The Province of Midwives in the Practice of their Art, by William Clark, M. D. 1698–ca. 1780. THE PROVINCE OF MIDWIVES IN THE Practice of their ART: Instructing them in the timely Knowledge of such _Difficulties_ as require the Assistance of MEN, For the Preservation of MOTHER and CHILD. Very necessary for the Perusal of ALL the SEX interested in the Subject, And interspersed with some _New_ and _Useful_ OBSERVATIONS. _By_ WILLIAM CLARK, _M. D._ _And of the_ College _of_ PHYSICIANS. _Molliter Aufer Onus._ OVID. FASTI. Printed for _William Frederick_, in BATH; and sold by _M. Cooper_, in _Pater-Noster-Row_, LONDON. MDCCLI. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER. _The following small Tract will appear contemptible to those who judge of the Worth of Books by their Bulk; but the Author believes such as are practis’d in Midwifry will acknowledge both the Want and Usefulness of an Essay of this Kind._ _The Division of the Chapters, naturally arising from the various Circumstances which are treated of, will rather assist than burden the Memory, and admit of a ready Recourse to the short Instructions, in the Knowledge and Practice_ absolutely necessary, _given under each Head._ _The Reader will the more readily excuse any Defect in the Stile, when he considers_ _the Necessity of a strict Expression on the Subject and the Difficulty a Man lies under, who writes not to the learned and experienced, but chiefly for the Sake of Persons ignorant in Anatomy and Philosophy, on a Subject which for the most Part excludes Information by Sight._ _On such a Subject it will not be imagined Vanity or Applause can incline a Man to write a Pamphlet, rather than a Volume; when the Author is not conscious of having omitted the Instruction to be found in any Book extant, within the Limits of his Design; and hopes Experience will teach its Value both to Midwives and Matrons; and that the Perusal will not at all injure, if it does not improve, the most knowing and experienced._ * * * * * The READER is desir’d to correct the following ERRORS with the Pen. Page 9, Line 16, _read_ Pains about the Back, Navel, _&c._—P. 33, l. 12. omit the Period after the Word Pain; and make a Semicolon, instead of the Comma, after touch’d it. CHAPTER I. _The_ DESIGN. The Case of _Child-bearing_ Women is very lamentable, in the Country especially, by Reason of the Ignorance and Unskilfulness of _Midwives_; for by their Negligence and perverse Management, many Mothers and Children are destroyed, to the great Misfortune of particular Families, as well as of the _Publick_, at a Time when it suffers by the Loss of useful Hands, from too many other Causes. It were therefore to be wished, that all Midwives were so far appris’d of their Duty, as to be able to distinguish between Cases within their Abilities, and such Difficulties as may occasion the Loss of the Mother, or Child, or both, for Want of necessary Assistance.