A Bibliographic Study on Neonatal Care in the Medieval Period

Abstract

We performed a bibliographic study of infant care described in historical medical documents. Since ancient times, infant care has been important in both clinical treatment and preventive medicine. On the basis of books of Chinese traditional medicine such as “qian jin fang” and “xiao pin fang”, the significance of infant care was descibed in “I-shin-hou”, the first medical book in Japan, edited by Yasuyori Tanba in the Heian period. Similar descriptions appeared in various documents up to the Edo period. However, in the late Edo period, there appeared a new group of authors, including Keiri Arimochi, whose aim was to perform original methods of care in Japan based on new findings. These practices were in opposition to the classical care of the Koho group, which held classical opinions and intended to continue conventional infant care methods. Thus, numerous progressive views developed during this time, resulting in many different views on infant care. Furthermore, desriptions of weaning and new treatment procedures, such as for hernias, appeared in documents of the time. In addition, several examples of preventive medicines were described, such as the importance of avoiding heavy clothing and excessive lacatation and preventing colds by frequent sun baths. Such views are appropriate for preventive medicine even today. © 1997, The Showa University Society. All rights reserved.