THE FEMALE PHYSICIAN, Containing all the DISEASES incident to that SEX, IN _Virgins_, _Wives_, and _Widows_; TOGETHER With their _Causes_ and _Symptoms_, their _Degrees_ of DANGER, and respective _Methods_ of PREVENTION and CURE: To which is added, The Whole ART of _New improv’d_ MIDWIFERY; COMPREHENDING The necessary _Qualifications_ of a MIDWIFE, and particular _Directions_ for _laying Women_, in all _Cases_ of _Difficult_ and _Preternatural_ BIRTHS; together with the _Diet_ and _Regimen_ of both the MOTHER and CHILD. _By_ JOHN MAUBRAY, _M. D._ —— ——_Opiferq; per Orbem Dicor_,—— Ovid. Met. _LONDON_: Printed for JAMES HOLLAND, at the _Bible_ and _Ball_, in St. _Paul’s-Church-Yard_. 1724. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration] _To all Learned and Judicious_ Professors _of_ PHYSICK, _as well as Ingenuous and Experienced_ Practisers _of_ MIDWIFERY. _Most Excellent_ SOCIETIES, I Have generally observ’d, that _Men_ address their WORKS to improper Hands; _some_ aim at _Personages_ too great, to regard them; _others_ stoop to _Men_ too unlearned, to defend them: _Some_ again make their _Court_ and apply to Persons in Vogue or in Place, and _others_ cringe and creep after _Purse-proud Patrons_: But as I pursue not the common Designs of DEDICATORS, so I have studied no subterfuges of _Flattery_, nor Flourishes of _Panegyrick_ in this DEDICATION. I know, that, whatever my _Performance_ may prove, a _substantial_ WORK will stand securely upon its own Bottom, and make its way into the World, without any _secondary Helps_; whereas a slight _Defective Piece_ will fall and be quash’d, tho’ it should even _strut_ with MAJESTY itself in its glaring _Front_. Had I then presum’d upon any particular VOUCHER for the FEMALE PHYSICIAN, it would have look’d like acknowledging _Guilt_ and seeking for _Defence_; Because _You_, and none else, are the _competent Judges_ in Affairs of this Nature: GOD having entrusted _you_ only with the _Lives_ of Men; and _you_ (under HIM) being the Sole _Preservers_ of LIFE and the great _Distributers_ of HEALTH, I have thought it my _Duty_ to make this solemn Application to _your August Societies_ in general; and in this manner to render you some small _Account_ of the _TALENT_, which some of your selves have entrusted me with for _Improvement_.