PEDIATRICS Vol. 48 No. 5 November 1971, pp. 801
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MRS. SARAH GAMP ON MATERNAL IMPRESSIONS AND BIRTHMARKS

T. E. C. Jr. M.D.

Even today one still meets women who believe that congellital malformations, moles, and skin blemishes can be caused by maternal over- excitement or frights during pregnancy. That Charles Dickens was aware of this absurd belief is evident from the comments below of Sarah Gamp, the untidy and disruptable old nurse in his novel Martin Chuzzlewit, published in 1843-1844.

"I knows a lady, which her name, I'll not deceive you, Mrs. Chuzzlewit is ‘arris, her husband's brother bein’ six foot three, and marked with a mad bull in Wellington boots upon his left arm, on account of his precious mother havin' been worrited by one into a shoemaker's shop, when in a situation which blessed is the man as has his quiver full of sech...."1