WHEREAS, on the contrary, when the _Orifice_ is found by Experience _higher_, _little_ or not at all _open_; _sharp_, _hard_, and _thick_, with the _Humours_ pressed up length-ways: _Then_ the _Case_ is quite revers’d, and the _MIDWIFE_, if she _understands_ her Business, must resolve to _sweat at her Work_. NOW the Reason of such _Difficult_ BIRTHS commonly proceeds, either from the _wrong Situation_ of the INFANT, or _That_ of the WOMB; the _latter_ of which always occasions the greater _Difficulty_, especially when it is accidentally join’d with the _First_, to a vast Degree of _Aggravation_: Of which, as follows of course. FIFTHLY, Another _Advantage_ of the _TOUCH_, is the truly Knowing whether the INFANT be in a _Natural_, or _Preternatural Posture_. For the _MIDWIFE_ finding the _Orifice_ of the WOMB so _open_, that it admits one or two _Fingers_, she may distinctly feel the _Chin_ of the INFANT in a _Natural Position_, lying forwards on its _Breast_, and the _Neck_ in the _Middle_ of the _Orifice_, or streight _Before_ it; so that the _Head_ being foremost and lowest within the Borders of the _Orifice_, the _Fingers_ cannot pass any _Farther_. HOWEVER, supposing the _Clunes_, _Knee_, or _Elbow_, to present themselves _First_ in the _ORIFICE_; It is true, they have their _Roundness_, but then they are easily distinguished from the _Head_: For the _Globular Part_ of it is much _broader_ and _smoother_, than either _Knee_ or _Elbow_, and _harder_ than the _Buttocks_; which _Fleshy Part_ is soon distinguished from the _Bones_, or the _soft Membrane_ betwixt the _Bones_ of the HEAD. BUT as a capable _MIDWIFE_ can hereby distinguish all _These_ with Facility, even before the _Waters_ begin to flow; so I need not mention the _Hands_, which distinguish themselves by the _Fingers_, as the _Feet_ do, by the _Toes_ or _Heels_; and the _Navel-string_ discovers itself by its _Softness_, _Thinness_, and _Roundness_: All which, however yet, are more easily known when the _Membrane_ is broke, and the _Waters_ have actually flown. For the _Parts_, which were before covered with this _Membrane_, lie now naked in the _ORIFICE_: Hence it often unluckily happens, that _few MIDWIVES_ make an exact _Scrutiny_, about the _Situation_ of the INFANT, till this Time of FLOODING; erroneously thinking they are then _soon_ enough, which is an unaccountable Mistake; as will hereafter abundantly appear. SIXTHLY, It is perfectly known by the TOUCH, whether the WOMB be in a _Natural_ or _Preternatural Posture_, as is plainly taught more at large in the foregoing _Chapter_. FINALLY, in short, we most assuredly know by the TOUCH, what is proper to be done in all _Preternatural Cases_, upon giving _Assistance_ both to the MOTHER and INFANT; as hereafter will fully appear by a more copious _Dissertation_ to that Purpose. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAP. XVI. _Of the Genuine and Spurious LABOUR-PAINS._