Act I, Track 17
That Would Be Enough
Original post: November 17, 2015

"And if this child / Shares a fraction of your smile / or a fragment of your mind, look out world!"

Today’s #hamilton-inspired post features my very first #shelfie — of the works of another Alexander Hamilton (no relation). #doctoralexanderhamilton (1739-1802) was a professor of midwifery at Edinburgh University, member of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, and founder of the Edinburgh General Lying-In Hospital. When I was looking for Alexander Hamilton's books, I pulled one of Dr. Hamilton's off the shelf and was rather surprised to be reading about obstetrics! (A. Ham is shelved immediately following Dr. Hamilton in our collection.)

#hamiltunes #hamildays #obstetrics #engravings #18thcenturydoctoring #americanantiquarian

Bottom, 1st and 4th from left: title page of Outlines of the Theory and Practice of Midwifery by Alexander Hamilton … To Which Are Added Smellie's Anatomical Tables, with Explanations (Philadelphia: A. Bertram, 1806). Smellie’s Anatomical Tables, which includes the pictured plates, has a separate title page, but it was paged continuously with Outlines of the Theory and Practice of Midwifery.

Bottom, 2nd from left: plate VIII showing the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy (facing p. 327).

Bottom, 3rd from left: plate IX showing the eighth or ninth month of pregnancy (facing p. 330).