Abortion or the termination of a pregnancy has been performed on women for millennia. Before the surgical intervention to end a pregnancy women took extreme methods to end a pregnancy. Many sought the advice of the local wise woman, sooth sayer or herbalist who often advised abortifactant herbs to bring on a miscarriage.
The History of Abortion
The earliest written evidence of an abortion is contained in the Ebers Papyrus. Housed in the University of Leipzig, the papyrus dates back to 1550 BC. It is believed to be the earliest written medical document found to date and includes chapters on gynaecology and obstetrics as well as other medical conditions.
Surprisingly, abortion was a common practice in both ancient Rome and Greece. The philosopher, Aristotle (384-322 BC) wrote, "When couples have children in excess, let abortion be procured before sense and life have begun: What may or may not be lawfully done in these cases depends on the question of life and sensation."
Soranus of Ephesus (late 1st, early 2nd century AD) recommended the use of diuretics and emmenagogues, which are herbs that stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area such as mugwort, parsley and ginger, as safe methods of abortion. Though with some of the historical advice documented it is difficult to see how effective it was; for example, a Sanskrit text dating to the 8th century advised that to induce an abortion the pregnant woman should sit over a pot of steam or stewed onions!
Abortifactant Plants
Folklore and old wives' tales are littered with reports of plants reputed to have abortifactant properties. For centuries abortion was illegal and this was the safest, though not the most efficient way a woman could terminate an unwanted pregnancy.
Most villages had a local woman who was consulted on contraception, pregnancy and if necessary, abortion and, during confinement acted as unqualified midwife and nurse. And it was to these women, pregnant girls turned to for advice.
There are a number of "classical" works which list natural abortifactants. These include De Viribus Herbarum. Dating back to the 11th century, the work lists Italian catnip, Hellebore, sage and penny royal amongst the plants recommended for this purpose.
A later work, Kings American Dispensatory 1898 recommended brewer's yeast and penny root tea.
The use of abortifactants varies from country to country depending on the available flora. For example, the use or watercress seed, opium or a mixture of black hellebore and savin crushed in milk was used in England, where as prostitute root or root of worm fern was used in France and Germany.
Amendments to the Abortion Laws in the United Kingdom
Disregarding the religious and ethical arguments for and against abortion, there have been several amendments to the legal status of abortion in the United Kingdom. According to English Statute Law, abortion was a crime punishable by the death penalty if the procedure was carried out after "quickening" or movement of the baby could be felt. However, the law was subsequently changed by reducing the significance of the reference to "quickening" and by the removal of the death penalty as a sentence in 1837.
However, it wasn't until the 1920s that abortion ceased to be a crime if the procedure was carried out "in good faith for the purpose of preserving the life of the mother."
In 1935, Iceland became to first Western country to legalise therapeutic abortion under limited circumstances, but it took a judgment in 1938 which was to govern British attitudes towards abortion for decades.
Legal Judgement R v Bourne 1938
This judgement found in favour of an abortion performed on a 14-year old rape victim. Mr. Justice Macnaghten said "If the doctor is of the opinion, on reasonable grounds and with adequate knowledge, that the probable consequence of the continuance of the pregnancy will be to make the woman a physical or mental wreck, the jury are entitled to take the view that the doctor is operating for the purpose of preserving the life of the mother."
The Abortion Act 1967
The passing of the Abortion Act 1967 permitted an abortion to be performed in England when two doctors agreed that the continuation of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman, or if continuation of the pregnancy would cause damage to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or any existing children of her family, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated. The pregnancy could also be terminated if there is a substantial risk that the child was born it would be seriously handicapped either physically or mentally.
The law differs across the United Kingdom in as much as abortion is permitted in England, Scotland and Wales under certain circumstances. These are to save a woman's life, health, economic or social reasons. Currently the gestational limit for therapeutic abortion is 24 weeks. In Northern Ireland conditions for abortion are restricted and can only take place if the woman's health is at risk. This disparity occurred in 1967 when the Westminster Parliament allowed the Ulster Authority as it was then to decide not to adopt the new law.
From a medical perspective, only, the changes in abortion law allow British women to have the procedure performed safely with little risk to themselves. Prior to the legalisation, many women risked their lives undergoing "back street" terminations which were often dangerous and expensive. The Abortion Act does not cover the issues raised by religious or moral objection or the rights that an unborn foetus may or may not have.
Sources:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
The History of Abortion by Fredrick P Miller, Agnes F Vandome and JohnMcBrewster
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