The Female Physician / Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child.

by John Maubray

THE OVARIA, or TESTICLES, are Two Bodies, on each Side One, annexed to the Bottom of the Womb, at about Two Fingers Distance, near the broad Ligaments: They are fixed to the Peritonæum at the Ilia, nigh the Spermatick Vessels: Their Figure is almost Oval, a little depressed on the Upper Part, where the Spermaticks enter.

THEIR SIZE is generally about half as Big as MEN’s are; but this differs according to the Age and Constitution of Persons: Their Surface is smooth, and even in Virgins; but wrinkled, uneven, and dry in old Women: They are encompass’d with a proper strong Membrane, deriving its Original from the PERITONÆUM; which also covers all the Spermatick Vessels.

THEIR Substance is Membranous and Fibrous, interwoven with a vast Number of Vessels; among which are some round Vesicles, containing a viscous Humour, when boil’d, of the Colour, Consistence, and Taste of the boil’d White of an Egg: From whence they are call’d Eggs, because of this Analogy. These also differ in Size and Number, according to Age and Constitution, although (ordinarily) the Biggest of them scarcely equals a Pea; and there are in some Persons 10 or 12 of them, in others (perhaps) but One or Two discernible.

THE Tubæ Fallopianæ, are Two winding Canals, resembling Two Trumpets, situated on the Right and Left Side of the Womb, annexed close to its Bottom, by their double Membrane; which is only a Continuation of the exterior and interior Membranes of the Womb: They in SIZE equal a little Finger about the Middle; tho’ the Cavity opening into the Womb, will scarce admit a Hog’s Bristle; but the other Extremity, floating loose in the Abdomen, will admit the Point or Tip of a little Finger: They are of a Membranous and Cavernous Substance, about 5 or 6 Inches long, and have the same Veins, Arteries, and Nerves, as the OVARIA.

THESE Tubes, to be brief, (in time of COITION) are erected by a copious Influx of Blood and Spirits; which also, by the Assistance of their muscular Fringes, embrace the OVARIUM, transmit the prolifick Masculine Seed, afterwards receive the impregnated Egg, and at last convey it thence into the Womb. In fine, these are all the internal Parts, as I conceive, tending to GENERATION. But more particularly, to proceed to

CHAP. VII.
Of the PELVIS.

THIS being that Cavity in which the Womb is placed, and through which the INFANT passes in time of BIRTH; it is my Opinion that a distinct Knowledge of it is highly necessary for all MIDWIVES to accomplish their Practice: For without that Qualification, they cannot help committing a great many Blunders, and being guilty of innumerable Mistakes; since they must proceed upon gross Uncertainties, and use their Hands like MEN groping in the Dark, as hereafter will more plainly appear.

THIS is that Cavity betwixt the Ossa Innominata and Os Sacrum; which join themselves in the Posterior Part of it on each side, by Cartilages and Ligaments: so that they, forming there a strong and firm Juncture, compose this Cavity of the PELVIS, which is vulgarly call’d the Bason of the Womb.

THE upper Part of the Ossa Pubis forms the Borders of this Cavity before, and the Hanging forwards or bending down of the Os Sacrum makes Those of it behind; as the Ossa Ilia compose the same on each side.