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In Search Of The Anglophone Doctor In Jacques Ferron’S Story “Le Petit William”, Vivian C. Mcalister, Christiane I. Mcalister

Surgery Publications

The story of ‘Le Petit William’ (Contes anglais, 1964) is based on Ferron’s experiences as a general practitioner in the Gaspé in 1946. A medical event, use of the maternal left lateral position by a sage-femme to deliver a baby boy, becomes allegory. The sage-femme had learned the technique from a visiting Anglophone doctor. A simple joke, which superficially appears to be the story’s culmination, takes on a sombre political tone when considered in the light of the Latin epigraph. Trips to the Gaspé, a review of the history of obstetrics and speculation are used in this paper to understand …