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

Grateful’s to me the Fire, the Wound, the Chain,

By which Love burns, Love binds, and giveth Pain:

But for to quench this Fire, these Bonds to loose,

These Wounds to heal, I would not, could I, choose:

Strange Sickness, where the Wounds, the Bonds, the Fire

That burns, that bind, that hurt, I must desire.

THE Omniscient Creator, at the Beginning, implanted in the Nature of Both Sexes this Faculty of Love, accompanied with a fervent Desire of Procreation; furnishing them (for this Purpose) with proper adapted Organs, and other suitable Means of Generation: which, in themselves, are no less wise and wonderful, than the great Design of propagating the World by successive Generations, is profound and miraculous; as will more manifestly appear, by explaining their Order, Propriety, and Disposition, in Sect. 4. Chap. 5, 6, &c.

AND to compensate many subsequent Griefs thereupon, Nature added to Man and Woman an ardent Desire of mutual Embraces, concomitated with certain alluring Enticements to Multiplication; to the end that in Congression they might be so delightfully charme’d, as to forget, or at least vilipend and slight all other trifling Annoyances.

THUS, in short, Nature hath cared and provided for Propagation and Posterity; not only in the Human Race, but also in all other Species of Creatures, according to the excellent Poet[^[36]];

“Omne adeo genus in terris hominúmq; Ferarúmq;