V. CAN they possibly secure the _Woman_, that her _WOMB_ is _duly shut and contracted_; much less can they (without these _Means_) affirm that it is orderly _situated_ in its _proper natural_ CENTER: By the Neglect or Fault of which _Condition_, she is not only rendred _Barren_ afterwards, but also most infirm all the Days of her _Life_. BUT notwithstanding how _plain_ and _easy_ soever, I have endeavour’d to make out the above-mention’d METHOD, I would over and above recommend _It_ only to the _judicious_ and _well-qualify’d MIDWIFE_; by no Means to those that are _ignorant_ in the _Parts_ of _GENERATION_, nor to any _stiff clumsy-fisted Person_: And that for the _Two following Reasons_; viz. I. LEST the STRING (by some _Accident_ or other) should break, and she, missing this _Guide_ to the _SECUNDINE_, should take _One Part_ for _Another_, and consequently _dislodge_ the WOMB instead of the AFTER-BIRTH; which has undoubtedly often happen’d by such blind DOINGS, notwithstanding this very remarkable _Difference_ between _Them_, that the _SECUNDINE_ distinguishes itself from the _Other_, by a great many little _Inequalities_ on the Outside, occasion’d by the ROOTS of the _Umbilical Vessels_. And, II. LEST _she_ should unwarily either _break_, _tear_, or _scratch_ the WOMB, with her _thick_, _fleshy_, _rough_, and _rigid_ HAND, or with her _stiff_ and _crooked_ FINGERS: _Either_ of which _Accidents_, may give ORIGIN to various _Misfortunes_; such as a PROLAPSUS, or _Falling-down_, a _preternatural Flooding_, an _Inflammation_, or _Gangrene_, &c. BUT we will now, in fine, suppose that the _Ingenuous MIDWIFE_ has after All discharged her faithful _Duty_ in these Respects, with _Care_, _Lenity_, and good _Conduct_, as well as with great _Art_ and _Judgment_: In which _Case_, it only remains, that _she_ take the necessary and usual _Care_ of the CHILD-BED-WOMAN and INFANT; as hereafter will be directed in the respective _Chapters_ of _SECTION_ VIth, to come. IN the mean Time, these curious _Things_ being thus amply premised in this Place, the READER has no more superfluous _Repetitions_ to expect concerning _them_ in the following _Performance_: And therefore with these _Preliminaries_ I conclude my _Fourth SECTION_. [Illustration] [Illustration] SECT. V. [Illustration] CHAP. I. _Of BIRTH._ MAN’s appointed Time may as reasonably allude to his _BIRTH_, as to his _DEATH_: His _Days_ and his _Months_ (mentioned by holy JOB[158]) being as much determin’d, _naturally_ speaking, in the _One_, as in the _other Case_.