Great Crime of the Nineteenth Century: Why Is It Committed? Who Are the Criminals? How Shall They Be Detected? How Shall They Be Punished?
is a historical examination of abortion in law, medicine, and society. It surveys why abortion occurred, who facilitated it, and how justice tried to respond, reflecting a 19th‑century moral and legal framework.
This edition presents a clear, case‑driven look at both medical practice and the push for stricter penalties. It discusses the roles of physicians, publishers, nurses, and others, and it weighs the limits of law and policy in preventing harm while protecting patients. Throughout, the emphasis stays on evidence, professional responsibility, and public health considerations rather than sensational detail.
- How authorities defined and pursued abortion as a crime, and what penalties were proposed.
- The limits of legal machinery and the call for licenses and regulatory oversight.
- Different kinds of accomplices and how they were categorized as before-the-fact or after-the-fact participants.
- Medical arguments about causes of abortion and the prospects for prevention and treatment.
Ideal for readers of medical history, legal history, and ethics, this work sheds light on how a society grappled with a difficult issue through evidence, law, and professional judgment.