1. Stamps Dedicated to the Pioneers of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Since 1840s, it has become a tradition to honor important individuals on postage stamps. Postage stamp artists (designers and engravers) often optimize space for the image by minimizing texture. The general practice is to feature the portrait of the figure in full length or head alone, or the person is seen working. In some examples, the person may be represented by an image related to that person’s life or invention, or subject-specific symbols. This provides a brief summary or history of the subject.
These stamps tell stories about the pioneers in Obstetrics and Gynecology and provide us a brief summary of the lives of some of the most influential figures in Obstetrics and Gynecology from a different viewpoint.
Ephraim McDowell (1771-1830), an American frontier physician, performed the first successful removal of an ovarian tumor in the world in 180915 . All attempts of laparotomy before 1809 had resulted in death due to peritonitis. McDowell emphasized on working “neat and clean” and he also removed the blood from the abdominal cavity during the operation and irrigated the intestines with warm water16. Thus, he has been called “the father of oophorectomy” and “the father of abdominal surgery”15.
In 1959, United States Postal Service commemorated McDowell with a 4-cent stamp and 6 First Day Covers, depicting his portrait and mentioning him being a pioneer surgeon and honoring his memory devoted to the 150th anniversary of the first successful abdominal operation (Fig. 1).
On July 1932, Hungary issued a series of stamps with portraits of some famous Hungarians, in one of which, Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865), who identified how puerperal sepsis was transmitted (it was a common and often fatal infection in the mid-19th-century) was commemorated17 . He also revealed that, washing hands with chlorine could effectively reduce the incidence of puerperal sepsis and its mortality rate, letting him to be described as the “savior of mothers” 18.
Issued in Hungary, the homeland of Semmelweis, the 4-Hungarian Forint stamp features portrait of Semmelweis, printed in color ultramarine, which is often considered the symbolic color of holiness and humility (Fig. 2B).
Another postage stamp, attributed again to Semmelweis was released in Hungary in 1954, a 20-Hungarian Forint stamp depicting portrait of him on foreground and demonstrating a puerperal scene on the background in olive brown. In this stamp; Semmelweis, standing with a newborn baby in his hands, a puerpera reaching out from her bed to her newborn baby, and in front of the bed the water pan and liquid needed to wash the hand in accordance with antisepsis rules, were illustrated (Fig 2A).
In 1965, Hungary commemorated the 100th anniversary of his death with another stamp, designed by Sandor Legrady, who depicted the portrayal of Semmelweis in red brown, also showing the “Rod of Asclepius”, on the upper left corner (Fig 2C). The “Rod of Asclepius”, which is the true and authentic symbol of Medicine, is a rod entwined by a single serpent, which is wielded by Asclepius, the Greek God of healing and Medicine19.
Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809 – 1894) was an American physician who, in 1843, published “The Contagiousness of Puerperal Fever”, in which he argued with his colleagues that the cause of puerperal fever arises from patient to patient contact via their physicians 20. In 1846, Holmes also invented the word “anesthesia”, at first signifying insensibility to touch 21.
In 1968, United States Post Office commemorated him with a 15-cent stamp and 6 First Day Covers as a part of the famous “Prominent American” Series. The stamp theme, which was designed by Richard Hurd and engraved by Albert Saavedra and Joseph S. Creamer Jr, is based on a photograph of him from National Photos that appeared in New York Times in 1951. They also honored him with a USPS Souvenir Page devoted to him (Fig 3).
William Harvey (1578-1657), an English physician, was the first to demonstrate the systemic circulation accurately in details in his book, “de Motu Cordis” in 1628 22. As early as the 17th century he made important observations regarding the placenta, fetal circulatory system, fetal nourishment, and fetal respiration23. He found out the presence of ductus arteriosus and explained its function partially 24. In 1651, he published “Exercitationes de Generatione Animalium” in which he supported epigenesis which is the gradual addition of parts, in contrary to the popular belief of preformationism in that period25.
In 1957, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) memorialized the 300th anniversary of his death with a 40-Kopeks portrayal stamp, which emphasizes a text saying “An outstanding English doctor who discovered blood circulation” that is devoted to his works (Fig 4A).
In 1959, Correo Argentino, Argentina’s postal service, honored him with a bluish green stamp and 2 First Day Covers, printed for the “21st International Congress of Physiological Sciences” referring to his discovery of the circulation of the blood (Fig 4B).
On his 400th birth anniversary in 1978, USSR honored Harvey with a multicolored stamp, portrayed in green, with blue edges (Fig 4C). Also, two “Bowl of Hygieia” are depicted on the upper corners of the stamp, which is the symbol of pharmacy. In Greek mythology Hygieia, Asclepius’s daughter, is the goddess of hygiene and cleanliness. The Hippocratic Oath which all physicians have taken for centuries is dedicated to Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia and Panacea 19.
In 1982, Republic of Transkei issued a series called Heroes of Medicine which focused on famous personalities of all times, who made important contributions to Medicine. They honored Harvey with a stamp printed for his contributions to the understanding of blood circulation. Designed by John Meyer, the stamp included a portrait of Harvey and a hand with its arterial anatomy shown on it (Fig 4D).
In 1987, Hungary issued a stamp series of “Great Pioneers in Medicine”, one of which features the portrait of Harvey and a surreal human heart with many arterial branches, meticulously designed by Hungarian illustrator János Kass (1927-2010) (Fig 4E).
The Turkish physician, Besim Ömer Akalın (1862 – 1940), founder of modern obstetrics and gynecology in Turkey, took the lead in bringing the idea that a special education and formal training for nursery was mandatory to life 26. He was against the repressive mindset which prevented Muslim women from contacting men, even for medical purposes. In 1911 he voluntarily trained many women, most of whom later provided skilled medical care for the wounded soldiers during World War 1. In 1922, Besim Ömer paved the way for first Turkish female physicians by enrolling them to the Imperial Medical College27.
In 1965, Turkey honored Besim Ömer’s contributions to modern medicine with a 5-Kurus stamp, depicting his portrait in black and white, on a blue background (Fig 5).
Maria Cuțarida-Crătunescu (1857—1919), the first female physician in Romania, established the first Maternal Society in the country, which was dedicated to safeguard the welfare of the children in need, regardless of religion or ethnic origin. She actively served in the World War I 28.
She completed her thesis entitled ”Hydrorrhea and its semiological value in cancer of the corpus of the uterus”, at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris in 1884, being the first woman in Eastern Europe to earn her doctorate in medicine 28.
In 2007, she was honored with a 80-Romanian Ban stamp. Designed by Octavian Penda, the stamp included a portrait of Cutarida-Crătunescu, a red cross and a “Bowl of Hygieia” (Fig 6). The symbol of the International Committee of the Red Cross was adopted at the Geneva Congress in 1864; in order to identify nonpartisan medical services and protect medical supplies and stations from any military attack during a conflict 19.
Honoria Acosta-Sison (1888–1970), the first Filipino woman physician, did various researches in the field of eclampsia, choriocarcinoma and difficulties in parturition 29. She was awarded with many awards and medals for her successful career30,31.
In 1978, the Philippines issued a commemorative 30-Philippine sentimo stamp with her name, portrait, the caduceus and the “Rod of Asclepius” (Fig 7).
The Caduceus or the “Staff of Hermes” features two snakes entwining a stick often depicted with two winglets. It is often mistakenly used as a symbol of medicine instead of the “Rod od Asclepius”. Actually, the Caduceus emblem is associated with declamation, commerce, and negotiation. Misuse of the caduceus symbol became popular in the United States since 1902 as a result of documented mistakes, misunderstandings and confusion 19.
As a pioneering Chinese obstetrician and gynecologist, Lin Qiaozhi (1901 – 1983), did researches in the fields of placental abnormalities, fetal breathing, female pelvic diseases, gynecologic oncology and neonatal hemolytic disorders 32. She personally delivered more than 50,000 babies in her career 33.
On the seventh anniversary of Lin’s death in 1990, a stamp printed in China from the “Scientists” issue shows Gynecologist Lin Qiaozhi, in 1990, depicting her portrait and a fetus in the womb.
Sir James Simpson (1811 - 1870), a Scottish obstetrician, was the first to use chloroform for anesthetic purposes in humans and he pioneered its use at birth 34. Like Besim Ömer, he defended the idea of using midwives in the hospitals. In order to aid dystocia, he developed the design of an obstetric forceps, that to date known as “Simpson Forceps” (Fig 8B) 35.
In 1992, Transkei issued a 65-cent stamp to honor Sir James Simpson. The stamp, designed by Johan Van Niekerk, depicts him and a midwife applying chloroform to a patient in the labour room (Fig 8A).
Marie Heim-Vögtlin (1845 – 1916) was the first female Swiss physician and was one of the founders of the first Swiss gynecologic hospital. In 2016, the hundredth anniversary of her death is commemorated with a Swiss Post stamp (Fig 9) 36.
Virginia Apgar (1909 – 1974) was an American anesthesist who introduced obstetrical considerations to the established field of neonatology29. In 1952, she developed a scoring system for infants, which evaluates the health of an infant immediately after birth in order to determine the need for an immediate intervention, the need for resuscitation and the effects of resuscitation 37. Since many studies confirmed the strong relationship between low APGAR scores, neonatal mortality, degree of asphyxia, and neurological outcomes; this scoring system rapidly became standart across the globe in order to assess the condition of an infant 38.
In 1994, she was honored by the United States Postal Service with a 20-cent Great Americans series postage stamp (Fig 10).