Healers and midwives accused of witchcraft (1563-1736) - What secondary analysis of the Scottish survey of witchcraft can contribute to the teaching of nursing and midwifery history.
Folk-healers
History
Holistic care
Midwifery
Nursing
Religious nurses
Rituals
Witches
Journal
Nurse education today
ISSN: 1532-2793
Titre abrégé: Nurse Educ Today
Pays: Scotland
ID NLM: 8511379
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 Nov 2023
07 Nov 2023
Historique:
received:
14
08
2023
revised:
23
10
2023
accepted:
02
11
2023
medline:
30
11
2023
pubmed:
30
11
2023
entrez:
29
11
2023
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Nearly 4000 people were accused of witchcraft in Scotland between 1563 and 1736. Some of these were healers, midwives, and nurses. To investigate Scotland's folk-healers and midwives accused of witchcraft and review their work from a nursing and midwifery perspective. Secondary analysis of the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft. Those on the Survey with witchcraft accusations relating to folk-healing or midwifery were identified and their biographies were created from Survey data (2021). Individual biographical data were descriptively analysed. Healing/midwifery practice information was tabulated and thematically analysed. 142 individuals were identified (85 % women), 51 % were found guilty, 90 % were executed. Most (98 %) were folk-healers with 10 accused for midwifery reasons. Mainly their work was accused of causing harm. Three themes emerged: their use of rituals; unorthodox religious practices and treatments. Rituals included actions carried out a certain number of times. Religious practices frequently referenced Catholicism. Many of their treatments for ingestion, application or bathing used items still recognised for their health properties. Approximately, 10 % of the 142, mainly in the 1500s/early 1600s, utilised expensive items and complex treatments which had more in common with 'elite' knowledge rather than simple folklore. Across all 142 people, many aspects of their work are identifiable within more contemporary nursing and midwifery practice including their use of rituals, treatments, and holism. Mostly the accused were folk-practitioners, but a few (1500s/early 1600s) appear to have been healers working akin to physicians. Following the Protestant reformation (1560) their work, unlike that of physicians, was marginalised, considered unorthodox and harmful because they were women and/or their work reflected Catholicism. European hospital nursing originates in the monastic houses, but little is known about these early religious nurses. This study is novel in suggesting that whoever taught these accused witch/healers may have been connected to the monastic hospitals pre-Reformation.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Nearly 4000 people were accused of witchcraft in Scotland between 1563 and 1736. Some of these were healers, midwives, and nurses.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
To investigate Scotland's folk-healers and midwives accused of witchcraft and review their work from a nursing and midwifery perspective.
DESIGN
METHODS
Secondary analysis of the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft.
METHODS
METHODS
Those on the Survey with witchcraft accusations relating to folk-healing or midwifery were identified and their biographies were created from Survey data (2021). Individual biographical data were descriptively analysed. Healing/midwifery practice information was tabulated and thematically analysed.
RESULTS
RESULTS
142 individuals were identified (85 % women), 51 % were found guilty, 90 % were executed. Most (98 %) were folk-healers with 10 accused for midwifery reasons. Mainly their work was accused of causing harm. Three themes emerged: their use of rituals; unorthodox religious practices and treatments. Rituals included actions carried out a certain number of times. Religious practices frequently referenced Catholicism. Many of their treatments for ingestion, application or bathing used items still recognised for their health properties. Approximately, 10 % of the 142, mainly in the 1500s/early 1600s, utilised expensive items and complex treatments which had more in common with 'elite' knowledge rather than simple folklore.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Across all 142 people, many aspects of their work are identifiable within more contemporary nursing and midwifery practice including their use of rituals, treatments, and holism. Mostly the accused were folk-practitioners, but a few (1500s/early 1600s) appear to have been healers working akin to physicians. Following the Protestant reformation (1560) their work, unlike that of physicians, was marginalised, considered unorthodox and harmful because they were women and/or their work reflected Catholicism. European hospital nursing originates in the monastic houses, but little is known about these early religious nurses. This study is novel in suggesting that whoever taught these accused witch/healers may have been connected to the monastic hospitals pre-Reformation.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38029694
pii: S0260-6917(23)00320-9
doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2023.106026
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
106026Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 Edinburgh Napier University. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest There is no conflict of interests.