The danger and immodesty of the present too general custom of unnecessarily employing men-midwives / Being the letters which lately appeared under the signature of a man-midwife. With an introduction, a treatise on the milk, and an appendix.

THE DANGER and IMMODESTY OF The Present too general Custom of UNNECESSARILY EMPLOYING MEN-MIDWIVES.
BEING The Letters which lately appeared under the Signature of A MAN-MIDWIFE.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION, A TREATISE on the MILK, AND AN APPENDIX.
WITH CORRECTIONS By the AUTHOR.
LONDON: Printed for J. Wilkie, No. 71, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard; and F. Blyth, John’s Coffee-House, Cornhill. MDCCLXXII.

To the PUBLIC.
I have very long been convinced of the many dangerous Consequences which attend the depraved Custom of employing Men-midwives unnecessarily—and have been for some Years intending from Month to Month to write my Ideas on that Subject, in order to combat the very destructive Practice, and endeavour to awaken the slumbering good Sense of the Nation. But when I reflected on the great Difficulty of conquering Prejudice—considered how generally the Opinion had been adopted that “Men were the most proper Attendants on the Labours of Women,” I confess the Task appeared too arduous—and I was discouraged.
I knew, that no Arguments, even if an Angel was to descend from Heaven to utter them , could persuade the Ladies to be satisfied with Midwives of their own Sex, after the fine Polish had been once RUB’D OFF which modesty ought to have work’d up to such a bright Pitch of high finish’d Excellence, as not to have been capable of admitting the impure stain within the glossy smoothness of its beautiful enamel!—I knew, that, assisted by the greatest Part of the Faculty (whose interest, as well as pleasure would be at stake) they would leave no means untried—they would call in every fallacious art to their aid, to continue the deception , by ridiculing Arguments which they could not confute —and that un married Ladies, through an Opinion of the Virtue of their Friends , and swayed, and kept in Countenance , by the prevalent Custom of the Times, would naturally fall into the Stream , and not be undeceived until too far hurried by the Current to be afterwards able to recede.—On the other Hand, I likewise knew that our young Men of Fashion had long ago resolved to bid Adieu to thinking . Leaving that troublesome Employment to others , they were intent on pursuing the far nobler Gratifications of Sense —endeavouring to bury in a round of trifling Dissipations, every Sentiment meriting the Attention of reasonable Beings that an Attempt to work on such Minds would be Absurdity in the extreme,—for, that, even if they were convinced of the two uncontrovertable Truths I wish to establish, by being satisfied that Men were not so safe as Women, and that Men-midwives polluted the Minds of their Wives, and rendered them easy Preys to Seduction, yet these Sentiments would have had no Weight with them , because they married without Love, Religion, Principle— the only Ingredients capable of forming national Happiness. Impure in their Souls, debauch’d in their Persons , Libertinism opened the only Avenue which could present them with a Prospect of Enjoyments adapted to their Sensations— their Joys were independent of their Wive’s Society—their Healths consequently were only politely wish’d for—and they would of course readily risk their Wive’s Purity being contaminated, rather than be disappointed in the Pleasure of seducing the Wives of their acquaintance , through the preparatory Assistance of the Men -midwives. The Happiness of our gay young Men not being centered within the narrow Circle of Home, the Virtue of their Wives is not in the least essential, has no Weight, when ballanced with the Advantages they derive from the too general Prostitution of the Sex. They extract Balm from the Vices of Other Women, which has sovereign Efficacy in healing any Wounds— alleviating any smarts, which they may receive, or feel, from the infidelity of their own Wives—whom they never treated as their rational Companions , whose Affections they were desirous of fixing irremoveably,—but as necessary Beings to do the Honours of their Tables—furnish Heirs—and save their Estates from being encumbered with the Payment of the Fortunes of their younger Brothers and Sisters. The only View on one side, is Money —on the other , Quality — each having attain’d the only Object they aim’d at in Marriage ,—each, without any fundamental Principle of Goodness, to restrain their Pursuits within the Bounds of Virtue, they throw off the Mask of Decency—and riot in Vice!—Our young Men think the Scriptures fit only to impose on Weakness. The Injunctions of the Gospel interfere with their Enjoyments—and having never believed it’s sacred Truths—or endeavoured to follow it’s amiable Precepts, they never experienced the serene Tranquillity arising from the delightful Possession of an approving Conscience. At the best, forgetful even of the Existence of a God—and laughing at the idle supposition of a future state, they give the Reins without Controul to all their Appetites and Passions—check’d by nothing but what they term honour . But their Honour is comprised, in— punishing the Man with murder who dares to doubt their veracity, or fail in Respect to their Dignity—and in paying their Debts to sharpers , instead of rewarding the Industry of their Tradesmen, by giving them— their own Property . Their Honour does not restrain them from defiling the Beds of their Friends — breaking Promises to worthy Dependants —or betraying the Interests and Honour of their Country for base Wages of Iniquity , though committed with Confidence to their Charge, yet sacrificed without Remorse, for their private Emolument. Their Honour enforces no single Virtue !—away with such honour!