A variety of medical and anatomical texts providing visual as well as contemporary medical understandings of the male and female body, and questions surrounding matters of health.

History of Medicine rare books collection, 1542-2011

A historical collection from the library of the University of Wales College of Medicine (now The Cardiff University School of Medicine).

The collection comprises around 2,000 items published from 1542 to the 21st century, which illustrate the history of professional medicine throughout the centuries. British, continental, and American works depict debates and discoveries in the field of general medicine and within the various medical specialities: anatomy, physiology, surgery, and pharmacology, as well as works on health, dietetics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and herbal remedies. They convey first-hand information about contemporaneous beliefs and advances in the medical field, and provide a variety of popular remedies to a wide range of illness and diseases.

A number of early printed works are enhanced by woodcuts and engravings, which reflect the developments in the anatomical conception of the body.

Works on women’s health and anatomy are listed below, in date order.

Estienne, Charles. La dissection des parties du corps humain, 1546.

Mauriceau, François. Traité des maladies des femmes grosses, 1712

Dionis, Monsieur [Pierre]. A general treatise on midwifery, 1719

Giffard, William. Cases in midwifery, 1734

Albinus, Bernhard Siegfried. Icones ossium foetus humani, 1737

Cowper, William. Anatomy of humane bodies, 1737

Smellie, William. A treatise on the theory and practice of midwifery, 1752

Burton, John. A letter to William Smellie, MD., ... upon his treatise on the theory and practice of midwifery, 1753

Smellie, William. A collection of cases and observations in midwifery, 1758

Smellie, William. A collection of cases and observations in midwifery, 1764

Smellie, William. A collection of preternatural cases and observations in midwifery, 1764

Hamilton, Alexander. Elements of the practice of midwifery, 1775

Smellie, William. A collection of cases and observations in midwifery, vol. II, 1779

Smellie, William. A collection of preternatural cases and observations in midwifery, vol III, 1779

Perfect, William. Cases in midwifery, 1784

Freeman, Stephen. The ladies friend..., to which is annexed, The practical midwife, 1787

Hamilton, Alexander. Outlines of the theory and practice of midwifery, 1787

Douglas, Andrew. Observations on the rupture of the gravid uterus, 1789

Baudelocque, Jean Louis. A system of midwifery (trans. John Heath), 1790

Smellie, William. Treatise on the theory and practice of midwifery, part 1, 1790

Denman, Thomas. An introduction to the practice of midwifery, vol. 1, 1794

Burns, John. The anatomy of the gravid uterus, 1799

Buchan, William. Advice to mothers on the subject of their own health, 1803

Moreau, Jacques Louis. Histoire naturelle de la femme, suivie d'un traité d'hygiène, 1803

Denman, Thomas. An introduction to the practice of midwifery, 1805

Haighton, John. A syllabus on the lectures on midwifery, 1808

Merriman, Samuel. A dissertation on retroversion of the womb, 1810

Rawlins, R. Thoughts on the menstruations of women, 1811

Rigby, Edward. An essay on the uterine haemorrhage, 1811

Capuron, Joseph. Traité des maladies des femmes, 1812

Granville, Augustus Bozzi. A report on the practice of midwifery at the Westminster general dispensary, during 1818, 1819

Hamilton, Alexander. A treatise on the management of female complaints, 1821

Dewees, William Potts. A compendious system of midwifery, 1825

Guitbert, J. N. Considérations pratiques sur certaines affections de l'utérus, 1826

Gooch, Robert. An account of some of the most important diseases peculiar to women, 1829

Addison, Thomas. Observations on the disorders of females, connected with uterine irritation, 1830

Gooch, Robert. A practical compendium of midwifery, 1831

Ingleby, John Thomas. A practical treatise on uterine haemorrhage, in connection with pregnancy and parturition, 1832

Lee, Robert. Researches on the pathology and treatment of some of the most important diseases of women, 1833

Boivin, Marie Anne Victoire. A practical treatise on the diseases of the uterus and its appendages (trans. G. O. Hemming), 1834

Collins, Robert. A practical treatise on midwifery, 1835

Blundell, James. The principles and practice of obstetric medicine, 1837

Jones, William. Practical observations on diseases of women, 1838

Ferguson, Robert. Essays on the most important diseases of women, part 1, 1839

Laycock, Thomas. A treatise on the nervous diseases of women, 1840

Streeter, John Soper. Practical observations on abortion, 1840

Rigby, Edward. A system of midwifery, vol. II, 1841

Hunter, William. An anatomical description of the human gravid uterus, 1843

Lee, Robert. Lectures on the theory and practice of midwifery, 1844

Rigby, Edward. On dysmenorrhoea and other uterine affections, 1844

Jacquemier, Jean-Marie. Manuel des accouchements et des maladies des femmes grosses et accouchees, 1846

Clay, Charles. Encyclopaedia obstetrica, or, A theoretical, practical, historical, biographical, and critical dictionary of obstetrics, 1849

Roberton, John. Essays and notes on the physiology and diseases of women, and on practical midwifery, 1851

Montgomery, William Fetherston Haugh. An exposition of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, 1856

Meigs, Charles D. Woman: her diseases and remedies, 1859

Noeggerath, Emil. Contributions to midwifery, and diseases of women, 1859

Burns, John. Principles of midwifery: including the diseases of women and children, 1863

Huguier, Pierre Charles. De l'hystérométrie et du cathétérisme utérin, 1865

Duncan, J. Matthews. Fecundity, fertility, sterility and allied topics, 1866

Sims, James Marion. Clinical notes on uterine surgery, 1866

Ramsbotham, Francis H. The principles and practice of obstetric medicine and surgery, 1867

Wright, Henry G. Uterine disorders: their constitutional influence and treatment, 1867

Emmet, Thomas Addis. Vesico-vaginal fistula from parturition and other causes, 1868

Duncan, James Matthews. On the mortality of childbed and maternity hospitals, 1870

Acton, William. The functions and disorders of the reproductive organs, 1871

Simpson, James Young. Selected obstetrical and gynaecological works of Sir James Y. Simpson (ed. J. Watt Black), 1871

Lee, Robert. A treatise on hysteria, 1871

Wells, Thomas Spencer. Diseases of the ovaries: their diagnosis and treatment, 1872

Tait, Lawson. Diseases of women, 1877

Aveling, James Hobson. The influence of posture on women, in gynecic and obstetric practice, 1878

Hegar, Alfred. Die castration der Frauen, 1878

Martin, Eduard A., Hand-atlas der gynäkologie und geburtshülfe, 1878

Duncan, James Matthews, Clinical lectures on the diseases of women, 1879

Duncan, James Matthews, Papers on the female perineum, etc., 1879

Ercolani, Giovanni Battista, The utricular glands of the uterus (trans. Henry O. Marcy), 1880

Wells, Thomas Spencer, On ovarian and uterine tumors: their diagnosis and treatment, 1882

Croom, J. Halliday. A study of the bladder during parturition, 1884

Barbour, A. H. Freeland. The anatomy and relations of the uterus during the third stage of labour, 1884

Aveling, James H. On inversion of the uterus, 1886

Barbour, A. H. Freeland. Sectional anatomy of labour. Third stage, 1887

Hart, D. Berry. Contribution to the sectional anatomy of advanced gestation, 1887

Barbour, A. H. Freeland. Early contributions of anatomy to obstetrics, 1888

Williams, Sir John. On cancer of the uterus, 1888

Siebold, Eduard Caspar Jacob von. Essai d'une histoire de l'obstetricie, tome II, 1891

Wilson, Edmund B. Atlas of the fertilization and karyokinesis of the ovum, 1895

Minot, Charles Sedgwick. Human embryology, 1897

Alexander, William. Practical gynaecology, 1899

Williams, J. Whitridge. Obstetrics: a textbook for the use of students and practitioners, 1903

Bland-Sutton, John. Essays on the position of abdominal hysterectomy in London, 1909

Bell, W. Blair. The principles of gynaecology, 1910

Liddiard, Mabel. The mothercraft manual, or the expectant nursing mother, 1934

Central Midwives Board. Midwives' acts 1902-1936, 1937

Mason-Hohl, Elizabeth. Diseases of women, 1940

Rivett, L. Carnac [et al]. The Queen Charlotte's text-book of obstetrics, 1945

Read, Grantly Dick. Revelation of childbirth: the principles and practice of natural childbirth, 1947

Lane, W. Arbuthnot. The modern woman's home doctor, 1949

Lewis-Fanning, E. Report on an enquiry into family limitation, 1949

Young, James. A text-book of gynaecology for students and practitioners, 1950

Johnstone, Robert William. A text-book of midwifery, 1952

Johnstone, Robert William. William Smellie, the master of British midwifery, 1952

Wylie, William Derek. Practical management of pain in labour, 1953

King Edward's Hospital Fund for London. Report of an investigation into the dietary of elderly women living alone, 1965

Tait, Lawson. Diseases of women and abdominal surgery, vol. 1 (reprint, first published 1889), 1989

Oakley, Ann. Captured womb: a history of the medical care of pregnant women, 1990

Medical and anatomical works in other collections

An account of the Benevolent Institution for the Purpose of Delivering Poor Married Women at their own habitations: established in Chester, January 1798,(1798).Special Collections: Salisbury, WG30(1798).

Annogaeth i wragedd i dalu diolch i Dduw, ar ôl esgor plant, (Llanerchymedd, 1822). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG37(1822).

Aristotle, Gwaith Aristotle, yr enwog philosophydd : sef ei gyflawn brif orchestwaith, yn amlygu dirgelion natur mewn perthynas i genhedliad dyn., (c.1843). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG19.A.

Armstrong, John, The art of preserving health: a poem. In four books. I. Air. II. Diet. III. Exercise. IV. The passions, (London, 1748). Special Collections: Cardiff Rare Books Collection: Early English Octavos, PR3312.P5.

Combe, George, Cyfansoddiad dyn: yn cael ei ystyried yn ei berthynas a gwrthddrychau allanol (The constitution of man considered in relation to external objects), trans. by Jenkin Evans, (Caerdydd, 1883). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG19.C. *Welsh translation of Combe’s work on Phrenology.

Crooke, Helkiah, Mikrokosmographia. A description of the body of man: Together vvith the controuersies thereto belonging. Collected and translated out of all the best authors of anatomy, especially out of Gasper Bauhinus and Andreas Laurentius, (London, 1631). Special Collections: Cardiff Rare Books Collection, Early English Folios, QM21.C7.

Cureau, Marin, de la Chambre, The Art How to Know Men: Rendered into English by John Davies of Kidwelly, (London, 1665). Salisbury, WG30(1665).

Davis, David, The principles and practice of obstetric medicine, in a series of systematic dissertations on midwifery, and on the diseases of women and children, (London, 1836). Special Collections: Salisbury, Border Counties Collection WG36.6.344.

Davis, David, Elements of operative midwifery: comprising a description of certain new and improved powers for assisting difficult and dangerous labours, with cautionary strictures on the improper use of instruments, (London, 1825). Special Collections: Salisbury, Border Counties Collection, WG36.6.345.

Davies, Evan, Cynghorion a chyfarwyddiadau er cymorth i bobl gyffredin werthfawrogi, dyogelu, cadw, ac adfywio yr iechyd, (Llanrwst, 1840). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG19.D. *Gives a range of ‘medical’ advice to men and women.

Fowler, Robert, A complete history of the case of the Welsh fasting-girl (Sarah Jacob) with comments thereon: and observations on death from starvation, (London, 1871). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG4.36.J.

Jones, Griffith, Awgrymiadau ar gorphyddiaeth (Somalogy), neu, Pa fodd i gyraedd gwybodaeth gyffredinol o ddynolryw, oddiwrth arwyddion allanol, (Llangollen, 1845). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG37(1845).

Jones, John, Pwyllwyddoreg: sef, Traethawd ar y cydweddiad sydd rhwng yr ymenydd a'r cynneddfau a'r tueddiadau meddyliawl = Phrenology, (Llanrwst, 1839?). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG37(1839).

Lewis, Sir George Cornewall, A letter to the electors of Herefordshire, (London, 1851). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG37(1851). *Childbirth Statistics.

Macclesfield Lying-In Charity, Rules and regulations of the Macclesfield Lying-In Charity: instituted, April, 1830, (Macclesfield, 1839). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG36.2.2955.

Martin, Benjamin, Bibliotheca technologica: or, a philological library of literary arts and sciences. Viz. I. Theology; or the first principles of natural religion. II. Ethics, or morality; the doctrine of moral virtues. III. Christianity; or the substance of the Christian religion. IV. Judaism; or the religion and state of the Jews. V. Mahometanism; or the life, religion, and polity of Mahomet. VI. Gentilism; or the deities and religion of the heathen. VII. Mythology; or an explanation of fabulous histories. VIII. Grammar and language, particularly o fthe English tongue. IX. Rhetoric and oratory; or the art of speaking eloquently. X. Logic; or teh art of reasoning and persuasion. XI. Ontology; or the science of being abstractedly considered. XII. POetry; or the art of making verses or poems. XIII. Criticism; or art of judging well of men and things. XIV. Geography; or a description of the world. XV. Chronology; or the doctrine of time. XVI. History; with the original of nations and kingdoms. XVII. Physiology; or science of natural philosophy. XVIII. Botany; or the doctrine of plants and vegetables. XIX. Anatomy; or a description of the parts of the human body. XX. Pharmacy; or the art of making medicines. XXI. Medicine: or the theory of physic and diseases. XXII. Polity and oeconomics; or the doctrine of society and government. XXIII. Jurisprudence; or the knowledge of law or right. XXIV. Heraldry; or art of blazoning coat-armour. XXV. Miscellanies: an account of the mathematical arts and sciences, (London, 1740). SCOLAR@Newport Road: Carmarthen Collection,  AE4.M2 1740.

Miller, Patrick, Woman in detail: a scientific survey, (London, 1947). Special Collections: Cardiff Rare Books Collection: Private Presses Octavos, Golden Cockerel Press, N7630.M4.

Mitchison, Naomi, Comments on birth control, (London, 1930). Special Collections: Cardiff Rare Books Collection, HQ766 .M48 1930.

Weaver, John, Anatomical and mechanical lectures upon dancing: wherein rules and institutions for that art are laid down and demonstrated, (London, 1721). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG30(1721).

Cardiff Medical Officer reports, 1853-1926

Access the Cardiff Medical Officer reports via the Internet Archive.

Early reports provide data on birth rates, death rates, marriages, infant mortality, housing conditions, deaths in public institutions, violent deaths, and details of incidences of disease and death broken down by cause, age and sex.

From the 1890s, reports start to interrogate this data in more detail, providing marital status by age, causes of infant mortality, and breakdowns of legitimate and illegitimate births by Cardiff district, including the Union workhouse.

From 1902 there are reports relating to the Midwives Act 1902 and from 1908, the Notification of Births Act 1907.

From 1914, specific information is provided on maternity and child welfare, including: notifications of births and still births, child welfare consultations, ante-natal consultations, dental clinic, maternity hospitals, domiciliary visits by health visitors, supply of free milk, training of midwives, midwives practising in Cardiff, medical practitioners called in by midwives, home nursing, home helps, homeless children, and venereal disease.

From 1923, reports are provided relating to the Mental Deficiency Act 1913, including classification of known cases, and summaries of cases in institutions, under guardianship or under supervision at home.

Works by and about Florence Nightingale, and the history of nursing, 1860-1962

Nightingale, Florence. Notes on nursing: What it is, and what it is not, 1860

Nightingale, Florence. Notes on nursing for the labouring classes, 1861

Nightingale, Florence. Notes on hospitals, 1863

Nightingale, Florence. Introductory notes on lying-in institutions, 1871

Jex-Blake, Sophia. Medical women; two essays: I. Medicine as a profession for women; II. Medical education of women, 1872

Nightingale, Florence. The art of nursing (new and revised ed.), 1946

Robinson, Victor. White caps: the story of nursing, 1946

Seymer, Lucy Ridgely. Florence Nightingale, 1950

Pavey, Agnes Elizabeth. The story of the growth of nursing as an art, a vocation and a profession, 1951

Cope, Zachery. Florence Nightingale and the doctors, 1958

Bishop, W. J. A bio-bibliography of Florence Nightingale, 1962

Nightingale, Florence. Notes on nursing: what it is, and what it is not (facsim. of 1st ed., 1859), 1970

Archives

Evidence-based gynaecology and obstetrics, 1977-2007

Sir Iain Chalmers was co-founder of the Cochrane Collaboration. The Collaboration was formed to organise medical research information in a systematic way in the interests of evidence-based medicine. His papers cover his involvement with the Royal College of Gynaecologists, British Paediatric Association, British Paediatric Perinatal Group, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, British Journal of Gynaecology, British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Association for General Practice Maternity Care, 1977-2001. Browse the online catalogue.

Papers from the UK Cochrane Centre’s research groups on gynaecological cancer, menstrual disorders and subfertility, and pregnancy and childbirth, 1989-2007. Browse the online catalogue.

Priscilla Scott-Ellis diaries, 1937-1941

Diaries of the Hon. Priscilla Scott-Ellis (b.1916), daughter of Thomas, 8th Lord Howard de Walden, 1937-1941. 9 vols.  In 1937, Priscilla Scott-Ellis travelled to Spain to support the Nationalist Army fighting the Popular Front government. She trained in first aid and carried out nursing duties at the front-line. For women’s history researchers, the diaries provide a rare insight into the daily life of a nurse in the Spanish Civil War. Browse the online catalogue.