HENCE we clearly see, how easily _Ignorance_ in this Point, may lead common MIDWIVES into the grossest of _Mistakes_; For what is more ordinary with them, even in all _Cases_, than to advise the WOMAN to _strong Labour_, and to force her to _violent Depressions_: Insomuch that SOME have _Arrogance_ enough to carry their BOTTLES or POWDERS about them, of which they neither know the _Quality_ nor _Virtue_; taking them only as they are told (by the confident QUACKS or _Mercenary Hands_ which vend them) that they may encrease and promote the PAINS of Labour, and _This_ without having any regard to the _Form_ of the PELVIS, or the _Position_ of either the _WOMB_, or the _INFANT_. IN short, the mature _Consideration_ of this very CASE, was not the least _Motive_ which induced me to the WORK in Hand; since I cannot but heartily commiserate so many fine delicate WOMEN, as are _thus_ every day miserably handled, tormented, and exhausted, by the _preposterous Management_ of such indiscreet and imprudent _MIDWIVES_. I may well say _exhausted_, or _worn-out_; _This_ being too evident, from the vast Number of most beautiful _Women_, who, by this ill-manag’d _Condition_, (notwithstanding they have all along heretofore, enjoy’d a good State of _Health_, together with the _Affluence_ of other Worldly _Blessings_) have been more dejected and broken both in _Complexion_ and _Constitution_, after _one_ or _two BIRTHS_, than some _others_ (judiciously and expertly _delivered_) have been after _Twenty_: Such is the great _Difference_ betwixt the unskilful _Hands_ or _Conduct_ of common MIDWIVES, and those Dextrous TOUCHES or ingenious _Operations_ of the more judicious _Andro-Boethogynists_. Whence I come in Course to—— [Illustration] CHAP. IX. _Of Difficult BIRTHS, proceeding from Causes of the Bones of the PELVIS._ THE READER may easily conceive, by the way, that _these_ are neither to be made _bigger_ or _lesser_ by ART; notwithstanding which, by using them _Skilfully_, and treating them _Judiciously_, many a _Difficult BIRTH_ may not only be prevented, but also many a LIFE saved, as will manifestly appear from what follows. NOW the _Bones_, upon which the Success of the _BIRTH_ chiefly depends, are the OS COCCYGIS, and the Point of the SACRUM; which sometimes bend too much _inwards_, and thereby obstruct and render the PASSAGE so _narrow_, that no _BIRTH_ can possibly succeed. And again, It sometimes happens, that the _INFANT_ falling down into the _PELVIS_, and presenting itself _Head foremost_, is oppos’d and stopped there by the OS COCCYGIS: As it also sometimes falls out, that the _Shoulders_ stick fast against the _Edge_ of these BONES; or the _Buttocks_ falling down and offering themselves _first_, may be so fastened or affixed to them, that they can never be _extracted_.