CHAP. XIV.
Of TOUCHING or HANDLING the Woman.
THE Midwife ought to have a special Knowledge in This Matter, since a Thing of so much Moment as Life itself often depends upon it; yea, and this Knowledge is of absolute Necessity to all Persons practising Midwifery, because many different Points of the greatest Importance, are thereby plainly discover’d: But before I enter upon these Things, I would have it rightly understood, that nothing else is meant here by the Performance of the Touch, than (upon having first pared the Nails short, equal, and smooth) passing the two Fore-fingers of either Hand, (previously well anointed with Fat or Butter, when proper Oils are not to be had) through the Vulva into the Vagina, in order to reach the Orifice of the WOMB, and to discern its Form, by feeling it on each Side.
AND it is not only requisite that the Woman in Labour be touched, before her Pains come on, because then the Membrane containing the Humours being loose, the Infant’s Posture may be the better distinguish’d; but the same Touch also is to be continued during the Force of the Pains, the better to know their Nature and Effects; whether the Infant continues still at the Passage or not; and whether the Humours are contracted length-ways, or press’d into a Flat Form, and the like. For after the Pains are over, it is easily to be perceiv’d, whether they have promoted the Birth or Not.
BUT during this Performance of the Touch, great Care must be taken not to handle the Membranes containing the Humours too roughly, lest they should break in the Action.
NOW that the Midwife may the more readily perform her Touch, she must take good Heed to what is said of the Cavity of the[[157]] Pelvis: for as it rises from the Bottom obliquely, ascending forwards; so, upon this Occasion, in seeking for the Orifice of the Womb, she must not thrust her Fingers streight along according to the Length of the Body, towards the bending of the Os Sacrum; but guide them upwards from the Bottom, as if thro’ the Vagina, she would touch the Navel: For Thus her Hand being turn’d inward, and her Fingers tending towards the Navel, the Orifice of the Womb lying directly in the way, she meets with it readily at first. Whereas they who go otherways to work, seek it in vain, and find it with Difficulty.
THIS Observation I thought the more requisite in this Place, because MIDWIVES not accurately understanding the Situation of the Bones of the Pelvis, think that the Womb and its Neck or Vagina reach according to the Length of the Woman, and make use of their Hands accordingly: First hurting the Vagina and Rectum in the Bending of the Sacrum; and then finding no farther Passage for their Fingers; but being altogether ignorant of the above-mentioned Method of finding the said Orifice, they are very often surpriz’d, fall into great Confusion for want of better Instruction. Whence I proceed to——
CHAP. XV.
Of the various Uses and Advantages of the TOUCH.
BY the Touch then, to be brief, the MIDWIFE gains the certain Knowledge of the following important Heads: viz.