[26]. “Si on s’arrêtoit au précepte général, le forceps seroit un instrument de pure spéculation et non de pratique.” Lev. p. 161.
[27]. The term imaginary is here far from an unjust one, and why should not the honor of a deliverance, effectuated by Nature, be as well given to a being of flesh and blood as to a stone? The virtue of the ætites, or Eagle-stone, has currently passed for abridging the pains of labor, and accelerating parturition. A French consul in Egypt, ordered one of those stones to be tied to his wife’s thigh, who was in a lingering labor. The stone in this case, more innocent than probably a man-midwife would have been, who would have used means to hurry the birth, or perhaps have gone to work with his forceps at least, suffered Nature quietly to go her own pace. What was the consequence? The lady was soon after happily delivered, which there is no doubt but she would equally have been if a brick-bat had been tied to her thigh. But Nature lost the thanks so justly due to her: the stone ran away with all her merit; and this case was added to the catalogue of the miraculous operations of the stone. In how many cases might it be said, that the stone here represents the man-midwife, if to the stone it was not so much more innocent and less dangerous to have a recourse?
[28]. See La Motte, p. 646, of the quarto edition, Leyden.
[29]. See La Motte, p. 262. lib. v. chap. 2.
[30]. If these best operators had been examined touching their opinion of midwives; they would most probably have told you, they were a parcel of poor insignificant ignorant creatures.
[31]. Dr. Smellie seems to countenance this practice, where he says, p. 232. “We have already observed, (p. 229) that if there is no danger from a flooding, the woman may be allowed to rest a little, in order to recover from the fatigue she has undergone, and that the uterus may in contracting have time to squeeze and separate the placenta from its inner surface.”
[32]. It is but fair to observe, that M. De la Motte, (Obs. 248) instances, from Peu, two patients perishing by the midwife’s trusting to the pure actings of Nature in this very case.
[33]. Dyonis in his Treatise, book III. ch. 12. Mauriceau, book II. chap. 14.
[34]. This instrument was once as much in vogue, as can be supposed of a time, when instruments were not so common as they are now. But how much torture in vain must it have given before it was discovered, that “so far from answering the supposed intention of it, namely, to extend the bones of the Pelvis; it can serve no other purpose than that of bruising or inflaming the parts of the woman.” Smellie, p. 296.
Possibly the more modern instruments, which have supplanted this now exploded one, under the notion of improvement, will, in time be found to be liable to as just objection. But in the mean while what lives must be lost, what tortures endured, in the experiment! How many will have been the victims, women and children!