AND yet, neither ought even these Limits to be the narrow Boundary of his Studies: Since the more extensive his Art and Knowledge is, especially in what relates to the natural Constitution of Women, the fitter Man He is to take upon himself the Practice of this noble and most ingenious Profession.
NOT that I would be thought tacitely to insinuate in this place by the By, as if my own Knowledge was in any degree Superiour to other Men’s: No, I am too sensible of my own Weakness, to mean so, or to entertain any such vain selfish Thought; neither have I any fond Ambition to aim at standing in Competition with others in these Respects. For it shall suffice me, and sufficiently gratify my Highest Aim, if possibly a simple Word may drop from my Pen, which the more Ingenious may sometime improve to the common Good of Women, and the Welfare of their Children: And this I would desire the more, because I know no larger FIELD, that the Learned can launch out into; nor any profounder Study, that they can descant upon, than the Nature and Constitution of this tender Sex, which is so peculiarly different from all other Natural Works, and so singularly discrepant from all other Created Beings.
BUT more particularly in order, that the MAN-MIDWIFE or Andro-Boethogynist may be thus duly qualify’d and completely accomplished;
I. HE ought not only to be liberally instructed and generously educated, but also to be a Man of good Breeding and Conversation, as well as Courtesy and Complaisance.
II. HE ought not only to be a Man of diligent Study and sedulous Application of Mind, but also of great Humanity and Integrity, Temperance and Sobriety, endued with solid Resolution, quick Apprehension, and great Presence of Mind.
III. HE ought not only to be a Man of strict Virtue and Chastity, but also of unspotted Life and Conversation, Charity and Companion; delighting in Hospitality, and doing Good; acting the Christian as well as the Gentleman in all respects.
IV. HE ought not only to be a Man of known Discretion and Secresy, Sagacity and Judgment, but also of a pleasant Countenance; neat and clean in Person and Cloathes, Agreeable and Decent in Words and Actions, carefully adverting (at all times) to give no Occasion of Shame or Confusion to the Labouring Woman, or the By-standers.
V. HE ought, in fine, to handle Her decently, and treat her gently; considering Her as the weaker Vessel, whose elegant tender Body, will admit of no rough Usage: Wherefore upon this Account it is, that I would have all Practitioners whatsoever in this Art, debarr’d from the Use of INSTRUMENTS, which would secure many a Mother from being wounded or mangled, and many an Infant from being cut or torn to Pieces.
NOT that I would be thought for all that to imitate Mr. Mauriceau, saying of himself (in some Passages of his Book of MIDWIFERY) that he differs from all others: No, far from it; For I have the Indisputable Authority of the most Learned and Polite Practisers on my side, as mention’d before in Chap. 1. of this SECTION.
HOWEVER yet, I do not deny, but that INSTRUMENTS have been universally used, till of late Years; but the reason of That is Plain: Because in former Times, Men were only call’d upon extraordinary Occasions; some of which (however Skilful and Ingenious) had not the Opportunity of Laying a Woman perhaps in many Months. For which Reason it could not be otherways, but that they must have been at a loss in not understanding thoroughly the Practical Part, having so few Opportunities of improving manual Operation: Whereas since the Politer Part of the World has call’d them generally to the ordinary and common Practice of this ART; they have advanced their Dexterity by degrees, and are now come to the length of discharging that Office by Slight of Hand only, which formerly required so many frightful INSTRUMENTS.