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Essay / Medicine in the Early 1900s: Essential Background to Emily's Death
Humanity has been fortunate to make advances in medicine over time. Medicine, and the lack thereof, plays an important role in our city. Emily's death is a key element of the play's conflict. The name of the third act is not given, but the reader can conclude that its subject is death. If better medicine and medical practices had been present for the setting of the play, it could have ended much differently. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the Original EssayOur town took place from 1901 to 1913. The practices were very different from today. Many brides gave birth in their own homes. It was not common for people to give birth in hospitals or other health facilities. From 1912 to 1915, only half of women who gave birth were attended by a doctor. At the time, hospitals were taboo. Antiseptic policies were not as strict in those days, and doctors could pose a risk of infecting a woman or her child if they spent the day going from patient to patient. People said that in a house there was only one patient, whereas in a hospital there were several. Most women felt more comfortable with family and in familiar surroundings. The process of preparing Emily for childbirth could have been very similar to the typical process of a woman in the early 1900s. A book by Henry Davidson Fry contained very specific instructions for preparing for childbirth. Although some of his methods have been questioned, most were commonly practiced when the book was published in 1907. Fry recommended that a delivery room be prepared for the woman. He strongly advised that this room not be located near a bathroom, as he said sewage vapors could potentially harm a newborn. Another book by Louis A. Spaeth recommended that a woman be properly dressed before giving birth. Appropriate attire, according to Spaeth, would have included a short petticoat, undervest, blouse, petticoat, warm stockings and slippers. Similar books contained other tips for giving birth correctly, although the methods contradicted each other from book to book. In 1915, the infant mortality rate was one in ten births. The maternal mortality rate was 680 per 100,000 births. Without the use of vaccines or antibiotics, the risk of infection was high. Other miscarriages occurred in the absence of a doctor. Seventy-five percent of women gave birth without using painkillers. In 2015, the infant mortality rate was 6 per 1,000 births. The maternal mortality rate was 17.8 per 100,000 births. Twenty percent of women gave birth without using painkillers. Clearly, there is a considerable difference between these statistics, which show how much traditions and ideas have changed over the years. These changes have certainly been positive. Today, childbirth no longer poses as much of a threat. Miscarriages are much less common thanks to advances in medicine. From 1900 to 1977, the maternal mortality rate fell by almost 99 percent. With societal support for maternal and child health programs, we know more and more about childbirth and the different ways we can ensure it goes as smoothly as possible. Women can pre-register at a hospital several months in advance. Women can even fill out a birth plan form and decide on their..