Eucharius Rösslin
Encyclopedia
Eucharius Rösslin, sometimes known as Eucharius Rhodion, (c. 1470 – 1526) was a German
physician
who authored a book about childbirth
called Der Rosengarten ("The Rose Garden") in 1513, which became a standard medical text for midwives.
He was an apothecary
at Freiburg
before being elected physician to the city of Frankfurt on Main in 1506. He served as physician to the city of Worms
in the service of Katherine
, wife of Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
. While examining and supervising the city's midwives, he found their practice of their trade to be careless and substandard, leading to high infant mortality
rates. As a result, he wrote his book, publishing it at Strasburg
. Rösslin wrote the work in German
; it included engraving
s by Martin Caldenbach, a pupil of Albrecht Dürer
. In its illustrations, Der Rosengarten gave for the first time printed figures of the birth chair, the lying-in chamber, and the positions of the fetus
in utero
.
Despite his direct observation of midwifery at Worms, Rösslin incorporated information gleaned from writers of antiquity such as Muscio
and Soranus
of Ephesus
. In the introductory prologue
in verse
to his text, Rosslin emphasizes the importance of the role of men in reproduction and blames midwives who "through neglect and oversight...destroy children far and wide." He threatens midwives with the warning that God
will call them to account. "And since no midwife that I've asked / Could tell me anything of her task / I'm left to my medical education."
The book was an immediate success. It was published in English
in 1540 as The Birth of Mankind. By the mid-16th century, it had been translated into all the main European languages and had gone through many editions.
Rösslin returned to his job in Frankfurt in 1517. He remained in that post until his death in 1526.
His son, Eucharius Rösslin the Younger, succeeded his father as town physician. He wrote a book on minerals and mineral use, and published a Latin
translation of his father's book as De partu Hominis in 1532.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who authored a book about childbirth
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
called Der Rosengarten ("The Rose Garden") in 1513, which became a standard medical text for midwives.
He was an apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
at Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
before being elected physician to the city of Frankfurt on Main in 1506. He served as physician to the city of Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
in the service of Katherine
Catherine of Pomerania-Wolgast
Catherine of Pomerania-Wolgast was the wife of Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Prince of Wolfenbüttel. She was the daughter of Eric II, Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast, and Sophia of Pomerania-Stolp....
, wife of Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry , Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, called Henry the Elder or Henry the Evil, was prince of Wolfenbüttel from 1491 until his death.-Life:...
. While examining and supervising the city's midwives, he found their practice of their trade to be careless and substandard, leading to high infant mortality
Infant mortality
Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying...
rates. As a result, he wrote his book, publishing it at Strasburg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. Rösslin wrote the work in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
; it included engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
s by Martin Caldenbach, a pupil of Albrecht Dürer
Albrecht Dürer
Albrecht Dürer was a German painter, printmaker, engraver, mathematician, and theorist from Nuremberg. His prints established his reputation across Europe when he was still in his twenties, and he has been conventionally regarded as the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance ever since...
. In its illustrations, Der Rosengarten gave for the first time printed figures of the birth chair, the lying-in chamber, and the positions of the fetus
Fetus
A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...
in utero
Uterus
The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
.
Despite his direct observation of midwifery at Worms, Rösslin incorporated information gleaned from writers of antiquity such as Muscio
Muscio
Muscio is the supposed author of the Genecia , a treatise of gynecology dating to ca. AD 500, preserved in a manuscript of ca. AD 900. The treatise borrows heavily from Soranus....
and Soranus
Soranus (Greek physician)
Soranus was a Greek physician from Ephesus. He practiced in Alexandria and subsequently in Rome, and was one of the chief representatives of the Methodic school of medicine...
of Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...
. In the introductory prologue
Prologue
A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Greek prologos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance...
in verse
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
to his text, Rosslin emphasizes the importance of the role of men in reproduction and blames midwives who "through neglect and oversight...destroy children far and wide." He threatens midwives with the warning that God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
will call them to account. "And since no midwife that I've asked / Could tell me anything of her task / I'm left to my medical education."
The book was an immediate success. It was published in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in 1540 as The Birth of Mankind. By the mid-16th century, it had been translated into all the main European languages and had gone through many editions.
Rösslin returned to his job in Frankfurt in 1517. He remained in that post until his death in 1526.
His son, Eucharius Rösslin the Younger, succeeded his father as town physician. He wrote a book on minerals and mineral use, and published a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
translation of his father's book as De partu Hominis in 1532.
Der Rosegarten
And when the time of labour is come, in the same stoole ought to be put many clothes or crows in the backe of it, the which the midwife may remove from one side to another, according as necessity shall require. The Midwife her selfe shall sit before the labouring woman, and shall diligently observe and waite, how much, and after what meanes the child sitrreth itselfe: also shall with hands, first anoynted with the oyle of almonds or the oyle of those white lillies, rule and direct everything as shall seeme best.
Also the midwife must instruct and comfort the party, not only refreshing her with good meate and drinke, but also with sweet words, giving her hope of a good speedie deliverance, encouraging and enstomacking her to patience and tolerance, bidding her to held in her breath as much as she may, also stroking gently with her hands her belly about the Navell, for that helpeth to depress the birth downeward.