Kisamor
Encyclopedia
Maria Jansson, known in history as Kisamor (English: The Mother of Kisa), (1788–1842), was a Swedish
natural doctor
, the most famous female physician, and perhaps the most famous Swedish physician altogether, in the 19th century. She is the most famous example of a Cunning woman
in her country. Her real name was Maria Jansson, but she is known in history as Kisamor ("The Mother in Kisa") after the place were she worked.
as the daughter of a doctor in natural medicine, she had an early wish to follow in her father's profession. She was active as a natural doctor occasaionally from early years, but eventually, her father forced her to marry a farmer, Anders Olsson, in 1807. The marriage was unhappy and childless, and she divorce
d her husband.
By this time, she functioned as a doctor in natural medicine and made her living visiting and nursing people. She was widely reputed, and called upon from far away. In 1814 , she was given a home in Östergötland
, Katrinebergs gård, as a gift by some rich female patients as a recognition after a successful treatment. She made house calls and visited the sick in their cottages. Sometimes, they came to her at an inn called Kisa, and thereby, she became known as Kisamor : "The Mother in Kisa". She was described as temperamental and firm, and she is known to have enjoyed alcohol.
Kisamor became famous for her skill, and people came to her from all over the country for consultation and treatment. She was called to Stockholm in 1824, 1825, 1826, 1840 and 1841. On one occasion, she was asked to the royal court to one of the female members of the royal family. Tradition say, that she was to have been granted a medical license by Sundhetskollegium in 1825 after having successfully treated the king and the Crown prince
. This has been disputed, however, and the license is not completely confirmed. If it was a reality, she was quite unique for her gender, as the profession of a physician was formally barred to her gender in Sweden before 1870.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
natural doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, the most famous female physician, and perhaps the most famous Swedish physician altogether, in the 19th century. She is the most famous example of a Cunning woman
Cunning folk
The cunning folk in Britain were professional or semi-professional practitioners of magic active from the Medieval period through to the early twentieth century. As cunning folk, they practised folk magic – also known as "low magic" – although often combined with elements of "high" or ceremonial...
in her country. Her real name was Maria Jansson, but she is known in history as Kisamor ("The Mother in Kisa") after the place were she worked.
Biography
Born in ÖrebroÖrebro
-Sites of interest:Örebro's old town Wadköping is located on the banks of Svartån . It contains many 18th and 19th century wooden houses, along with museums and exhibitions....
as the daughter of a doctor in natural medicine, she had an early wish to follow in her father's profession. She was active as a natural doctor occasaionally from early years, but eventually, her father forced her to marry a farmer, Anders Olsson, in 1807. The marriage was unhappy and childless, and she divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d her husband.
By this time, she functioned as a doctor in natural medicine and made her living visiting and nursing people. She was widely reputed, and called upon from far away. In 1814 , she was given a home in Östergötland
Östergötland
Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...
, Katrinebergs gård, as a gift by some rich female patients as a recognition after a successful treatment. She made house calls and visited the sick in their cottages. Sometimes, they came to her at an inn called Kisa, and thereby, she became known as Kisamor : "The Mother in Kisa". She was described as temperamental and firm, and she is known to have enjoyed alcohol.
Kisamor became famous for her skill, and people came to her from all over the country for consultation and treatment. She was called to Stockholm in 1824, 1825, 1826, 1840 and 1841. On one occasion, she was asked to the royal court to one of the female members of the royal family. Tradition say, that she was to have been granted a medical license by Sundhetskollegium in 1825 after having successfully treated the king and the Crown prince
Oscar I of Sweden
Oscar I was King of Sweden and Norway from 1844 to his death. When, in August 1810, his father Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was elected Crown Prince of Sweden, Oscar and his mother moved from Paris to Stockholm . Oscar's father was the first ruler of the current House of Bernadotte...
. This has been disputed, however, and the license is not completely confirmed. If it was a reality, she was quite unique for her gender, as the profession of a physician was formally barred to her gender in Sweden before 1870.
External links
- http://art-bin.com/art/akisamen.html