Representation of ‘a man-midwife, or a newly discovered animal'. One half of the figure represents a man-midwife in his surgery whilst the other half depicts a traditional midwife in a domestic setting. This illustration was used as a ‘flyer' to advertise a book entitled Man-midwifery dessected, ‘elucidating this animal's propensities to cruelty and indecency'. Male midwives were perceived, not only as meddlers with instruments of destruction but ‘as a danger to female modesty and virtue'.

Coloured etching by Isaac Cruikshank (1756/57-1810/11). Published by SW Fores, London 1793.