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).