Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ould, Fielding

1429421Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 42 — Ould, Fielding1895Norman Moore

OULD, Sir FIELDING (1710–1789), man-midwife, was son of a captain in the army, and was born at Galway in 1710. His mother was a Miss Shawe of Galway. He studied medicine in Paris (Preface to Midwifery, v. xvi), and about 1736 began practice in Golden Lane, Dublin, as a man-midwife. His practice became large, and in 1742 he published in Dublin 'A Treatise on Midwifery in three parts,' dedicated to the Dublin College of Physicians. The first part is on normal labour, the second on difficult labour of various kinds, and the third on obstetric operations. The book shows careful observation on a few points, but demonstrates that the author had not received a thorough medical education. It was attacked by Dr. Thomas Southwell in 'Remarks on some of the Errors, both in Anatomy and Practice, contained in a late Treatise on Midwifery,' Dublin, 1742, but was read by students of midwifery for many years, and gave a more exact account of the position of the child in natural labour than any work that had been published before. It added to Ould's reputation, and in 1759 he was appointed master of the lying-in hospital in Dublin. He was knighted by the lord-lieutenant, the Duke of Bedford, in the same year, and received the degree of M.B. from the university of Dublin. The College of Physicians in Dublin at first refused to grant him its license, as he was only a man-midwife, but afterwards yielded. He died in his house in Frederick Street, Dublin, 29 Nov. 1789, and was buried in St. Anne's Church.

[Dublin Journal of Medical Science, 1858; Cameron's History of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, 1886; Works.]

N. M.