THIS is one great Reason, why I have before inculcated, that the _MIDWIFE_ ought to be diligent and accurate in _Touching_ her Woman, even before the MEMBRANE breaks, that she may thereby discover and prevent this _Case_: Which is easily perform’d, either by _repelling_ the HANDS, or by pinching the _INFANT_ sensibly by the _Fingers_, and then it soon retracts them; for thus, in short, by moving my own _Hand_ seasonably, the HEAD (of its own accord) slips of course down into the _Passage_. But and if it happens otherways, ’tis no difficult Matter to _turn_ and bring it down, by directing my _Fingers_ beyond the FACE to the _CHILD_’s _Forehead_; which however must be done immediately after FLOODING: Whereas, if _This_ be neglected until the _dry_ WOMB is contracted, THEN, and in that _Condition_, the _FEET_ may be looked for, which (in such a _Posture_) are soon found, with the _KNEES_ next the _Belly_; and the _INFANT_ may be readily drawn out by them. But WHEN it so happens, that the _CHILD_ comes with its _KNEES foremost_, it commonly has its _LEGS_ folded towards the _BUTTOCKS_; by which means many a _MIDWIFE_ has been deceiv’d, especially when _she_ feels but one _KNEE_, mistaking it for the _HEAD_, because of its _Hardness_ and _Roundness_. IN this _preternatural Condition_, the _INFANT_ must be stopped and hindered from advancing _farther_; wherefore having placed the _Woman_ aright, I would gently repel the _KNEES_, that I may the more commodiously _unfold_ the complicated _LEGS_, one after another; which I commonly do by directing _one_ or _more Fingers_ under the HAM, gradually along behind the _LEG_, until I come to the FOOT; drawing always a little _obliquely_, that I may come the easier to its _Extremity_: And thus, in short, having disengaged the _One_, I accordingly manage the _Other_ after the same manner; and by bringing both _FEET_ at last together, I finish my _Work_, as if the _Child_ had come _FEET_ foremost, of which in course. MOREOVER again it also happens sometimes, that the _CHILD_ falls with its _BUTTOCKS forwards_; in which _preternatural Condition_, the MIDWIFE must industriously prevent it from coming _too low_ in the PASSAGE, before it be duly corrected or rectify’d; since the INFANT cannot possibly come, after this manner, into the World; unless it be very _small_, and the _PASSAGE_, on the other hand, very _large_. Wherefore in this _Case_, after the _Woman_ is decently laid upon her _Back_, with her _Head_ declining, I would advise to thrust back the _BUTTOCKS_ as well as possible; then passing up my _Hand_ along the _THIGHS_ to the _Legs_, I would take hold of the _FEET_, and bring them gently, and one by one, forth gradually; which being done, I would attract them by the _HEELS_ towards the _Side_ as far as the Length of the _BUTTOCKS_; and then at last taking good _Hold_ under the _HIPS_, I would easily and softly with the greatest _Deliberation_, draw out the whole Body successively. [Illustration]