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

FOURTHLY, It is likewise well known by the TOUCH, whether the Birth will be Easy and Speedy, or Difficult and Lingring, on several Occasions: 1. When the MIDWIFE finds the Head of the Infant and the lower Part of the Womb fallen into the Cavity of the Pelvis, so that She can touch it in the Confines of the Vagina: 2. When the Orifice of the Womb is very soft, thin, and wide-open, so that (through it) she finds the Head of the Infant foremost, without any Obstruction by the Arms or Umbilical Vessels in the way, between the Head of the Infant, and Orifice of the Womb; as often happens: And, 3. When the Humours, by the right Situation of the Womb and the Infant, are found compressed into a Flat Form. I say, when Matters are found so (by the TOUCH) in this Natural Posture, there is no great doubt (under GOD) of a Speedy and Easy Delivery.

WHEREAS, on the contrary, when the Orifice is found by Experience higher, little or not at all open; sharp, hard, and thick, with the Humours pressed up length-ways: Then the Case is quite revers’d, and the MIDWIFE, if she understands her Business, must resolve to sweat at her Work.

NOW the Reason of such Difficult Births commonly proceeds, either from the wrong Situation of the Infant, or That of the Womb; the latter of which always occasions the greater Difficulty, especially when it is accidentally join’d with the First, to a vast Degree of Aggravation: Of which, as follows of course.

FIFTHLY, Another Advantage of the TOUCH, is the truly Knowing whether the Infant be in a Natural, or Preternatural Posture. For the MIDWIFE finding the Orifice of the Womb so open, that it admits one or two Fingers, she may distinctly feel the Chin of the Infant in a Natural Position, lying forwards on its Breast, and the Neck in the Middle of the Orifice, or streight Before it; so that the Head being foremost and lowest within the Borders of the Orifice, the Fingers cannot pass any Farther.

HOWEVER, supposing the Clunes, Knee, or Elbow, to present themselves First in the ORIFICE; It is true, they have their Roundness, but then they are easily distinguished from the Head: For the Globular Part of it is much broader and smoother, than either Knee or Elbow, and harder than the Buttocks; which Fleshy Part is soon distinguished from the Bones, or the soft Membrane betwixt the Bones of the Head.

BUT as a capable MIDWIFE can hereby distinguish all These with Facility, even before the Waters begin to flow; so I need not mention the Hands, which distinguish themselves by the Fingers, as the Feet do, by the Toes or Heels; and the Navel-string discovers itself by its Softness, Thinness, and Roundness: All which, however yet, are more easily known when the Membrane is broke, and the Waters have actually flown. For the Parts, which were before covered with this Membrane, lie now naked in the ORIFICE: Hence it often unluckily happens, that few MIDWIVES make an exact Scrutiny, about the Situation of the Infant, till this Time of Flooding; erroneously thinking they are then soon enough, which is an unaccountable Mistake; as will hereafter abundantly appear.

SIXTHLY, It is perfectly known by the Touch, whether the Womb be in a Natural or Preternatural Posture, as is plainly taught more at large in the foregoing Chapter.

FINALLY, in short, we most assuredly know by the Touch, what is proper to be done in all Preternatural Cases, upon giving Assistance both to the Mother and Infant; as hereafter will fully appear by a more copious Dissertation to that Purpose.