| Mary Kirkpatrick, 19th Century Abortion Death | |
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Mary Kirkpatrick was a 16-year-old mill worker in New Jersey in 1859. She accepted gifts of clothing from her boss. They became sexually involved, and Mary became pregnant. Mary's boss obtained an abortifacient, which he gave to Mary. The abortifacient killed Mary as well as her unborn child. Mary's abortion was unusual in that it was performed by an amateur, rather than by a doctor, as was the case with perhaps 90% of criminal abortions.
Source: Abortion Rites: A Social History of Abortion in American, by Marvin Olasky
