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

“Vesper & Occiduo quæ littora sole tepescunt,

“Proxima sunt Zephyro, Scythiam septémque triones

“Horrifer invasit Boreas. Contraria Tellus

“Nubibus assiduis, pluvióq; madescit ab Austro.

THE first bad Position of which is, when the Bottom of the WOMB is placed on the left Side of the Woman, a little raised or depress’d; the Orifice being turn’d towards the Spine of the right Os Ilium or Os Pubis, against which the Infant in time of Birth commonly pushes its Head, beats out its Brains, and sticks there to Death: Or else passing the said Spine, it lies a-thwart the Pelvis.

THE Second ill Position of the WOMB is, when the Bottom is seated on the right Side; the Orifice being turn’d towards the left Part of the Pelvis, directly opposite to the other Position, and attended with the same Inconveniencies.

THE Third is, when, in Women having large Bellies, the WOMB hangs too much Forwards; the Orifice being turn’d towards the Os Sacrum: So that the Infant falls down by the Head into the Bent, or crooked Cavity of the Os Coccygis, where it fatally sticks fast.

THE fourth Oblique Situation of the WOMB is, when its Bottom is press’d too near the Diaphragma, and its Body too near the Vertebræ of the Loins; the Orifice being elevated, is thereby turned too near the OS PUBIS, where the Infant striking its Head against these Bones, remains immoveable and perishes: Or, (which is worse) sliding with its Head upon the OSSA PUBIS, it is turn’d on one or other Side or Backwards; when (commonly with Hand or Arm out of the Body) it lies a-thwart the Passage, and infallibly occasions its Own or its Mother’s Death, or Both; unless (as in the three preceding Cases) it be in due time prevented by the Assistance of some very skilful Hand.

THOSE are the Four most difficult and principal wrong, or chief preternatural Situations, of the WOMB; from whence we may easily frame a competent Conjecture of the Rest; to wit, when the Bottom of the WOMB is more or less turn’d to the right, or the left Side, or forwards, or backwards: Since as that differs more or less from the natural Position, so the Birth in like manner is (of consequence) the more or less Difficult, as will hereafter manifestly appear.