[MR] History Blog: 500-year Old Birthing Girdle

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today the History Blog reports on a 500-year old parchment manuscript that
has been confirmed as a "birthing girdle". The manuscript consists of four
sections of vellum stitched together, to make a strip over 10 feet long.
The parchment is decorated with religious images and is inked with prayers
to Mother Mary and other important saints associated with childbirth,
motherhood and family life. It would have been wrapped around a woman's
abdomen during delivery as a sort of talisman against miscarriage and other
hazards.

Researchers were able to isolate 54 human proteins, 50 of which are present
in reproductive fluids. They also discovered animal-derived proteins which
suggest herbal ointments or other treatments that were used during
birthing. They also found lots of mouse pee, which has nothing to do with
human birthing.

The whole story is at http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/60933 .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆