NOW I doubt not but some People will think this a _strange helpless Posture_; but as strange as it is, it is certainly the most _effectual_, and the _absolute best One_, which can be devis’d for the _Woman_’s desir’d _Relief_ in this desperate _Condition_: For by the Help and Means of it, the WOMB is carried down into the _lowest Part of the Belly_, through its own _Weight_ only; and consequently releases itself out of the foremention’d _crooked_ SINUS; which that it may the sooner and more commodiously do, I put my _Fingers_ into the _VAGINA_ behind, betwixt the RECTUM and the HEAD of the _Infant_, where I press down the WOMB, till the _Orifice_ is so far _forced back_, that there is _Room_ enough to hold it up, in order that it may not relapse; and also that there may be _Room_ for the HEAD to be depressed into, and open the _Orifice_. Thus the WOMB and the _CHILD_ being at last _forced so far back_, by an expert _Hand_, the _BIRTH_ may be successfully perfected by the above-prescrib’d _Means_ and _Method_; provided always that the _Woman_ has sufficient _Strength_ and _PAINS_ to carry her through the fatiguing _Tryal_. BUT we will how suppose, for better Instruction-sake, her _Strength_ to be quite spent, and the _PAINS_ to be deficient; in this CASE the happy _Issue_ of the _BIRTH_ is most dubious; but however, then I place the _Woman_ again as before, and depress the WOMB as much as I can, until I reduce the _Orifice_ farther up into the _larger Space_ of the _PELVIS_, that I may the more conveniently _open_ it by the Help of an _inward Hand_; and by _that_ also moving aside the _Child_’s HEAD, I then seek for, until I find, the FEET; which, upon the INFANT’s being right turn’d, with its TOES _downwards_ towards the _Mother_’s RECTUM, I bring into the _Passage_. Now the FEET being thus in the _Passage_, the _Woman_ needs not lie any longer in the abovesaid _Posture_; but, turning herself, may now lie with her FACE _upwards_: When I also give her previous _Notice_ to prepare herself to _depress_ vigorously; I mean as much as she can possibly, when occasion requires. IN the Interim, holding the FEET all the while with my _internal Hand_, I attract them gently _outwards_, until the BUTTOCKS and the BELLY are excluded: Then taking fast hold of the _CHILD_ by _one Hand_ under the BELLY, and the _other_ upon its BACK; I advise the good _Woman_, in _Case_ she feels no _PAIN_, to behave herself as if the _PAINS_ were most pressing upon _Her_, and to contribute by _forcing downwards_ what lies in her Power; whilst I continually _attract_, and gently _draw_ the INFANT towards me, until by this discreet _Management_ the HEAD is totally excluded, together with the ARMS into the World. And _thus_ at length the _Distressed Woman_ may be happily delivered in all these different _Cases_, and difficult _Conditions_ of Life. Whence I come to—— [Illustration] [Illustration]