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SUMMARY:Doctors\, motherhood and insanity of childbirth in Victorian Brita
 in - Hilary Marland (University of Warwick)
DTSTART:20061123T163000Z
DTEND:20061123T180000Z
UID:TALK5271@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Nick Hopwood
DESCRIPTION:This lecture will explore the close and complex relationship b
 etween mental disorder and childbirth in the treatment of what in the earl
 y nineteenth century came to be called 'puerperal insanity'. The disorder 
 was described as severe\, dangerous and\, because its victims challenged d
 omestic order and ideals of motherhood\, a threat to the sanctity of the V
 ictorian home. Yet\, at the same time\, therapeutics were typically patien
 t and expectant\, with little medical intervention. Even women admitted to
  asylums were typically subjected to mild curative regimes based largely a
 round the principles of 'moral management'. Doctors\, in describing what t
 hey feared was becoming a prevalent disorder\, referred extensively to the
  physical and mental challenges of pregnancy\, birth and childrearing\, an
 d in so doing problematised in unexpected ways the ideals of maternity and
  domestic ideology. Explanations for the onset of puerperal insanity were 
 drawn\, not just from notions of female vulnerability and biology\, but al
 so from a broad set of moral\, social and environmental frameworks. Using 
 especially the case notes of private and asylum practice\, I shall argue t
 hat rather than solidly supporting traditional female roles and duties\, d
 octors questioned them\, presenting motherhood as often disappointing\, de
 manding and overwhelming.\n\nReading: 'Languages and landscapes of emotion
 : motherhood and puerperal insanity in the nineteenth century'\, in Fay Bo
 und (ed.)\, _Medicine and Emotion_ (Palgrave\, 2006)\n\nThere will be tea 
 before the lecture\, at 4.15pm in Seminar Room 1\, and a drinks reception 
 afterwards\, at 6pm in Seminar Room 1.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 2\, History and Philosophy of Science\, Department o
 f
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