THUS by seasonably lending NATURE an artificial _helping Hand_, BOTH _jointly_ may easily effect, what _neither_ can do _separately_: For as it sometimes happens, that the _MIDWIFE_ ought to _cease_, while she perceives (by the PAINS) that _Nature_ is a working, and therefore ought to _work_ only when the _PAINS_ are past; so it also falls out often, upon other Occasions, that _she_ is to _work_ along with the _PAINS_, and when those are _past_, to _cease_. And thus, in fine, according to different _Circumstances_, the discreet _MIDWIFE_ knows always the NEEDFULL, _what’s to be done_, or _let alone_. BUT in this Place, I doubt not, many _MIDWIVES_ will object, and say, How is it possible for _Us_ to perceive the _PAINS_ coming on before the parturient _Woman herself_? To which I ingenuously _answer_, that _This_ also is one of the many Advantages of the TOUCH; since by _That_, I can presently feel a kind of _subtile Motion_, _Contraction_, or _Compression_ beginning in the _Orifice_ of the WOMB; which is only observable as the _Muscles_ are affected with a _New Sense_, excited by a _New Influx_ of the SPIRITS; occasioning a _New Force_ or _Impression_ upon the WOMB, which we commonly call a PANG: So that, in short, by distinguishing _this Motion_ from _others_, I am always able to foretell or advise the _Woman_ of what is a-coming, and to admonish her accordingly of her bounden DUTY, as the _Case_ requires. MATTERS now being fairly brought thus far, that the _Orifice_ and the HEAD begin to slide down into the _PELVIS_; the _MIDWIFE_ is at this Time to study how to succour and assist the _CHILD_, by rendring its _Passage_ easy. In order to which, _she_ must first observe to raise the _upper Part_ of the Woman’s Body a little, and give her some short _Respite_, before she offers to bring the _Orifice_ into the _PELVIS_; because the _Posture_ above-directed, occasions considerable _Pain_ as well as great Inconveniency: Which being done, the _Woman_ for the future is to _sympathize_ with every _PAIN_, and _Labour_ as much as possible, co-operating mutually with them; since now the PAINS (by the Assistance of the HEAD) begin to open the _Orifice_, and gradually force the INFANT forward to its _Birth_. HOWEVER yet the _MIDWIFE_ ought in this _Case_, to be very careful in sustaining, and nice in keeping up the _Orifice_ of the _Womb_, lest it should _fall down_ together with the _Vertex_ or _Crown_ of the _HEAD_ into the _Sinus Sacri_; which is a _Point_ so curious and critical, tho’ an _Accident_ too common, that I dare well say, not one in _Fifty Practitioners_ in _MIDWIFERY_ understands it thoroughly; otherways I am confident, and morally certain, that many _fine Women_ would have been _living Monuments_ of their _Ingenuity_, who are at this day only the _Dead Remains_ of their _Ignorance_.