CHAP. IV.
Of Difficult BIRTHS, proceeding from External Causes.
IN all difficult Cases, the Cure or Remedy chiefly depends upon the certain Knowledge of the Nature of the Case, and the Cause of the Difficulty: Since (according to Celsus[[164]], that noble Roman Physician) it is not to be suppos’d that He should know how to remedy Diseases, who knows not their Original Causes.
FOR as in other Cases, so also in MIDWIFERY, the Cause being known, the Difficulty is easily remov’d; but especially when it only proceeds from External Causes, it requires no great Art, save only the MIDWIFE’S particular Notice and discreet Animadversion.
AS, FIRST, for Instance, in Case of any Difficulty, occasion’d by an Intemperature, or inclement Constitution of Weather and Air; the more adverse or inclement the Weather is, the more tender Care ought to be taken of the Labouring Woman: Namely, in Summer, when the Heat scorches so much as to dissipate the Woman’s Strength, she ought to Labour in a Ground-Chamber backwards, which may be strewed (for the Purpose) with Vine or Willow-Leaves, Rose-Water, and a little Vinegar; as it is customary in hot Countries.
IN Winter, when the Cold pinches so as to condense and astringe the Womb and the Passages, she ought to Labour in an Upper-Room, kept moderately warm with one continued Fire; the MIDWIFE rubbing gently the Hypogastrick and Ischiatick Regions every now and then with hot Cloathes.
IN Spring and Fall, when parching dry Weather, with North and East Winds most abound, the MIDWIFE ought not only to rub these Inferiour Regions with hot Cloaths; but also to qualify the Influences of the Siccid AIR, by anointing the Passages with proper Unguents.
A Second External Cause may proceed from the Passions of the Will or Mind, as it often does from Fear and Despair, Dejection and Pusillanimity: In which Case, it is the MIDWIFE’s Duty to encourage her Woman by the Hopes of a Speedy DELIVERY, and doing well under God’s Blessing. When the Cause arises from Anger or Sorrow, these are to be assuaged by the repeated Christian Exhortations, and Friendly Admonitions of the Midwife and Gossips. When it comes from Pride and Obstinacy, as has been the Case of some Lofty Women; who (deeming themselves too good, to be treated after the common Course of Mankind) have refused to undergo or permit the proper Means, absolutely necessary for their own Relief; This ought to be severely check’d by the Company, especially by the nearest Friends; the Midwife (by proper Remonstrances) convincing her to her Shame of her obstinate Sin. When it proceeds, in fine, from Bashfulness or too strict a Modesty, she may be justly reprehended of Folly; for no Woman of good Sense (how Modest and Virtuous soever) will expose her own Life or her Infant’s to Danger, for the trifling Fancies or Caprices of her own vain Imagination, especially in a Case where like things happen to All equally of Flesh and Blood.
BUT when it happens to proceed from the Woman’s being ill-affected, or owing a private Grudge or Hatred to any in the Company, (as I once knew it to be the Cause of a difficult and lingring BIRTH) She ought to speak her Mind freely, at least to her MIDWIFE; who ought to give the Person civil Notice to retire forthwith, for certain Reasons, &c.
A Third External Cause of a difficult BIRTH may proceed from a wrong Position, or other sinistrous Methods taken to assist the Woman: In which Case, such Inconveniencies are to be alter’d, and better Measures practis’d; for thus the Cause being removed, the BIRTH differs in Nothing from That of the Natural Easy Case.
WHENCE I come, in the next Place, to speak of Difficult BIRTHS, proceeding from Internal Causes; and because they are Three-fold, as has been before observed, I shall assign them as many respective Chapters, treating of Each in their due Order, as mentioned.