Changes

Until the 17th century, most births took place at home.  As so-called "lying-in" hospitals became popular, more and more women came to the hospital for childbirth.  These births were usually attended by [[midwife|midwives]] or doctors.  With the advent of these hospitals came the increase in the phenomenon of "childbed fever", or "puerperal sepsis".  This phenomenon had been described centuries before, but it was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that the disease became more widely recognized.

Until the 17th century, most births took place at home.  As so-called "lying-in" hospitals became popular, more and more women came to the hospital for childbirth.  These births were usually attended by [[midwife|midwives]] or doctors.  With the advent of these hospitals came the increase in the phenomenon of "childbed fever", or "puerperal sepsis".  This phenomenon had been described centuries before, but it was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that the disease became more widely recognized.

At the time of Semmelweis's career, the [[germ theory of disease]] had not yet been formulated.  Several other ideas held sway, such as that of ''miasmas'' (basically "ill winds") and "humoral imbalance".  Semmelweis received the classical medical training of the time, including indoctrination into these theories, which had not substantially changed in two thousand years.

At the time of Semmelweis's career, the [[germ theory of disease]] had not yet been formulated.  Several other ideas held sway, such as that of ''[[miasma]]s'' (basically "ill winds") and "humoral imbalance".  Semmelweis received the classical medical training of the time, including indoctrination into these theories, which had not substantially changed in two thousand years.

==Puerperal Fever==

==Puerperal Fever==