Marie-Anne Victorine Boivin (1773-1847) Mme Boivin was called one of the most important women in medical in the 19th century. [1] She was a midwife, an inventor, as well as a writer in the medical field. Mme invented a new pelvimeter and a vaginal speculum, and the medical text books that she wrote were translated to different languages and used for 150 years. [2]
Background
editMaris-Anne Victorie Gillain was born in 1773 at Versailles. [2] She was educated by nursing nuns at a hospital in Etampes. Her medical studies was interrupted when she married Louis Boivin and have a daughter. After her husband's death, she continue to study in the medical field. Mme Boivin then became Marie-Louise Lachapelle's student, assistant, and friends in Paris. Mme Boivin received her diploma in 1800, and stayed at Versailles to practice. [3]
Career
editWhen her husband passed away, she returned to Paris to assist Mme Lachapelle at La Maternite. During that time, Mme Boivin developed close relationship with Dr. Chaussier. Because of professional jealousy of her colleague and friend Mme Lachapelle, Mme Boivin resigned her position in 1811, and she rejected the offer of Mme Lachapelle's position after the latter died in 1822. [3] She accepted a position for servants' wages at a Paris hospital for fallen women. She was a co-director of the General Hospital of Seine and Oise in 1814, and also member of several medical societies. [4] She then became a director of several hospitals, such as a temporary military hospital, the Hospice de la Maternité in Bordeaux, and the Maison Royale de Santé. [1] She has published articles and books about her own case and her uterine speculum. [3]
Contribution
editMme Boivin invented a new pelvimeter, and a vaginal speculum which was used to dilate the vagina and the examination of the cervix. Her invention helped not only her female patients, but also medical practitioners. [2] She is one of the first to use stethoscope to listen to the fetal heart. [1] She was given credit for discovering the cause of certain types of bleeding, the cause of miscarriages and diseases of the placenta and uterus. [4] Radcliffe stated that she 'was undertaking surgical treatments which in other countries were the prerogative of the men.' Mme Boivin was also one of the first surgeons to amputate the cervix uteri for a cancerous growth. Because Mme Boivin was an innovative and skillful gynecological surgeon, German universities became more opened to the idea of women becoming skilled in gynecological surgery. [3]
From 1812 to 1823, Mme Boivin had many publications, both original and translations. [2] Her first edition of Memorial de l'Art des Accouchemens was published in 1812. It included notes she had taken from Marie-Louise Lachapelle's teaching, and the book was used as a handbook for medical students and midwives. [3] The third edtion of Memorial de l'Art des Accouchemens was translated into several European languages. Her work of the causes of abortion received a commendation from the Royal Society of Medicine at Bordeaux.[1] She also has published articles about her own cases and her uterine speculum in the bulletins de la faculta de Medecine and Amcademie royale de medecine de Paris. Mme Boivin then focused on more advanced writings in gynecology, such as Nouveau Traite des Hemorragies de l'Uterus and Traite de Maladies de l'Uterus et des Annexes, [3] which was her most important work. It included 41 plates and 116 figures which she colored herself, [1] and it was used as a textbook for 150 years. [2]
Selected work
edit- Memorial de l'Art des Accouchmens (handbook for medical student and midwives), 1812 [3]
- Nouveau traité des hémorragies de l'utérus (bleeding from the uterus), 1818 [3]
- Mémorial de l'art des accouchemens (handbook for medical students, third edition), 1824 [1]
- Recherches sur une des causes les plus frequentes et la moins connue de l'avortement (the Most Frequent and Least Known Causes of Abortion), 1828 [4]
- Observations et reflexions sur les cas d'absorption de placenta (the case of absorption of the placenta), 1829 [4]
- Traité des Maladies de l'utérus et des annexes (Diseases of the uterus), 1833 [1]
Honors
edit- Prussia Golden Medal of Civil Merit, 1814 [2] [1]
- Honorary MD degree of the University of Marburg in Germany, 1827 [2]
- Commendation from the Royal Society of Medical in Brodeaux [1]
- Member of several medical societies [1] [4]
- A nursery named after Mme Boivin at her home town, Versailles [4]
Reference
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Alic, Margaret (1986). Hypatia's Heritage: A History of Women in Science from Antiquity Through the Nineteenth Century. Beacon Press. p. 102. ISBN 978-0807067307.
- ^ a b c d e f g Stanley, Autumn (1995). Mothers and Daughters of Invention: Notes for a Revised History of Technology. Rutgers University Press. p. 235. ISBN 978-0813521978.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Burton, June K. (2007). Napoleon and the Woman Question: Discourses of the Other Sex in French Education, Medicine, and Medical Law 1799-1815. Texas Tech University Press. p. 104.
- ^ a b c d e f Medarus, Alias. "Female Doctors and midwives: Marie-Anne-Victoire Gillain Boivin". Retrieved 10/23/2013.
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External Links
edit1)
Napoleon and the Woman Question: Discourses of the Other Sex in French Education, Medicine, and Medical Law 1799-1815
2)
Mothers and Daughters of Invention: Notes for a Revised History of Technology