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

TO which usual Suggestions, I answer; that as the one is an ignorant and imprudent Insinuation, the other is a downright Falsity: For in the first CASE, the Woman is diverted by foolish Hopes from applying for proper Advice, until perhaps it is past all Remedy; and in the second, she is misled very often to her utter RUIN: Since whatever hath not yet happen’d, may peradventure be happily prevented; and even upon the last Extremity of the most violent Occasion, the Severity of the Case may possibly be averted by good Management, and the Danger entirely compounded for by proper Conduct.

WHEREFORE, I cannot but think, it is worth any Woman’s while to know the Marks of an approaching and instant ABORTION: Whereof the DIAGNOSTICKS are as follow, viz.

I. A sudden Extenuation and Falling of the Breasts[^[101]]; sometimes only of One, but more commonly of Both: That of One denoting the Woman to bear Twins, of which she is about to lose One; and which, if the right Breast falls, is a Male; but if the left, a Female.

II. A Watery Milk flows[^[102]] in Abundance from those FALLEN BREASTS, discovering the future Danger.

III. PALPITATIONS of the Heart, frequently accompany’d with a Coarctation of the Sides and Upper Belly, very much incommoding the Patient.

IV. A GRAVITY or Heaviness of the Loins, and Thighs; Gnawing of the Stomach, Pains of the Head and Eyes.

V. A TREMOR, or Trembling and Quaking FITS, attended with a Frigidity of the exteriour Limbs.

VI. A Rigor and Stiffness, or a Vibration and Concussion of the SKIN and MUSCLES of the whole Body, with a concomitant Chilness.

VII. HORROUR, Fevers, Faintings, Swoonings, and sometimes Convulsions, Cramps, &c. all foreboding the coming Malady. These are the usual and principal Marks of an approaching ABORTION: Which when Instant, and the Time at Hand, then the

VIII^th DIAGNOSTICK plainly appears; which is a corrupt WATER flowing first, next a bloody WATER, then pure Blood, after that small Clods of Blood, and at length, the Infant itself (form’d or inform’d) follows of Course.