Elizabeth Nihell (1723-?) was married to a surgeon-apothecary. A mother herself, she studied in Paris and returned to London to practice midwifery. She argued that women, not men such as William Smellie, should practice midwifery.

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Questions to ask these pages:

1. According to Nihell, who earned more for attending childbirth?

2. Whom would Nihell recommend, a female midwife or a "common man-midwife"?

Questions to ask the book:

1. When would Nihell recommend calling a male physician?
Find out in
the archive

2. What did Nihell say motivated most man-midwives?
Find out in
the archive

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