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

III. ALL violent Motions, immoderate Exercises, &c. such as Running, Leaping, Dancing, Riding, or Coaching, Lifting, or Carrying a heavy Weight, also long Fasting, strait Lacing, a Fall, a Blow on the Back or the Belly, &c. as I hinted before occasionally.

IV. ALL frightful Objects, and sudden Surprizes by hasty News, Fire, or such like terrifying Accidents.

V. ALL astonishing and terrible affecting NOISES; such as sudden Claps of Thunder, Cannons, Guns &c.

VI. ALL nauseous Stinks, on the one hand, and odoriferous Smells, &c. on the other, being both disagreeable and dangerous.

THOSE, and many other trifling Matters, such as the Smell of an extinguished Light, or Candle, are known (too often) to be the Reason and Cause of ABORTION: which made (that great Naturalist) Pliny[^[99]] justly take occasion to deplore the Frailty of Man.

“HE bewails and is asham’d (as he expresseth it) to think how frivolous the ORIGIN of the proudest of Creatures is; such a mere Trifle (as is mentioned) being frequently the Cause of his FATALITY. And the Philosopher most pertinently adds, that He who now glories in so many VANITIES, trusting in the Strength of his Body, vaunting in the Riches of his Possessions, and upon every Smile of Fortune, believes himself to be a God, &c. little considers how many ways he might have miscarried in coming into the World, or how many ways he may yet, even to-day, go out of it, and come to his last GASP, as Anacreon, the wanton Lyrick Poet, did, who was suddenly choak’d with the Stone of a Grape; or as Fabius (that noble Dictator of Rome) dy’d, who was immediately strangl’d by a HAIR in a Draught of Milk.”

I say, He little considers, how many Trials and Hardships he was expos’d to, before he had Being: or, how many ways he might have been stifled before he had Breath, and have been dead even before he was Born.

WHICH Consideration leads me to the Thought of another Cause of ABORTION, mentioned by the holy Prophet[^[100]]Hosea, where he says: “Because they have deeply corrupted themselves, and separated themselves unto that Shame at Baalpeor, (i. e. defiled themselves at the Statues of Priapus) their Glory shall fly away like a Bird, from the Womb, from the Conception, and from the Birth; dry Breasts, and a miscarrying Womb shall be given them, &c.”

AND having thus far briefly defin’d and descanted upon ABORTION, and the Nature of its Efficients, I come now, in the next place, to shew by what DIAGNOSTICK SIGNS, every Woman may infallibly know an approaching or instant MISCARRIAGE, either in herself or another: As also to set forth, by what PROGNOSTICK SIGNS, she may know the Danger she is threatned with upon that Occasion.

WHICH Undertaking, I hope, may prove conducive to the Welfare of that tender Sex; it being too common for Women to neglect the proper Means, through a supine Ignorance of the Nature, and Danger of their CONDITION. But This, however, is generally owing to indiscreet Old Women about them; (as I have often observ’d, and oft’ner had Occasion to hear) who either keep the PATIENT in Suspence, wheedling and telling her idle Stories, that the Case is not so dangerous, the Pains, Floodings, &c. will go off in good Time, and the like: Or afterwards (upon appearance of more severe growing Symptoms) they extenuate the Danger, telling her to submit with Patience, the common Misfortune cannot possibly be prevented, &c.