{
    "abstract": "This is an historical survey of the abortion practices in Australia in the early 20th century. The evidence presented in the article is gathered from reports and documents, articles in medical journals, and information obtained at interviews. The estimated figures for induced abortion are 1/8 live births in 1904, 1/5 live birth in 1937, and 1/4 live births in 1970. Drugs inducing abortion were easily available by the 1890s; they usually were euphemistically advertised to correct irregularities, that is, to bring on a late period, thus enabling vendors to escape prosecution by law. Many of the prescriptions were simple purgatives, such as oil of savin, croton oil, aloe, or they caused contractions of the blood vessels or of the uterus, as did ergot of rye. The contents of the abortion inducing drugs were rarely stated and often misrepresented. In many cases abortion was a secondary effect of the woman poisoning her body with large quantities of drugs; women were also instructed to take hot mustard baths, to jump off tables, and to conduct other physical violence against themselves. Many women tried mechnical methods when chemical methods failed; they included insertion into the uterus of knitting needles, crochet hooks, laminaria and sponge tents. Women who could find the money went to an abortionist; in the 1890s there were an estimated 100-300 abortionists in the city of Sydney. The methods employed went from the use of laminaria tents, to insertion of a catheter, or forcing of fluids into the uterus. Septic infection, peritonitis, blood poisoning, and also uterine perforation were common complications noted in women being admitted to hospitals following abortion. Retention of the placenta was another common complication. After 1904 more restrictive laws reduced the availability of abortifacient drugs and also of contraceptives such as condoms and pessaries; the cost of an illegal abortion skyrocketed to 25 pounds. The result was that more women attempted to procure an abortion by themselves, and that morbidity and mortality rates increased. As recently as 1960 women were procuring abortions by the same means as in the 1890s with the same results and complications; the only advantage being the fact that they could be properly treated once they reached the hospital after attempting the abortion. There are still many restrictions placed on the availability of abortion in Australia; some abortion services, such as those in South Wales, interpret the law very freely. A survey conducted by the Preterm Foundation in 1976 found that 7.6% of its clients had attempted abortion before presenting at the clinic.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": null,
            "firstname": "J",
            "initials": "J",
            "lastname": "Bird"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": null,
    "doi": null,
    "journal": "Family planning information service",
    "keywords": [
        "Abortifacient Agents",
        "Abortion, Drug Induced--history",
        "Abortion, Illegal--history",
        "Abortion, Induced--complications",
        "Australia",
        "Demographic Factors",
        "Developed Countries",
        "Diseases",
        "Family Planning",
        "Fertility Control, Postconception",
        "Laminaria Tents",
        "Mortality",
        "Oceania",
        "Perforations",
        "Population",
        "Population Dynamics",
        "Uterine Perforation"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "1981-04-01",
    "pubmed_id": "12263459",
    "results": null,
    "title": "Abortion techniques in Australia: a history.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788506bcfc40>"
}