This work investigates the historical transformation of abortion policy in the United States, specifically examining how the practice shifted from a common, unregulated occurrence to a nearly universal legal prohibition by the year 1900. James C. Mohr, a distinguished historian, utilizes extensive archival research and primary source documentation to trace the legal and social evolution of abortion. He argues that the shift in policy was not merely a moral crusade but a complex result of professionalization within the medical field and changing social structures during the nineteenth century.

Experts frequently cite this text as a foundational study for understanding the legal history of reproductive rights in the United States. Readers often note the academic rigor and the density of the historical research presented throughout the volume.