The Province of Midwives in the Practice of their Art / Instructing them in the timely knowledge of such difficulties as require the assistance of Men, for the preservation of Mother and Child; very necessary for the perusal of all the sex interested in the subject, and interspersed with some New and Useful Observations.

by William Clark

On such a Subject it will not be imagined Vanity or Applause can incline a Man to write a Pamphlet, rather than a Volume; when the Author is not conscious of having omitted the Instruction to be found in any Book extant, within the Limits of his Design; and hopes Experience will teach its Value both to Midwives and Matrons; and that the Perusal will not at all injure, if it does not improve, the most knowing and experienced.

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The READER is desir’d to correct the following ERRORS with the Pen.

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AGE 9, Line 16, read Pains about the Back, Navel, &c.—P. 33, l. 12. omit the Period after the Word Pain; and make a Semicolon, instead of the Comma, after touch’d it.

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CHAPTER I. The DESIGN.

HE Case of Child-bearing Women is very lamentable, in the Country especially, by Reason of the Ignorance and Unskilfulness of Midwives; for by their Negligence and perverse Management, many Mothers and Children are destroyed, to the great Misfortune of particular Families, as well as of the Publick, at a Time when it suffers by the Loss of useful Hands, from too many other Causes. It were therefore to be wished, that all Midwives were so far appris’d of their Duty, as to be able to distinguish between Cases within their Abilities, and such Difficulties as may occasion the Loss of the Mother, or Child, or both, for Want of necessary Assistance.