Abortions have been around since the days of the Egyptians. It has been a factor of much controversy throughout history, and will continue to be probably as long as human life exists. .
The doctors of ancient Egypt were the first documented people to have come up with a way to have an abortion. They developed a drug that killed the fetus so it could be taken out of the mothers womb. Over the years technology evolved and along with it controversy about abortion. In old England, abortions weren't considered to be criminal offenses, not even after the fourth month. This principle was traditional, and no action was taken to stop it until the beginning of the 19th century. These laws, the laws made in the early 1800's, did nothing to change the traditions of abortion before "quickening." Back in America the situation was the same. The first state law to make abortion illegal at any point in pregnancy was passed in Massachusetts in 1845. A nationwide campaign to restrict abortion was led by doctors with two motives: one was a concern for public health, and the other to curb their competition who were often midwives and untrained lay healers. By the turn of the century, all states prohibited abortion. Only Pennsylvania prohibited all abortions with no loophole for the risk of death for the woman. Criminal penalties were given to those who aided, assisted, abetted or counseled a woman obtaining an abortion. In fourteen states it was also a crime to obtain an abortion. Since it was illegal to get an abortion in this time there are no reliable figures on the number performed. In 1962, Harlem Hospital Center, only one of many in New York City, had almost 1,600 women admitted with incomplete abortions. This was a rate of one abortion for every 42 deliveries! In 1967, Colorado was the first state to permit abortions, but only in limited circumstances. Beginning in 1970, four states enacted laws to permit an abortion if the woman and her doctor felt that it was necessary.
