Family and Morality through the Medical Relief for the Poor in 18th Century London: ‘The Lying-In Charity for Delivering Poor Married Women in their Own Habitations’

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  • 18世紀ロンドンの在宅出産チャリティにみる家族モラル
  • 18セイキ ロンドン ノ ザイタク シュッサン チャリティ ニ ミル カゾク モラル

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Abstract

This paper aims to clear the policy to the family life, morality of the family members of the poor, focusing ‘the Charity for Attending and Delivering poor Married Women in their Lying-in at their respective Habitations’ founded in 1757 (‘the Lying-in Charity for Delivering Poor Married Women at their own Habitations’ from 1762, hereafter ‘the Royal Maternity Charity’ to 1949). / The Charity founded, competing with the Lying-In Hospitals, part of philanthropy, popular in 18th century. The amounts of the subscriptions and donations and the numbers it relieved grew. Menpractitioner (men-midwives) were the major and the leading position from the start. The midwives, employed the Charity, lived in the several area. Every morning the man-midwife gave all necessary advice to midwives, and midwives attended each women’s houses to practice. ‘A skillful physician’ was to attend the poor women not only in difficult or dangerous case. Every subscriptors (governors) had a right to recommend ‘the objects’ according to their contribution. Midwives were taught and trained by man-practitioner (man-midwife) ‘properly qualified’ at the expense of this charity. They were engaged to serve this charity at a low price two years for each labour. And they were checked and to be punished if they did the failure in punctuality and misbehavior. / The lying-in charity, relief of pre and post-delivery, reproduction of the poor, relating to the population of nation, was thought as significant to the well-being and welfare of the state. The accounts and sermons called and told to people the subscription with reports about manage, rules, orders and performance, including the income and expenditure, the number of relief and so on. And the most important information was the list of governors. / There, at the place of call for subscription, they emphasized emotionally the desirable image of the poor family ties and affections, with morality expeted to each members of family through this charity. Literally they told to subscriptors, ‘let us therefore bind them by the strongest obligations, affection to their families and gratitude to their benefactors…’. Moreover, every person relieved by this charity were ordered to return thanks to governor who recommend her. This story in this context as described above, means, if not directly, the pressure to the poor to behave and live family life as expected.

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