Deryni Rising

[Aquinas]

somewhere I read that in the Middle Ages, aborting a child wasn't the hotly-debated issue it is today, for there was a widely-held belief that there was no soul in the forming child until the 3rd month of pregnancy. 

Among others St Thomas Aquinas held that the rational soul (that part that makes a human human) did not exist until the end of the first trimester although the animal soul (anima) that made one alive did. Therefore as you say a 1st trimester abortion was not such a hot topic.

Sorry for resurecting a dead thread but I didn't think this warranted a new thread.

[JulianneTK]

Among others St Thomas Aquinas held that the rational soul (that part that makes a human human) did not exist until the end of the first trimester although the animal soul (anima) that made one alive did. Therefore as you say a 1st trimester abortion was not such a hot topic.
[/quote]

   AhhhH! That sounds like what I remember!!

[Elkhound]

There are several traditional herbal remedies that midwives had.

"Oh auntie, auntie, I'm in terrible trouble!  Terrible, terrible trouble."

"Sit down my dear, calm yourself.  It can't be all that bad.  Here, have some of my nice herbal tea."

Pennyroyale and slippery elm bark were two that I know of.  My own mother, and her mother before her, drank pennyroyale tea, and they both had only one child each.  Coincidence?  I think not.