Aristotle's works:: Containing the Master-piece, Directions for Midwives, and Counsel and Advice to Child-bearing Women with Various Useful Remedies
Aristotle · en
As soon as the midwife hath in this manner drawn forth the child, let
her put it on one side, lest the blood and water which follow
immediately, should do it an injury, by running into its mouth and nose,
as they would do if it lay on its back, and so endanger the choaking of
it. The child being thus born, the next thing requisite is, to bring
away the after-burden: but before that, let the midwife be very careful
to examine whether there be more children in the womb; for sometimes a
woman may have twins that expected it not; which the midwife may easily
know, by the continuance of the pains after the child is born, and the
bigness of the mother’s abdomen. But the midwife may be sure of it, if
she puts her hand up the entry of the womb, and finds there another
watery gathering, and a child in it presenting to the passage; and if
she finds it so, she must have a care of going to fetch the after-birth,
till the woman be delivered of all the children she is pregnant with.
Wherefore the first string must be cut, being first tied with a thread
three or four double, and fasten the other end with a string to the
woman’s thighs; and then removing the child already born, she must take
care to deliver her of the rest, observing all the circumstances as with
the first; after which it will be necessary to fetch away the
after-birth or births. But of that I shall treat in another section; and
first show what is to be done to the new-born infant.
SECT. II. _Of the Cutting of the Child’s Navel-String._
Though this is accounted by many but a trifle, yet great care is to be
taken about it; and it shows none of the least art and skill of a
midwife to do it as it should be; and that it may be so done, the
midwife ought to observe, 1. The time. 2. The place. 3. The manner. 4.
The event.