title: Practising obstetrics in the 17th century: François Mauriceau (1637-1709).
abstract: In 17th century France, the practice of obstetrics passed from female midwives to medical men called accoucheurs. François Mauriceau, a prominent French obstetrician of the 17th century urged the need of an organised obstetrical education, emphasising anatomy. He invented the semi-recumbent or 'French' birthing position, the 'tire-tête' forceps, the 'Mauriceau manoeuvre' in breech delivery, and provided one of the first epidemiological analyses in obstetrics contributing enormously to the development of this specialty. His best-seller, Traité des maladies des femmes grosses revolutionised the practice of obstetrics.
authors.affiliation: History of Medicine Department, Medical School, University of Athens, Medical School, ‘ Aretaieion ’ Hospital, Athens, Greece. mariannakaramanou@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karamanou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Demetriou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Androutsos
mesh_terms: D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000266:history*; D011247:Pregnancy