Charles Delucena Meigs

Charles Delucena Meigs ( ; February 19, 1792 – June 22, 1869) was an American obstetrician who worked as chair of obstetrics and diseases of women at Jefferson Medical College from 1841 to 1861. He worked as editor of The North American Medical and Surgical Journal and published multiple papers and books on various topics in obstetrics including thrombosis as a cause of sudden death in women during childbirth, diseases of the cervix and postpartum infections. He was a fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and served as president from 1845 to 1855.

He was opposed to two of the major obstetrical advances of the 19th century. He advocated against the usage of anesthesia during childbirth due to concerns that it would interfere with uterine contractions. He also argued against the ability of postpartum infections to be spread by the hands of physicians.

Early life and education Meigs was born February 19, 1792, in St. George, Bermuda, the fifth of ten children of Josiah Meigs and Clara Benjamin Meigs. In 1794, he relocated with his family to New Haven, Connecticut, where his father was a professor at Yale University.

Career Meigs returned to Georgia for a brief time to practice medicine, however his wife insisted they return to Philadelphia due to her disgust at the harsh treatment of enslaved people in that state.

In 1826, he worked as an editor for The North American Medical and Surgical Journal and in 1838, published his own book, Philadelphia Practice of Midwifery. He studied German and became proficient enough to read the papers of important German obstetricians.

In 1832, Meigs received a silver pitcher from the Philadelphia City Council in recognition for his role in treating the cholera epidemic that hit the city.

Meigs applied for the chair of midwifery at the University of Pennsylvania after the retirement of William Potts Dewees, but lost out to another candidate. In 1841, he became chair of obstetrics and diseases of women at Jefferson Medical College, until his retirement in 1861. He was incorrect in his views on two of the major advances in obstetrics in the 19th century, the usage of anesthesia and sanitary practices to prevent the transmission of postpartum infections. In 1856, he warned against the morally "doubtful nature of any process that the physicians set up to contravene the operations of those natural and physiological forces that the Divinity has ordained us to enjoy or to suffer".

These beliefs resulted in his treatment of multiple women throughout the day without washing equipment or his hands between patients. He was known to wear the same medical frock all day no matter how soiled it became.

Personal life He was married to Mary Montogomery and together they had 10 children. One of their sons, Montgomery C. Meigs, achieved distinction as Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army during the American Civil War.

He died June 22, 1869, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, in Section I, Plot 71.

Published works The Philadelphia Practice of Midwifery, James Kay, Jun. & Brother, Philadelphia, 1838 An Introductory Lecture Delivered to the Class of Midwifery and Diseases of Women and Children in Jefferson Medical College, October 18th, 1848, C. Sherman, Philadelphia, 1848 Females and Their Diseases; A Series of Letters to His Class, Blanchard and Lea, Philadelphia, 1848 Charles Delucena Meigs' "Obstetrics. The Science and the Art", 3rd ed 1856 Obstetrics: The Science and the Art, Lea and Blanchard, Philadelphia, 1849 A Memoir of Samuel George Morton, M.D., Late President of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, T.K. and P.G. Collins, Philadelphia, 1851 Woman; Her Diseases and Remedies. A Series of Letters to His Class, Lea and Blanchard, Philadelphia, 1851 A Biographical Notice of Daniel Drake, M.D., of Cincinnati, Lippincott, Grambo, and Co., 1853 A Treatise on Acute and Chronic Diseases of the Neck of the Uterus, Blanchard and Lea, Philadelphia, 1854 On the Nature, Signs, and Treatment of Childbed Fevers: In a Series of Letters Addressed to the Students of His Class, Blanchard and Lea, Philadelphia, 1854 Treatise on Obstetrics: The Science and Art, Blanchard and Lea, Philadelphia, 1867