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.
Maubray, John
Midwifery -- Early works to 1800; Obstetrics -- Early works to 1800
BUT upon _This_ here it must be carefully observ’d by the way, that I
would pass my _Hand_ close up along the _INFANT’s Body_ from the
_Orifice_ to the _Fund_ of the WOMB, or to the FEET, that it may not
come between the _SECUNDINE_ and the WOMB, but betwixt the _MEMBRANE_
and the _CHILD_: By this _Method_ I shall neither hurt the WOMB, nor the
_INFANT_; but the _HAND_ distinguishing clearly all the _Parts_ of the
_CHILD_, I cannot miss finding the _Feet_ with the greatest Certainty.
Tho’ I must acknowledge by the By, this to be the _Work_ of a very
strong and agile _HAND_, as well as of a sound and ready _Judgment_;
because of the immense _Labour_ and Difficulty, first in opening the
_narrow ORIFICE_, and then in penetrating through it to the _Bottom_ of
the WOMB, as the _INFANT_ obstructs the Way: not to mention the great
_Inconveniencies_ also besides, which arise from the _Turnings_ and
_Windings_, as well as from the _Length_ and _Constriction_ of the
_Passage_. However yet——
THUS having found _one_ or _both FEET_, I would draw them down _both
together_, if possible, always turning the _TOES_ towards the _FACE_.
Whereas if only _ONE_ can be found to be conveniently _attracted_, as it
often happens, I make it fast by a running _Knot on a broad Ribband_, or
by a certain _Bandage_, called _MITRA_, or with a soft _Linnen Rag_
about four Inches broad; which I _twist_ together, and hold in the _Hand
without the Body_, as I pass the _other_ up along this _LEG_, duly
observing whether it is the _Right_ or the _Left_, that I may know which
of my _HANDS_ will most commodiously find out the _other LEG_; and that
_HAND_ having reached the _CHILD’s Belly_ or _Buttocks_, I slide it
along the _THIGH_ to the other _LEG_: So that the _FOOT_ being thus
found, I bring it also down into the _PASSAGE_, according to the
_POSTURE_ of the _INFANT_.
BOTH _FEET_ being now thus _brought down_, if they chance to be
_ill-turned_, that is, with _TOES_ up and _HEELS downwards_, I
discreetly _turn_ the _CHILD_, whilst I gradually draw forth the _FEET_.
_These_, together with the _BELLY_, being fairly excluded, I hold the
_FEET_ with _one Hand_, whilst I put the _other_ under the _BELLY_ and
_BREAST_, as far as possible: Or, resting the _FEET_ in my _Lap_, with
_one Hand_ above, and _another_ below, I take good hold of the _BODY_,
attracting it gently. Upon this I advise and encourage my _Woman_ now to
_labour_ her best, and that whether she feels any _PAINS_ or not, since
they are now no longer to be waited for with the Impatience of a happy
_Delivery_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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