[Evolution of the hospital institutions of Brussels and the progressive individualization of the departments of obstetrics].

The origin of Brussels hospitals goes back to the XIIth century when several institutions created by the Church were only aimed at lodging poor pilgrims. The evolution from ecclesiastic management to municipal direction ended up in the establishment of two main public hospitals devoted to health care : Saint-Jean and Saint-Pierre. The latter, founded under Austrian rule and associated from the start with clinical teaching, gained therefore a prominent position. In 1834, it became a university hospital thanks to an agreement between the recently founded Free University of Brussels and the municipal health authorities. Finally, the administration of the main university clinical infrastructure was totally taken over by the University and moved to the newly erected Erasmus Hospital together with all faculty buildings. Development of the Brussels Maternity occurred rather slowly and underwent several location changes because of varying general politics as well as for sanitary reasons of hygiene. It was not before the XXth century that obstetrical practice progressively shifted from the private domiciliary sphere at the hands of midwives, to the hospital environment and medical control as is the case today.