Papers by kurt kraetschmer
On the background of efforts to expand knowledge about the female anatomy, physiology, and sexua... more On the background of efforts to expand knowledge about the female anatomy, physiology, and sexuality, the paper analyses van de Velde's work with the aim of determining as to whether his explanations can be of value for current pursuits in such disciplines as gynecology, women's health, legal medicine, psychology, sexology, and related areas. The author finds that van de Velde's descriptions of female anatomy, physiology, and sexuality are more accurate and more suitable for the clinical practice than numerous current publications. Velde's most noteworthy contribution is the attempt to integrate sexuality into gynecological anatomy and physiology.
Female Anatomy, Physiology, and Sexuality explained by one of the most qualified specialists., 2025
On the background of efforts to educate women about their body, the paper analyses van de Velde'... more On the background of efforts to educate women about their body, the paper analyses van de Velde's work "Ideal Marriage" with the aim of determining as to whether his anatomical and physiological explanations can be of value for current pursuits in gynecology, legal medicine, psychology, sexology, and related areas. It is concluded that van de Velde's anatomical and physiological description of the female body, although still incomplete, are more accurate and more suitable for the clinical practice than many other publications in the areas of anatomy and gynecology. The most valuable aspect of Velde's explanations is their relevance for situations of daily-life and for sexuality in matrimonial relationships.
Tardieu made noteworthy contributions to illuminate forensic questions of rape by using a compreh... more Tardieu made noteworthy contributions to illuminate forensic questions of rape by using a comprehensive approach based on principles of evidence-based research and by addressing gynecological, psychological, psychiatric, and sociological aspects of rape. Tardieu fostered progress by rectifying opinions prevalent during his time and by presenting both theoretical concepts and observations of the clinical practice. The foremost value of Tardieu’s contributions to the expansion of not only historical but also current knowledge is Tardieu’s experience as a forensic physician who wrote thousands of reports on various cases of child sexual abuse and rape. What should be particularly appreciated by modern research are Tardieu’s painstaking observations of details in anatomical structures and his meticulous description of body parts examined. Current research continues Tardieu’s efforts to illuminate all salient questions pertaining to rape and addresses such issues as health risks for the rape victim, rape victims seeking post-assault assistance, psychological and psychosomatic consequences of rape, the sociology of rape, and the economic dimensions of rape.
Child sexual abuse -- the pre-eminent role of the forensic physician described by Auguste Ambroise Tardieu, 2025
On the background of current attempts to broaden forensic knowledge on child sexual abuse, the ar... more On the background of current attempts to broaden forensic knowledge on child sexual abuse, the article aims at investigating as to whether Tardieu has made contributions to this topic which can be considered relevant also for current investigations.
The female genital parts seen from the perspective of forensic medicine, according to Ambroise Tardieu , 2025
On the background of unequilibrated and incomplete comments on Tardieu’s work, this article aims ... more On the background of unequilibrated and incomplete comments on Tardieu’s work, this article aims at determining as to whether Tardieu should be considered not only an advocate of children but also as a contributor to the advancement of forensic medicine. It is concluded that Tardieu made important contributions to the advancement of forensic medicine. Especially his Etude médico-légale sur les attentats aux moeurs expands knowledge on such topics as the anatomy of female genital parts; visitations in the case of rape and of attentats on pudeur; signs of attentats on pudeur; and signs of rape.
Prostitution, Rape, Child Abuse, Pederasty and Sodomy in 19th century French forensic medicine, 2025
On the background of efforts to elucidate the origins of forensic medicine, the article investiga... more On the background of efforts to elucidate the origins of forensic medicine, the article investigates as to whether the French hygienic physician Alexandre Jean-Baptiste Parent-Duchâtelet (1790-1836) and his compatriot, the forensic physician August Ambroise Tardieu (1818-1879) can be considered as the founders of scientific forensic medicine in Europe, who followed into the footsteps of Paolo Zacchia (1584-1659), the Italian “father” of forensic medicine.
Parent Duchâtelet an early pioneer of reproductive medicine investigating the reproductive organs of prostitutes, 2025
Parent rectifies prevailing opinions on the anatomy of genitalia in prostitutes and considers the... more Parent rectifies prevailing opinions on the anatomy of genitalia in prostitutes and considers the condition of their vagina, clitoris, and labia minora as not essentially different from that in married women, who also show a great diversity of these anatomical structures. Concerning menstruation in prostitutes, he underlines the diversity of menstrual patterns and considers the impossibility of reestablishing menstruation as an extraordinary fact. In addressing rape, Parent emphasizes the difficulty encountered by the hygienic physician to furnish reliable information to forensic medicine. His insights into the intertwining of reproductive medicine and legal medicine might have influenced some of his successors, such as Ambroise Tardieu and Richard von Kraft-Ebbing.
2025
On the background of quantitative inquiries into fecundity according to professions, such as the ... more On the background of quantitative inquiries into fecundity according to professions, such as the “Number of births (per 1,000 women) by occupation of mother in the United States in 2012,” it seems necessary to provide more specific information on this topic, especially by introducing new elements into the category of “profession.” One of the professions to be included is prostitution -- or “sex work” in modern nomenclature -- economically speaking a clandestine multi-billion business world-wide, but explored scientifically only marginally. In order to remedy the paucity of data on the origin of medical research on prostitution, the paper analyses the pioneering work of the French hygienist Alexande Jean-Bapiste Duchâtelet, which illuminates prostitution and also demonstrates how a scientific quantitative and qualitative research into a specific segment of the population can be performed.
Reproductive Medicine Contributions from the 12th to the 19th century , 2025
In light of ongoing research on infertility and related topics of reproductive medicine, the pap... more In light of ongoing research on infertility and related topics of reproductive medicine, the paper aims at determining as to whether authors from the 12 th to the 19 th century have made contributions to reproductive medicine and have advanced knowledge about such topics as infertility, fertile window, timed intercourse, and signs of ovulation.
Infertility remedied by non-pharmacological measures, 2025
In light of ongoing research on infertility in the context of reproductive medicine, this paper a... more In light of ongoing research on infertility in the context of reproductive medicine, this paper aims at investigating as to whether present knowledge might be complemented by insights contained in historical documents by authors from the 12th century (Hildegard of Bingen) to the 20th century (Marie Stopes).
Dr. Knowlton an American pioneer of reproductive medicine, 2025
In light of claims that Dr. Charles Knowlton is the “American Father of Birth Control,” this arti... more In light of claims that Dr. Charles Knowlton is the “American Father of Birth Control,” this article aims at investigating whether Knowlton could also be considered as an American pioneer of reproductive medicine. Knowlton's discussion of physiological theories shows that he disagreed with inadequate hypothesis and supported evidence-based physiological theories by drawing from his own clinical experience. Knowlton’s discussion of remedies for sterility and impotence could motivate research in herbal medicine and food sciences; his discussion of the “procreative instinct” should be of interest to current investigations in philosophy, psychology, and educational reproductive health.
2025
On the background of controversial claims regarding the origin of reproductive medicine, this pap... more On the background of controversial claims regarding the origin of reproductive medicine, this paper aims at determining as to whether writings created during the the Middle Ages can be considered a contribution to reproductive sciences. To accomplish this goal, the original writings of Hildegard of Bingen are analysed to determine whether she contributed to the advancement of reproductive medicine. An analysis of Hildegard's work reveals that she discusses in an evidence-based fashion male and female infertility. The topics of female infertilty include fertilization, sperm capacitation, menstruation, and menopause. The topics of male infertility include semen, erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, and nocturnal emission.
Hildegard von Bingen foretells Marie Stopes' Married Love of 1918, 2025
On the background of claims made pertaining to Marie Stopes’ life and work, the paper aims at det... more On the background of claims made pertaining to Marie Stopes’ life and work, the paper aims at determining as to whether Stopes’ best-known work “Married Love” has been preceded by other works, such as Hildegard von Bingen’s Causae et curae, written probably between 1150 and 1160.
Dr. A.H. Jacobs' neglected contributions to public health, women's health, and medical education n,, 2025
On the background of assessments of Jacobs’ life and work emphasizing her role as a feminist, pol... more On the background of assessments of Jacobs’ life and work emphasizing her role as a feminist, politician, and pacifist, the paper aims at examining whether Jacobs made also contributions to medical sciences which are of importance for present research and clinical practice.
Dr. Alice B. Stockham, a prolific author and scholar of tokology, 2025
On the background of ongoing discussions on marital rights and duties of women, the work of Dr. A... more On the background of ongoing discussions on marital rights and duties of women, the work of Dr. Alice B. Stockham is analysed with the aim of exploring her ideas on the role of women in matrimonial relationships and in society. To accomplish this goal, her works, especially her most influential entitled “Tokology” (published in 1883), is analysed and commented on the basis of pertinent reliable comments found in the literature.
Parent Duchâtelet pioneering public health and social medicine in addition to medical hygiene, 2025
On the background of ongoing investigations into prostitution as a topic of public health, hygien... more On the background of ongoing investigations into prostitution as a topic of public health, hygiene, and politics, the paper aims at demonstrating how Parent Duchâtelet pioneered social medicine by introducing research methods, above all statistics, and by advocating improvement of infrastructures.
Dr. Blackwell's neglected contributions to women's health, public health, social medicine, and psychology, 2025
On the background of publications on Dr. Blackwell which ignore her contributions to such areas a... more On the background of publications on Dr. Blackwell which ignore her contributions to such areas as women’s health, public health, psychology, and sociology, the paper investigates whether these contributions have any relevance for current research and clinical practice.
Hipoocrates' term philanthropy meaning empathy?, 2025
On the background of claims that empathy is a Hippocratic concept, the paper investigates medical... more On the background of claims that empathy is a Hippocratic concept, the paper investigates medical, psychological and philological publications on this subject. It aims at providing an ethically grounded definition of empathy and identifies persons in the history of medicine who exemplified empathy in their life and works.
2025
On the background of such current research topics as menstruation, pubertal development, and fema... more On the background of such current research topics as menstruation, pubertal development, and female sexuality, the works by Hildegard von Bingen and Mary Putnam Jacobi are examined with the aim of determining the relevance of their contributions to current research in medicine, forensics and labor law.
2025
On the background of ongoing research in gynecology and women’s health, the aim is to investigate... more On the background of ongoing research in gynecology and women’s health, the aim is to investigate whether medical authorities in antiquity, such as Hippocrates, Soranus of Ephesus, and Metrodora have provided insights which are relevant also for current medical pursuits.
Uploads
Papers by kurt kraetschmer