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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

A THIRD _External Cause_ of a _difficult BIRTH_ may proceed from a
_wrong Position_, or other _sinistrous Methods_ taken to assist the
WOMAN: In which _Case_, such _Inconveniencies_ are to be alter’d, and
better _Measures_ practis’d; for _thus_ the _Cause_ being removed, the
_BIRTH_ differs in Nothing from _That_ of the _Natural Easy Case_.

WHENCE I come, in the next Place, to speak of _Difficult BIRTHS_,
proceeding from _Internal Causes_; and because they are _Three-fold_, as
has been before observed, I shall assign them as many respective
_Chapters_, treating of _Each_ in their due Order, as mentioned.




[Illustration]




                                CHAP. V.
      _Of Difficult BIRTHS, proceeding from Causes of the MOTHER._


IN _this_ (as in the _former Case_) the MIDWIFE must use her most acute
and nicest _Judgment_, to find out the particular _Cause_ of the
_Difficulty_. Which being done,

I. IF _She_ finds it arises from the WOMAN’s being too _Young_, or too
_Old_, of her _first Child_, or too _Lean_ at last; _she_ is to anoint
the _Passages_ with proper _Unguents_, which ought to be done some time
_before_, as well as in the _Hour_ of _LABOUR_: When _she_ is likewise
to employ her _subtile Hand_, in assisting and augmenting the
_Dilatation_ of the _Orifice_; as is requisite also in _Case_ of the
WOMAN being too _Fat_ or _Gross_.

II. IF the WOMAN be too _small_, _short_, _crooked_, or _misshaped_, not
having a _Breast_ strong enough to forward and bear down her _PAINS_; or
if she be over _tender_, _sensible_, and _apprehensive_ of _PAIN_; or
too _weak_, and not _able_ to contribute or assist by her own forcing
_Endeavours_; or _short-winded_, and not capable to constrain her
_Spirits_ downwards: In all these _Cases_ she is to be kept _upright_,
for the more free _Respiration_, as well as for encreasing her _PAINS_,
_standing_ or _walking_ about the Room, according to her _Strength_,
being supported under her _Arms_, and not put to BED until at least the
_WATERS_ are broke. But, in the mean Time, the _weak_ and _tender_ WOMAN
ought to be now and then comforted and refreshed with _fresh soft Eggs_,
good _Broths_, _Jellies_, a little _Wine_ and _Toast_, a little _Wine_
and _Water_, or such like convenient _Things_, as well as with the
_Hopes_ of a _speedy_ DELIVERY.

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