Angélique Marguerite Le Boursier du Coudray (c. 1712–1794) was
an influential, pioneering midwife. In 1759 the king commissioned her to
teach midwifery to rural women to reduce infant mortality. Between 1760
to 1783, she traveled rural France, sharing her knowledge with women.
During this time, she is estimated to have directly trained 4,000
students. Du Coudray invented the first lifesize obstetrical mannequin,
called “The Machine”. Various strings and straps serve to simulate the
process of childbirth. The head of the infant mannequin has a shaped
nose, stitched ears, hair drawn with ink, and an open mouth, with
tongue.
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