THEExtraordinary MIDWIFE, orAndro-Boethogynist(whetherPhysicianorSurgeonpracticing thisArt) ought not only to be endued with all theQualitiesandQualificationsmentioned in theTwoprecedingChapters, but also to excel theWoman-Midwifein many specialParticulars, and ingeniousPoints; which no ways belong to herFemale Province.
FORit is not enough that He knows how to relieve andlaythelabouring Woman, however difficult or preternatural herCasemay be; nor is it sufficient that he understands how tohelpand succour both theMOTHERand theINFANTafter such aDelivery: No, so much of his Business might be easily learn’d and enhanced byold Women, were they butDocile, and not such obstinateCreatures.
BUTHeought farther also to know (first) how to prevent all preternaturalDisastersincident to both theoneand theother, in their respectiveStatesofChild-BedandInfancy: And,Secondly, how to administer Relief and perform theCure, inCaseof any dismalAccidentwhatsoever tooneoreitherof them in their dangerous Condition.
MOREOVER, hisKnowledgeought neither to commence nor terminate in these Things; it being also hisDutyover and above to know, how to conduct theWomansafely through all theMonthsofGESTATION, and to avert from her theSeverityof their respectiveSYMPTOMS, to which she is so much expos’d, as mentioned in their properChapters,Sect.III. And not only so neither, but He ought also to understandwell, how to guard against theAccessesof allAcute Diseases, so as at least to avert their illConsequences; and especially (of course) to know thoroughly how to preventABORTIONitself.
THESEare theCaseswhich most commonly require the ingenious Assistance of theExtraordinary MIDWIFE: AndTheseare they which try hisSkillandKnowledgemost, as theTempestorStormbest discovers theJudgmentandCapacityof theMaster-Mariner.
ANDyet, neither ought eventhese Limitsto be the narrowBoundaryof hisStudies: Since the more extensive hisArtandKnowledgeis, especially in what relates to thenatural ConstitutionofWomen, thefitter ManHe is to take upon himself thePracticeof this noble and most ingeniousProfession.
NOTthat I would be thought tacitely to insinuate in this place by the By, as if my ownKnowledgewas in any degreeSuperiourtoother Men’s: No, I am too sensible of my ownWeakness, to mean so, or to entertain any such vain selfish Thought; neither have I any fondAmbitionto aim at standing inCompetitionwithothersin these Respects. For it shall suffice me, and sufficiently gratify my HighestAim, if possibly a simple Word may drop from myPen, which the more Ingenious may sometime improve to the common Good ofWomen, and the Welfare of theirChildren: And this I would desire the more, because I know no largerFIELD, that theLearnedcan launch out into; nor any profounderStudy, that they can descant upon, than theNatureandConstitutionof this tenderSex, which is so peculiarly different from all otherNatural Works, and so singularly discrepant from all otherCreated Beings.
BUTmore particularly in order, that theMAN-MIDWIFEorAndro-Boethogynistmay be thus duly qualify’d and completely accomplished;
I.HEought not only to be liberallyinstructedand generouslyeducated, but also to be aManof goodBreedingandConversation, as well asCourtesyandComplaisance.
II.HEought not only to be aManof diligentStudyand sedulousApplicationof Mind, but also of greatHumanityandIntegrity,TemperanceandSobriety, endued with solidResolution, quickApprehension, and greatPresenceof Mind.
III.HEought not only to be aManofstrict VirtueandChastity, but also of unspottedLifeandConversation,CharityandCompanion; delighting inHospitality, and doingGood; acting theChristianas well as theGentlemanin all respects.
IV.HEought not only to be a Man of knownDiscretionandSecresy,SagacityandJudgment, but also of a pleasantCountenance; neat and clean inPersonandCloathes, Agreeable and Decent inWordsandActions, carefully adverting (at all times) to give no Occasion ofShameorConfusionto theLabouring Woman, or theBy-standers.
V.HEought, in fine, tohandleHerdecently, and treat hergently; consideringHeras theweaker Vessel, whose elegant tenderBody, will admit of norough Usage: Wherefore upon this Account it is, that I would have allPractitionerswhatsoever in thisArt, debarr’d from theUseofINSTRUMENTS, which would secure many aMotherfrom being wounded or mangled, and many anInfantfrom being cut or torn to Pieces.
NOTthat I would be thought for all that to imitate Mr.Mauriceau, saying of himself (in some Passages of hisBookofMIDWIFERY) thathe differs from all others: No, far from it; For I have theIndisputable Authorityof the most Learned and PolitePractiserson my side, as mention’d before inChap.1. of thisSECTION.
HOWEVERyet, I do not deny, but thatINSTRUMENTShave been universally used, till of late Years; but the reason of That is Plain: Because in former Times,Menwere only call’d uponextraordinary Occasions; some of which (however Skilful and Ingenious)had not the Opportunity ofLaying a Womanperhaps in many Months. For which Reason it could not be otherways, but that they must have been at a loss in not understanding thoroughly thePractical Part, having so few Opportunities of improvingmanual Operation: Whereas since thePoliter Partof the World has call’d them generally to the ordinary and commonPracticeof thisART; they have advanced theirDexterityby degrees, and are now come to the length of discharging thatOfficebySlight of Handonly, which formerly required so manyfrightful INSTRUMENTS.
I may well indeed sayfrightful; for what can be more inconsistent with the tenderNATUREofWomen, or moreterribleto them, than to seeMencomearmedagainstThemselvesand theirtendererINFANTS, withKnives,Hooks,Iron-Forceps, &c. thereby (as it were) tohelpthem in time of their extremestAgony? For my part, I am Positive, that let who will useINSTRUMENTS, theykillmany moreINFANTSthan theysave, andruinmany moreWOMENthan theydeliverfairly: And this, I think, will be easily agreed to, by all those who have any Knowledge of thePartsofGenerationin thatSex; as (I believe) it is also sufficiently evident even toThosewho have noJudgmentthat way, by the notoriousFatalitiesand tragicalEventsthey daily hear of in Fact.
HOWEVERI know, someChirurgeon-Practitionersare too much acquainted with theUseofINSTRUMENTS, to lay them aside; no, they do not (it may be) think themselves in theirDuty, or properOffice, if they have not their cruelAccoutrementsin Hand: And what is most unaccountable and unbecoming aChristian, is that, when they have perhaps wounded theMOTHER, kill’d theINFANT, and with violentTortureand inexpressiblePain, drawn it out byPiece-meal, they think noRewardsufficient for such an extraordinary Piece of mangled Work.
BUT, in short, I would advise such to practiseButcheryrather thanMIDWIFERY; for inthat Case, they couldsellwhat theyslay; but inthis, byhandlingManso, they only bringInfamyupon theirProfession, and expose it to theContemptandHatredofOthers.
COVETOUSNESSis the blackest ofVices, and in thisCase(I am sure) it is an unpardonableSin, to thirst after sordidLucrefor procuring theHealthor preserving theLifeof our Neighbour; as, I doubt, is but too common among some mercenary People: Who (as we have been creditably inform’d) have refus’d to takeWomenin Hand at the very Point of Extremity or Time of Need, before a certainSumofMoneywas first deposited; tho’ perhaps borrow’d uponPledge, or collected amongst their charitableNeighboursforGod’ssake.
I do not say however, but that theWorkmanis worthy of hisReward, andThatwhich ought to be paid according to theMeritandDignityof his Performance; not according to theTimehe spends about it, as hiredLabourersare paid theirWages: No, that fruitlessLabourwould not be worth while; noGentlemanwould undertakeMidwiferyupon such unprofitableTerms: For as it is in his Power to save theLifeof theMother, or theInfant, orBoth, (which he often does effectually)Heundoubtedly deserves an extraordinaryRecompenceworthy of so great and good aPieceofService.
BUTnotwithstanding all This, an extravagantPriceis not to be arbitrarily demanded, nor ought the Reward to exceed theAbilityof thePATIENT; neither areThoseto be forsaken or left destitute ofHelp, and expos’d to imminentDanger, at all Hazards ofLife, who cannot afford usMoney: But rather (on the contrary) they are to be forthwith taken in Hand chearfully, attended by Night or Day diligently, and a trifle ofMoneygiven(by us) rather thantakenfrom them, when ourFellow-Christian’s Circumstances so require it. Forthisis the right way to secureGod’sBlessingtoOurselves, andSuccessto all ourEndeavours.
AND, in short, I humbly pray, thatHemay (out of his infiniteGoodnessandMercy) always enableMe, according to my best Inclinations, faithfully to performthese goodOffices, which I know to be so much my indispensible and incumbentDuty, in thatSTATION, his All-wiseProvidencehath allotted me, as to the Affairs ofLife.
WHENCEI come, in the next Place, by due Order, to treat particularly of theContentsof the precedingChapter; and,First, to set forth anAnatomical Descriptionof the severalPartsofGenerationin manner following.