BUT supposing the INFANT to stick very fast upon the Pubis (which commonly happens by Loss of Time, or by misimproving a critical Minute;) and that the capable Midwife finds both the Mother and the Child in this miserable Condition, thro’ the Neglect and Ignorance of Another: In this Case I would lay the Woman altogether upon her BACK, with her HEAD low, and her BODY a little elevated; then by the abovesaid Method I would try to depress the Infant’s HEAD, observing however yet not only to press it down from above, but also first to thrust it back, and depressing it at the same Time: By thus repelling it, I would save the tender HEAD from being hurt by the Depression; since otherways these Bones would leave a Dent or an Impression upon it, if not also wound it over and above.
MOREOVER, supposing that the MEMBRANE should break by Chance, and that by enlarging the Orifice, the HEAD should be much bared: Then I would let the Border of the Womb alone, and endeavour to thrust my FINGERS betwixt the HEAD (towards its Upper Part) and the OSSA PUBIS; by which means One may most probably draw the HEAD downwards, along with the Orifice. However, in fine, this Case, (as well as all other preternatural BIRTHS) absolutely requires a sound Judgment, a quick Comprehension, a good Conduct, an easy soft Hand, and a dextrous gentle Method of treating the parturient and patient WOMAN. But, farther——
WE will again in the next Place state the CASE thus, that suppose the HEAD is too Big, and the Child so much compressed, that it cannot be brought into the PELVIS without great Trouble and Difficulty: In this Condition, before Matters come to an Extremity, I would (without Loss of Time) find out the Feet; in order to which, the Orifice (which is now commonly less open) ought to be cautiously open’d with a gentle Force, by thrusting first one, and then more Fingers upwards, which are to be gradually distended, until at last the whole HAND is entered up to the Wrist: Whereby (after prudently breaking the MEMBRANE) I would now and then thrust back the Head, and put it upon one Side, as much as possible by Art.
BUT upon This here it must be carefully observ’d by the way, that I would pass my Hand close up along the INFANT’s Body from the Orifice to the Fund of the Womb, or to the Feet, that it may not come between the SECUNDINE and the Womb, but betwixt the MEMBRANE and the CHILD: By this Method I shall neither hurt the Womb, nor the INFANT; but the HAND distinguishing clearly all the Parts of the CHILD, I cannot miss finding the Feet with the greatest Certainty. Tho’ I must acknowledge by the By, this to be the Work of a very strong and agile HAND, as well as of a sound and ready Judgment; because of the immense Labour and Difficulty, first in opening the narrow ORIFICE, and then in penetrating through it to the Bottom of the Womb, as the INFANT obstructs the Way: not to mention the great Inconveniencies also besides, which arise from the Turnings and Windings, as well as from the Length and Constriction of the Passage. However yet——
THUS having found one or both FEET, I would draw them down both together, if possible, always turning the TOES towards the FACE. Whereas if only ONE can be found to be conveniently attracted, as it often happens, I make it fast by a running Knot on a broad Ribband, or by a certain Bandage, called MITRA, or with a soft Linnen Rag about four Inches broad; which I twist together, and hold in the Hand without the Body, as I pass the other up along this LEG, duly observing whether it is the Right or the Left, that I may know which of my HANDS will most commodiously find out the other LEG; and that HAND having reached the CHILD’s Belly or Buttocks, I slide it along the THIGH to the other LEG: So that the FOOT being thus found, I bring it also down into the PASSAGE, according to the POSTURE of the INFANT.
BOTH FEET being now thus brought down, if they chance to be ill-turned, that is, with TOES up and HEELS downwards, I discreetly turn the CHILD, whilst I gradually draw forth the FEET. These, together with the BELLY, being fairly excluded, I hold the FEET with one Hand, whilst I put the other under the BELLY and BREAST, as far as possible: Or, resting the FEET in my Lap, with one Hand above, and another below, I take good hold of the BODY, attracting it gently. Upon this I advise and encourage my Woman now to labour her best, and that whether she feels any PAINS or not, since they are now no longer to be waited for with the Impatience of a happy Delivery.
BY this regular Method, in fine, the HEAD and both ARMS pass thro’ the Orifice at once, and that without the least Danger; because the Smoothness of the TEMPLES affords always sufficient Room for the ARMS, as the Orifice relaxes and dilates, as has been already observed[[175]]. Now this, in short, I take, with Submission, to be the only genuine METHOD of perfecting a successful DELIVERY in the present preternatural Condition, whether the BIRTH be Dead or Alive: So that hence I proceed in course to——
CHAP. XXI.
Of Præternatural BIRTHS, from the WOMB’s inclining to either Side.
THO’ the WOMB may be obliquated (as has been said) either to the right or left Side; yet, to abbreviate this Work, I shall contract both Situations into one; and because the ingenious Reader may easily apply what is said of the one to the other, I shall only treat of that inclining to the right Side.