François Mauriceau

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File:François Mauriceau (1637-1709).jpg
Portrait of François Mauriceau

François Mauriceau (1637 – October 17, 1709) was a French obstetrician.

Life

Born in Paris, he received his training in obstetrics at the Hôtel-Dieu. He was a leading obstetrician in 17th-century Europe — in 1668 he published, Traité des Maladies des Femmes Grosses et Accouchées, a book that helped establish obstetrics as a science. It was eventually translated into several languages. He is also known for development of a classical maneuvre of assisted breech delivery (Mauriceau-Levret manipulation).[1] He gave a description of tubal pregnancy, and with German midwife Justine Siegemundin 1650–1705), he is credited for introducing the practice of puncturing the amniotic sac to arrest bleeding in placenta praevia.

File:Frontispiece to Mauriceau, 'Des Maladies...' Wellcome L0050171.jpg
Les Maladies des Femmes Grosses et accouchées

In 1670, English obstetrician Hugh Chamberlen tried to sell the secret of a specialized obstetrical forceps to him. Mauriceau became disgusted that the Chamberlen family kept such an important development a secret, and accused the Chamberlens of common swindling.[2] Mauriceau died in Paris.

Publications

  • Les Maladies des Femmes Grosses et accouchées. Avec la bonne et véritable Méthode de les bien aider en leurs accouchemens naturels, & les moyens de remédier à tous ceux qui sont contre-nature, & aux indispositions des enfans nouveau-nés... Paris Henault, d'Houry, de Ninville, Coignard 1668.
  • Observations sur la grossesse et l'accouchement des femmes et sur leurs maladies et celles des enfans nouveau-nez. Paris, Anisson, 1694.

References

  1. Mauriceau-Levret manipulation @ Who Named It
  2. [1] The History Of Childbirth: Tools of the Trade