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A Treatise on the Art of Midwifery: Setting Forth Various Abuses Therein, Especially as to the Practice With Instruments: the Whole Serving to Put All Rational Inquirers in a Fair Way of Very Safely Forming Their Own Judgement Upon the Question; Which It Is Best to Employ, in Cases of Pregnancy and Lying-in, a Man-midwife; Or, a MidwifeNihell, Elizabeth

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A Treatise on the Art of Midwifery: Setting Forth Various Abuses Therein, Especially as to the Practice With Instruments: the Whole Serving to Put All Rational Inquirers in a Fair Way of Very Safely Forming Their Own Judgement Upon the Question; Which It Is Best to Employ, in Cases of Pregnancy and Lying-in, a Man-midwife; Or, a Midwife

Name: A Treatise on the Art of Midwifery: Setting Forth Various Abuses Therein, Especially as to the Practice With Instruments: the Whole Serving to Put All Rational Inquirers in a Fair Way of Very Safely Forming Their Own Judgement Upon the Question; Which It Is Best to Employ, in Cases of Pregnancy and Lying-in, a Man-midwife; Or, a Midwife
Author: Nihell, Elizabeth

Nihell, Elizabeth

Midwifery -- Early works to 1800; Obstetrics -- Early works to 1800

WHEN _the_ HEAD _of the fœtus presents itself foremost but sticks in
    the passage_, 289.
   _Objections to instruments more at large included under the title to
      this section_, 389.
   _Mauriceau’s_ tire-tête, 395.
   _Palfin’s_ FORCEPS,
 _with the improvements of various practitioners_, 398.
   _A waggon load of instruments insufficient, and why_, 401.
   _A curious nostrum of an instrument_, 406.
   _Mr. Freke’s ingenious invention of a_ FORCEPS _and_ CROTCHET _all in
      one_, 416.
   _Dr. Smellie’s improvement of the forceps_, 417.
   _The curve forceps of Levret_, 419.

 _Case of a_ PENDULOUS BELLY, 445.

 _Triumph of the moderns over Hippocrates and the antients in the
    invention of the forceps_, 452.
   _Inhumanity and folly of the general conspiracy against children_,
      458.

 CONCLUSION _of the_ SECOND PART, 466.




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                                   A
                                TREATISE
                                   ON
                               MIDWIFERY.


WHOEVER considers the absolute necessity of the art of midwifery, will
readily allow it a place among the capital ones in the primeval times of
the world. All the other arts are no further necessary to man, than to
procure him the conveniencies or luxuries of life; that of midwifery is
of indispensable necessity to his living at all, imploring as he does
its aid for his introduction into life. Without this art the earth
itself must soon become dispeopled and a desert, whereas by means of it
men have been multiplied, with inconceivable rapidity.

IN conformity to its claim of importance, this art appeared in all its
lustre among the Jews, the Egyptians, the Athenians and Romans, and
indeed in all nations during thousands of ages. Nor was the confinement
of the exercise of it to women deemed any derogation to it. It even gave
honor to its professors of that sex. Socrates, so ennobled by his
character of being the greatest philosopher in all antiquity, did not
disdain to boast himself the son of a very able midwife Phanarete, as
may be seen in Plato’s book on science, in Diogenes Laertius and others.

AMONG the Egyptians and the Greeks it cannot be hard to conceive what
emulation, what ardor it must have excited among the women of that
profession, the custom of distributing prizes to those of the greatest
merit in it, in the face of the people. No one is ignorant of the power
of honors and distinction to bring arts to perfection.

BUT from the instant the midwives sunk into dis-esteem, and wherever
that has happened, it will be found by woeful experience, that not only
the art itself has suffered in the very midst of the most falsely
boasted improvements, but that human-kind itself has much and very
justly to complain of the change.

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