A New Edition with Supplementary Notes, and Additional Plates; of BUCKLAND'S GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY, considered with reference to Natural Theology; from the last London Edition with nearly one hundred Maps and Plates. PROFESSOR GIBSON'S RAMBLES IN EUROPE, in 1839:--Containing Sketches of Prominent Surgeons, Physicians, Medical Schools, Hospitals, &c. &c. In One Volume. AN ATLAS OF PLATES, illustrative of the Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine and Surgery, with descriptive Letter Press, by Francis H. Ramsbotham. This will form a large super royal volume, with over One Hundred lithographic plates--to be ready in November. THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE of MEDICINE, By Professor Dunglison in 2 vols. 8vo. This work will be ready the approaching fall. THE LIBRARY OF PRACTICAL MEDICINE. Edited by Tweedie, is now complete in five volumes, royal octavo, handsomely bound in leather, to match. The different volumes may be had separate, bound in extra cloth. * * * * * * A SYSTEM OF MIDWIFERY. With Numerous Wood Cuts. by EDWARD RIGBY, M. D., Physician to the General Lying-In Hospital, Lecturer on Midwifery, at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, etc. etc. With Notes and Additional Illustrations. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard. 1841. Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by Lea & Blanchard, in the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Griggs & Co., Printers. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. This System of Midwifery, complete in itself, was published in London, as a part of Dr. Tweedie's "_Library of Medicine_." The first series of the Library, that on "_Practical Medicine_," recently completed, has been received with extraordinary favour on both sides of the Atlantic, and the character of the publication is fully sustained in the present contribution by Dr. Rigby, and will secure for it additional patronage. The late Professor Dewees, into whose hands this volume was placed, a few weeks before his death, in returning it, expressed the most favourable opinion of its merits; and the judgment of such high authority renders it supererogatory to add a word farther of commendation. It is only necessary for the editor to say that the production of the author is so complete as to have rendered his labour a light one. He has restricted himself mainly to such additions and references as he conceived would render the work more useful to American practitioners. The object of the publication being to present the most condensed view of each subject, he believed it to be inexpedient to depart from the plan by making extensive additions, and entering into the discussion of controversial points, most of which are of minor practical importance. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION, Page 13 PART I. THE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF UTERO-GESTATION. CHAPTER I. THE PELVIS.