History of Abortion

[Mr Skeptic]

This thread is not about whether abortion is right or wrong. If you wish to discuss that, there is already a thread here, here, or here. Also, please keep it about things older than about 100 years ago. There is already plenty of discussion about abortion, I just thought some context would be nice.

 

As I understand it, abortions were done thousands of years ago. They were very unsafe; I heard that 90% of such abortions resulted in the mother's death as well. The ancient greeks had few abortions, instead choosing the safer option of birthing the child, and then either abandoning it (especially for deformed children) or selling it into slavery.

Link: http://www.fjkluth.com/gmed.html#Abor

 

The first recorded evidence of induced abortion, is from the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus in 1550 BC.[3] A Chinese record documents the number of royal concubines who had abortions in China between the years 500 and 515 BC.[4] According to Chinese folklore, the legendary Emperor Shennong prescribed the use of mercury to induce abortions nearly 5000 years ago.[5]

 

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"Many of the methods employed in early and primitive cultures were non-surgical. Physical activities like strenuous labour, climbing, paddling, weightlifting, or diving were a common technique. Others included the use of irritant leaves, fasting, bloodletting, pouring hot water onto the abdomen, and lying on a heated coconut shell.[6] In primitive cultures, techniques developed through observation, adaptation of obstetrical methods, and transculturation.[7] Archaeological discoveries indicate early surgical attempts at the extraction of a fetus; however, such methods are not believed to have been common, given the infrequency with which they are mentioned in ancient medical texts.[8]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_abortion

 

Also, it seems that abortion was a subject of political discussion back in Roman times.