In Mary's personal letters....

[L Verge]

Very common, Gene, especially as you got farther away from the cities. Since doctors did not receive rigorous training in those days, I suspect that many midwives were better equipped at delivering babies than the MDs. I have also seen references to the strict manners of the day that forbade male doctors from truly examining pregnant women as well as visually assisting in the birth. The plan was to maintain eye contact with the patient and to perform the necessary procedures by touch and feel methods. I'm trying to envision a woman in the last throes of delivery even being able to keep her eyes open to see if the doctor was cheating!