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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.Maubray, John

Science

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.

Name: 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.
Author: Maubray, John

Maubray, John

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

THE LABIA dilate: the ORIFICE swells: the NYMPHÆ give way: the CLITORIS
(of exquisite Sensibility) erects: The GLANDS (by a _Protuberancy_ of
the Parts) yield their _succous Contents_: The VAGINA draws close: The
_Fibres_ of the WOMB complicate to open its _Orifice_: The _Branches_ of
the _Spermatick_ ARTERY contract to draw the Extremities of the _Tubes_
to the _OVARIA_, as they carry the SEED to them: The SEED circulating in
the _Veins_, which open in the _Cavity_ of the _VAGINA_ and _MATRIX_, it
ferments immediately with the _Mass of Blood_: This _Fermentation_
swells the _Membranes_ of the TUBES, opens the _Cavity_ of the WOMB, and
disposes _All_ perfectly for the right Reception of the _impregnated_
EGG.

FROM hence we may plainly see, in what a miraculous _Order_ and
_Manner_, all _These Parts_ minister, and are subservient unto that (yet
more) admirable and wonderful _Body_ the WOMB. Which being thus in brief
_anatomically_ described, I come next in Course to




[Illustration]




                               CHAP. VI.
                 _Of the Internal Parts of GENERATION._


IN discoursing of _These_, I shall begin with the chief _Part_, to which
the rest are but _Subservients_.

_FIRST_ then, the _MATRIX_ or _Womb_, is situated in the upper Part of
the Cavity of the _PELVIS_, or _Bason_, between the _Bladder_ and
_Streight Gut_. It is placed there in the Middle of the _HYPOGASTRIUM_,
for the Convenience of COPULATION, and the more easy and ready
_Extrusion_ of the INFANT.

_SECONDLY_, The _Bones_ of the _PELVIS_ (as described hereafter below)
stand as a _Rampart_, fencing it against all external _Injuries_; That
is to say, the _OS PUBIS_ protects it _before_; the _SACRUM behind_; and
the _ILIUM_ on _each Side_: Like as the _BLADDER_ and _RECTUM_ on the
other Hand defend this Noble _Part_ again from the _Rigidity_ of these
BONES.

_THIRDLY_, the _Figure_ of the WOMB, from its internal _Orifice_ to its
Bottom, in a _Natural State_, resembles a large compress’d _PEAR_. Its
_Length_ is about three Inches; its _Breadth_ two in the _Hinder_, and
one in the _Fore-Part_; its _Thickness_ half an Inch large: But I take
the _Dimensions_ of it, in general, to differ accord-to the _Age_ and
_Constitution_ of the BODY.

IN _MAIDS_ however its _Cavity_ is much _less_, and can scarcely contain
the Bigness of a BEAN: whereas in _Women with Child_, the _Dimensions_
and _Figure_, as well as the _Cavity_ itself differs, according to the
different _Times_ of _GESTATION_.

AS I have said before, its _Anterior Part_ coheres _above_ with the
_BLADDER_, _below_ with the _RECTUM_; the _Hinder Part_ being free: But
the _lateral Parts_ are tied by _Four Ligaments_ of different Sorts;
whereof _Two_ are placed _Above_, and _Two Below_; the _Superiors_ are
called LIGAMENTA LATA, or broad; the _Inferiors_ ROTUNDA, or round
_Ligaments_.

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