AMONG the many Preternatural BIRTHS mentioned, I think that of a Dead CHILD, may now at last justly take place.
BUT because this Case is too commonly mistaken, and that the Live INFANT is too often taken for Dead, and consequently the wretched innocent Creature treated accordingly; I think it may not be amiss, before I enter upon this Delivery, that I make a few previous requisite Remarks; by which the extraordinary MIDWIFE, who is commonly sent for too late, may perfectly know whether the BIRTH be dead or alive; to the End that, so also in Case of Necessity, it may be accordingly managed: Since in this fatal Condition I have known several Persons to have been grossly deceiv’d, who have depended upon the Relation of the sick Woman, or taken it upon the Credit of the ignorant attending MIDWIFE.
FIRST then I know it to be Alive, if, by laying my Hand on the Mother’s Belly, I find it stir or move: Or, Secondly, If I have not full Satisfaction this way, I would convey my Hand into the Womb, as soon as the Waters break, to feel the Pulsation of the Navel-String; which the nearer I feel to the CHILD’s Belly, the stronger I find it beat, if Alive: Or, Thirdly, I would put my Finger into the INFANT’s Mouth to feel its Tongue, which (if Alive) I should perceive it to stir, as if it would suck.
WHEREAS, on the contrary, we may know it to be Dead, when a certain nauseous and cadaverous Humour flows from the Womb: Or, when the Woman feels a great ponderous Weight in her BELLY, tumbling always towards that Side, which she inclines to, or lies upon: As also when we find the CHILD cold in the Womb; or the Umbilical Vessel without Pulse; or the Tongue immoveable: Or lastly, when I perceive the Dissolution of the Cuticle on the Top of the Head, I am then positive that the Foetus is Dead; because, as this is not easily dissolved, neither does it happen immediately, but some Space of time after Death.
IN this Case then of a dead CHILD, the Labour is commonly lingring and dangerous, because of the few, faint, and slow PAINS which seize the Woman; so that Nature, being half overthrown by the Death of the INFANT, which now can no ways help itself, absolutely requires to be assisted by the most expeditious Art: And that best, in my humble Opinion, by the Means and Method following, viz.——
FIRST I would endeavour to awaken and promote the PAINS, by one or more sharp and strong Clysters: But Secondly, if these do not succeed so expeditiously as necessary, I would introduce my Hand into the Womb, sliding it all along under the Belly towards the Feet; and so, with Face and Breast downwards, I would gently extract it by them; in the same manner, as if it was Alive. Only, in this Case, great Care must be taken, that the Head may not unhappily sever itself from the Body, and consequently stay behind in the Womb; which Accident may easily happen in the Passage, especially if the BIRTH is any ways putrefy’d.
HOWEVER, after all, in Case of such an untoward Occurrence, I would still excuse myself from the Use of an Eductor, and debar myself from the Practice of any Instrument whatsoever, save only that of my own natural Hand; which, I think, in all Conditions of BIRTHS, whether Natural or Preternatural, Dead or Alive, is solely obliged, and only best serves, according to the Rules of my Profession, to discharge the Duty of all the INSTRUMENTS in the Surgeon’s Shop; excepting only in the Case of a MONSTER or a very Hydropical CHILD.
BUT in the present Circumstance of the Head’s being separated from the Body, as soon as I have extracted the CARCASE, as above; I would instantly convey back my Hand into the WOMB, and put one or two of its Fingers into the Mouth of the HEAD, placing my Thumb under the Chin: For by thus taking Hold of it by the Jaw, I would extract it gently, and that with the greatest Ease and Safety to the PATIENT Woman.
NOW having thus, in fine, both particularly and at large, treated of the several Sorts of Natural, Difficult, and Preternatural BIRTHS: And having also for the common Good of Mankind, without any Affectation, Hesitation, or Reservation, candidly laid down, and ingenuously set forth the most certain, brief, plain, easy, and unprejudiced INSTRUCTIONS, which perhaps have ever yet been committed to Print, upon the excellent Subject of MIDWIFERY: And having likewise, in a Word lastly, for the true Direction and good Government of all MIDWIVES, fairly laid (as it were) and faithfully delivered the big-belly’d Woman, in every relative Case or Condition of BIRTH, which may or can happen to her: It now only remains, I would modestly think, that I should (in the next place) come to take all the necessary Care, and make the most requisite Provision possible for the perfect Recovery of my Child-Bed-Woman; and that in the ensuing Method.
