V. SHE ought to be _Patient_ and _Pleasant_; _Soft_, _Meek_, and _Mild_ in her _Temper_, in order to encourage and comfort the _labouring Woman_. SHE should pass by and forgive her small _Failings_, and peevish _Faults_, instructing her gently when she _does_ or says _amiss_: But if she will not follow _Advice_, and Necessity require, the MIDWIFE ought to reprimand and put her smartly in mind of her _Duty_; yet always in such a manner, however, as to encourage her with the _Hopes_ of a happy and speedy DELIVERY. VI. IN like manner as she ought to be _Modest_, _Temperate_, and _Sober_, so she ought to be _Faithful_ and _Silent_; always upon her _Guard_ to conceal those Things, which ought not to be spoken of. THESE, in fine, are the chief of the natural _Qualities_ requisite for _MIDWIFERY_; from whence I come to the _Theoretical_ and _Practical Part_, without which all _Others_ are (in effect) Nothing to the Purpose. [Illustration] CHAP. III. _Of the THEORETICAL and PRACTICAL Knowledge of the MIDWIFE._ SHE, who finds herself thus (properly) adapted both in _Body_ and _Mind_, according to the _Rules_ of the preceding _Chapter_, does a Good and Laudable Work, if she also studies to _qualify_ herself well, _first_ in the _THEORY_, and then in the _PRACTICE_ of _Midwifery_. WHICH, in order that she may most easily and accurately do, I shall reduce the whole _Theoretical Part_ (absolutely necessary) to the following _Seven general Heads_; of Which she ought not only to have a general and superficial, but also a distinct, special, and perfect _Knowledge_; viz. I. OF the _external_ and _internal Parts_ of Generation, and the _adjacent Parts_; together with a competent Skill of the respective _Substance_ and _Nature_, _Connexion_ and _Function_ of each of _These_ in the Time of _BIRTH_. II. OF the PELVIS, or _Bason_, and its _Contents_; together with the true Knowledge of its _Bones_, their _Form_ or _Figure_, _Office_ and _Connexion_, &c. upon that Occasion. III. OF that Wonderful _Body_, the MATRIX, and its _Vagina_ or _Neck_; together with the understanding of its _Substance_ and _Structure_, _Duty_ and _Function_ in Time of LABOUR. IV. OF the Strange Natural _Qualities_, and amazing singular _Faculties_ of This _Body_, in distinguishing all its peculiar _Properties_. V. OF the TOUCH, or _Handling_ the _Woman_; together with knowing its many various _Uses_, and manifold distinct _Advantages_. VI. OF the _Genuine_, and _Real_; as well as of the _Spurious_ or _Bastard-Labour-Pains_: How they differ in themselves, and are to be carefully distinguished. VII. OF the _Method_ of LAYING the _Woman_, and _Manner_ of extracting the AFTER-BIRTH; together with all the _heterogeneous_ and _preternatural Contents_ of the WOMB.