Mordängelns fördärv: Definition och bekämpning av barnsängsfeber inom den medicinska diskursen i Sverige mellan 1844 och 1903
2023 (Swedish)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesisAlternative title
Downfall of the angel of death : The definition and combat of childbed fever in the medical discourse in Sweden between 1844 and 1903 (English)
Abstract [en]
This study aims to research the progress and evolution of the Swedish medical discourse regarding childbed fever. Several texts that are considered to be part of said discourse have been chosen, the earliest being Dr. Joseph Elliot's book regarding childbed fever from 1844 and the latest being two articles from the Swedish midwifery and women's health journal Jordemodern from 1903. During this time several discoveries on the subject of hygiene and antiseptics took place in Europe, leading to a quick development in the medical field eventually making its way to Sweden. This knowledge led to a hypothesis that the definition, belived causes and desirable measures taken to control the outbreaks of childbed fever, would change from 1844 to 1903.
By analyzing these sources through a genus theoretical framework a change was indeed found. The disease was originally belived to be airborne and none of the taken measures had any effect. By 1903 the germ theory had arrived and settled in the Swedish medical discourse and it became widely known that the disease was transmitted from doctors and midwifes to the patient by contact and appropriate measures could be taken.
Lastly the studiy aims to present a viable way to use this information in a classroom situation related to the syllabus for both primary and upper secondary school.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2023. , p. 33
Keywords [en]
Women’s diseases, puerperal fever, Semmelweis, obstetrics
Keywords [sv]
Kvinnosjukdomar, puerperalfeber, Semmelweis, obstetrik
National Category
History
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-118422OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-118422DiVA, id: diva2:1728298
Subject / course
History
Educational program
Teacher Education Programme for Upper Secondary School, 300/330 credits
Supervisors
Examiners
2023-02-062023-01-182023-02-06Bibliographically approved