SHE, who finds herself thus (properly) adapted both inBodyandMind, according to theRulesof the precedingChapter, does a Good and Laudable Work,if she also studies toqualifyherself well,firstin theTHEORY, and then in thePRACTICEofMidwifery.
WHICH, in order that she may most easily and accurately do, I shall reduce the wholeTheoretical Part(absolutely necessary) to the followingSeven general Heads; of Which she ought not only to have a general and superficial, but also a distinct, special, and perfectKnowledge; viz.
I.OFtheexternalandinternal Partsof Generation, and theadjacent Parts; together with a competent Skill of the respectiveSubstanceandNature,ConnexionandFunctionof each ofThesein the Time ofBIRTH.
II.OFthePelvis, orBason, and itsContents; together with the true Knowledge of itsBones, theirFormorFigure,OfficeandConnexion, &c. upon that Occasion.
III.OFthat WonderfulBody, theMatrix, and itsVaginaorNeck; together with the understanding of itsSubstanceandStructure,DutyandFunctionin Time ofLabour.
IV.OFthe Strange NaturalQualities, and amazing singularFacultiesof ThisBody, in distinguishing all its peculiarProperties.
V.OFtheTouch, orHandlingtheWoman; together with knowing its many variousUses, and manifold distinctAdvantages.
VI.OFtheGenuine, andReal; as well as of theSpuriousorBastard-Labour-Pains: How they differ in themselves, and are to be carefully distinguished.
VII.OFtheMethodofLayingtheWoman, andMannerof extracting theAfter-Birth; together with all theheterogeneousandpreternatural Contentsof theWomb.
THESEspeculative Heads, in short, shall be the particularSubjectsof the respectiveChapters, of the consequent Part of thisSection, for the requisiteInstructionand indispensibleQualificationof all youngMIDWIVES: As thePractical Partshall be theSubject-Matterof the two next followingSections. WhichPractical Part, I shall now likewise reduce to theThreesubsequent generalHeads; of which she ought also to have a full and compleatKnowledge, viz.
I.OFthe variousMethodsto be taken for the presentEase, and expeditiousReliefof theLabouringWoman.
II.OFthe discreetMethodofTurningan ill-situatedINFANT, (whatsoever the preternaturalPosturemay be) and drawing it forthsafelyby theFeet.
III.OFHer own personalDuty(asMIDWIFE) both to theMOTHERand theCHILDafterDelivery; as also towards allLabouring Women, to whom she may be call’d, uponcritical Conjunctures.
THESEI callpractical Heads, because they depend more uponPracticeandExperience, orJudgmentandCharity, than upon anyfundamental Rules; which however yet ought also to be reckon’dBranchesof herTHEORY.
BUTnotwithstanding all these natural and acquir’dQualifications, theyoung MIDWIFEis not to run at once into thePractice: Nor to hurry herself rashly to layHandsupon theARK, before she is thoroughly well accomplished for so sacred aWork; lest (likeUzzah)shebe punished for herTemerity; whereof I have seen several exemplaryPrecedents. No, theWorkis too important, and theConcerntoo weighty for that hasty indiscreetUndertaking; for there is no less than theLifeof theMother, andoneChildat least, (if not sometimesmore) atStake: Both which may be soon saved, or quickly lost, according to the Good or BadConductandManagementof theMIDWIFE.
WHEREFORE, to the End, that she may obtain the necessaryExperience, and perfect her Judgment,&c.in due Course, she ought to satisfy herself at first to go (for some time) as anAssistantto someskilful Womanof good Business, and so by degrees advance herself into thePractice: BecauseDexterityin thisART, is only acquir’d byTimeandExercise; thepractical PartofMIDWIFERYbeing attended with so manycomplicated Circumstances ofaccidental Difficulties, that it is almost impossible for any Persons, who never apply’d themselves this way, to believe how much it differs from all theTHEORY, that the most ingeniousMANcan make himselfMasterof.
I SHALLonly (in this place) farther explain, what I mean, by theMIDWIFE’sDutyto allWomeninLABOUR, to whom she may be call’d uponcritical Conjunctures; as the latter part of the above-mentioned last GeneralHeadpurports: namely this, That theMIDWIFE, in the Course of herPractice, ought always to observe carefully, and follow strictly theRulesofEQUITYandCHARITY: That is, supposing theMIDWIFEto be sent for by a Person inLabour, whoseCaseis Natural and all Things likely to go well; and in the mean time, after she has taken her in Hand, is peradventure sent for toanother Woman, whose difficult or preternaturalCasethreatens imminentDanger.
INthisCase, theMIDWIFEknowing herself to be better qualified thanOthers, and thatAnothernot equally expert is able to lay theFormer, she ought to attend and assist theLatter: AndThatalso notwithstanding theFirstbeRich, and theLatter,Poor; sinceGODis noRespecter of Persons.
BUT, if it happen, thatone Rich, andanother poor Woman, wantHelpboth at a time, and are in equal Danger: Inthat Case, without any regard to theone’s WEALTH, or theother’s POVERTY; theMIDWIFEis to assistHerfirst, whomDivine Providencefirst call’d her to, or first engag’d her withal. And as theCasesofWomeninLabourmay differ, so she ought impartially to act and dispose of herself; having always an Eye to somethingsuperiourto, and far above that of meanLucre.