Medical Treatises and Texts Written by Women and for Women

Abstract

Women contributed significantly to the literature on medicine during the Early Modern period. They wrote treatises on medicines, treatments and therapies, chemicals and the impact of chemistry on medicine, and healing substances. Some women even prescribed new therapies. Although women were denied a proper medical education during the Early Modern period, this did not prevent a number of determined women from learning from their relatives or male friends and acquiring enough knowledge to write on scientific matters.