During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, there were many important things that occurred in the history of America contributed by women. During this time period, there was much differentiation in gender roles between men and women. One person that sees the differentiation among gender was a woman named Martha Ballard. Laurel Ulrich was a woman that analyzed Martha’s diary through her book called, “A MidWife’s Tale.” According to Laurel, Martha was born in Oxford, Connecticut of 1735. Martha’s maiden name was Moore. She later married Ephraim Ballard in 1754 and had nine children, three of which that died in 1769. Martha’s diary gives much insight on gender roles and perceptions of men as well as women during this time period. But most of all, there were three areas that …show more content…
For the external uses, Martha administered plasters, baths, ointments, saliva, cataplasm, blisters, and poultices. Occasionally she would use herbs such as sage, chamomile, and tansy. When she would see a sick patient that had a cold, she would give them chicken noodle soup. Laurel Ulrich says, “Martha had many remedies as a midwife, but she never recorded them.” According to Laurel Ulrich, Martha treated sores by making honey. According to Laurel Ulrich, The process that Martha used to make honey was by first “wilting fresh burdock leaves in alcohol, then crushed comfrey for a poultice, next added Maillot to hogs grease for an ointment. Then boiled Agrimony, Plantain, and Solomon’s-seal into a syrup. Afterwards, she strained the decoction through a woolen cloth, added sugar and then let it simmer so it could thicken in order to make honey.” Along the way, Martha tried to save as many patients as she possibly could but sometimes the virus was too far along for any medicine to help fight it