"AN IMPORTANT TREATISE IN ITS TIME": MAUQUEST DE LA MOTTE'S GENERAL TREATISE OF MIDWIFERY, 1746 FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH

MAUQUEST DE LA MOTTE, Guillaume. A General Treatise of Midwifry: Illustrated with upwards of Four Hundred Curious Observations and Reflexions Concerning that Art. London: James Waugh, 1746. Octavo, contemporary full brown calf rebacked, red morocco spine label, raised bands. $2800.

First edition in English of this important treatise of midwifery, in contemporary calf boards.

"This was an important treatise in its time; it shows that Mauquest de la Motte applied podalic version to head presentations" (Garrison-Morton). First published in France in 1721 as Traité Complet des Accouchemens; this English translation by surgeon Thomas Tomkyns was prepared at the suggestion of William Smellie, who went on to publish his own landmark work, A Treatise of the Theory and Practice of Midwifery in 1752. "From 1737 [Smellie] began to concentrate on midwifery, having become aware of the recently published forceps. His chief techniques were craniotomy and turning the child. Smellie always made a habit of keeping accurate and often extensive records of most of his cases and this was to lay the foundations of his future career… Stimulated by his desire for further education, Smellie moved to London in 1739 and spent a short time in Paris under Grégoire in order to gain further experience" (ODNB). Presumably Smellie encountered Mauquest de la Motte's influential Treatise during his sojourn in Paris.

Interior clean and fresh, expert restoration to contemporary calf boards.