General Lying-In Hospital, Wesminster

(Obstetrics) — Dr. Edward Rigby et al

A group of three manuscript ward books from the the General Lying-In Hospital of Westminster, London, ca. 1819-1839

Three volumes, folios (320 x 200 mm), comprising: Midwife's Journal, dated January 1819 to February 1824, manuscript text, accomplished in several hands, written recto and verso on faintly ruled paper; scattered soiling, a few stray spots, one leaf nearly detached. Contemporary brown paper-covered boards, partially printed paper label to spine, edges marbled, marbled endpapers, bookseller John Miller's label to front pastedown; overall rubbed and soiled, label chipped.

Midwife’s Journal, from June 1827 to August 1829, manuscript text, accomplished in several hands, written recto and verso on faintly ruled paper; scattered soiling, a few stray spots. Contemporary velum stained green, partially printed paper label to spine, marbled endpapers, bookseller John Miller's label to front pastedown; overall rubbed and soiled, joints split, label chipped.

Medical Officer’s Book, dated October 1828 to October 1830, manuscript text, accomplished in several hands, written recto and verso on ruled paper with letterpress index tabs; scattered soiling, a few stray spots, some instances of browning and creasing. Contemporary velum stained green, partially printed paper label to spine, bookseller Romney's label to front pastedown, presentation inscription to front free endpaper; overall rubbed and soiled, joints split, label chipped.

"22 Monday | 26 Patients | Mary Read came in poorly — | Read was delivered of a Girl | Mr. Mathias and Dr. Ley visited | Anne Smart's Child died" (Midwife's Journal from 1819)

The General Lying-In Hospital, founded by Dr. John Leake in 1767, was one of the first maternity hospitals in Great Britain. Established for “the Relief of those Child-bearing Women who are the wives of poor Industrious Tradesmen or distressed House-keepers, and who either from unavoidable Misfortunes of the Expenses of maintaining large Families are reduced to real Want. Also for the Reception and Immediate Relief of indigent Soldiers and Sailors Wives, the former in particular being very numerous in and about the City of Westminster.”

The ward books date from the early nineteenth century, a period of significant medical advance in Britain, particularly in relation to understandings of hygiene, as well as the implementation of new standards of professional qualifications. The present works offer an accounting of the hospital's daily operations, including the number of patients being treated, the names of the patients, the date they gave birth along with the gender of the baby, and the date of their discharge. The ward books also note the the names of the attending doctors: Edward Rigby, Sir Charles Locock, Robert Gooch, and Hugh Ley, among others. Rigby became examiner in midwifery at London University from 1841 to 1860, and when the Obstetrical Society was founded in 1859, he was elected its first president. Locock would establish his own obstetrical practice, which became the largest in London, and in 1840 he was made obstetrician to Queen Victoria, serving as attending doctor for the births of all nine of her children. Gooch was a lecturer on Midwifery at St. Bartholomew’s hospital, and is his Account of some of the most important Diseases peculiar to Women (1829) came to be known as a standard text on the subject. Ley went on to lecture extensively on matters pertaining to midwifery and diseases unique to women and children. 

Beyond recording the number of patients, their basic state of health, and when they were discharged, more detailed case studies are also offered:

"Mary Burton [...] Admitted Monday November: 26. 1838. Delivered of a female infant at 1/2 past three a.m. on Monday Dec: ^3rd a premature birth. Has had previously two stillborn children (both females) having in both instances having gone to the(?) full period of gestation, was delivered in this Hospital in both cases by means of instruments" (Medical Officer’s Book, pg. 186).

"Sarah Harper At: 21. Admitted Febr'y 10 3 a.m. and delivered of a male infant. Has had one m. inf:t before. [...] Membranes ruptured at 1 a.m. and the child was born before the patient could be placed on the bed, perineum suffered a very slight laceration. Placenta was expelled five minutes after the birth of the child" (Medical Officer’s Book, pg. 216).

An important group of manuscripts offering insight into the history of obstetrics and women’s health.