FIRSTthen, Because theseaccidentalDistempers are very many and numerous, as well as various and different inKind: SECONDLY, Becausesomeof them have been already treated, or occasionally discoursed upon at large: And, THIRDLY, becauseothersare only to be named in this Place; I shall take leave to include and comprehend them all, forBrevity’ssake, in this presentChapter.
INorder to which, I may first observe, that most (if not All) of these unfortunateAccidents, depend entirely upon the indiscreetConductof theMIDWIFEin time ofLABOUR, or theill Managementof theWomanafter theBIRTH: Since by the prudent and judiciousMeansof the expertMIDWIFE, manyAccidentsmay be prevented, which otherways must necessarily happen, especially in difficult orpreternaturalBIRTHS; as also, on the other hand, by treating theWomanorderly, and guiding her carefully, manyDistempersmay be totally averted, which otherways will inevitably seize thePATIENT. As for Instance——
ITsometimes happens, that she is troubled with aProlapse, or bearing down of theWOMB, orVagina, orBoth; as also sometimes with aFalling out of the FUNDAMENT: In all which unhappyConditionsthe industriousMIDWIFEwill find herInstructions, not only with respect to theCure, but also with respect to thePrevention(which concerns her most) particularly setdown and accounted for inSECT.V.Chap.10, and 11. as she will also, uponPerusal, find theMethodof preventing that deplorableAccident, of making aRupturein, or renting thePerinæum, inChap.9.
BUTincaseofContusions, or SmallerRentsin theVULVA, orVagina, which sometimes cannot be well prevented, especially in theFirst BIRTHS;suchare by no means to be neglected, lest they degenerate into malignantULCERS: Wherefore they ought to becured, as soon as possible, after theWoman’sDELIVERY; whichCureis easily performed, when taken in handbetimes, by properFomentations, and convenientCATAPLASMS.
SOMETIMESagain, theWOMB, theBelly, and theFeetswell much after theBIRTH; whichSYMPTOMScommonly proceed from someCold, or fromdrinking too much, or from either aSuppressionorDiminutionof theLOCHIA, or from anyirregular way of Livingduring the time ofGESTATION: By which means the vitiousHUMOURS, resolving themselves intoFlatulencies, swell and puff up both theWOMBand theABDOMEN; and theseWindsdescending, have the same Effect upon theLegs. But theCure, however, of all suchSYMPTOMS, is readily accomplished by convenientDIET, properFomentations, and discutientMedicines.
HENCEI might orderly descend to anIndefinityof Particulars, deriving from the following generalHeads, which I Shall only name at this time;viz.the variousDiseasesof thePUDENDUMandVagina, as well as of theMATRIXitself, together with theirco-incident SYMPTOMS; as also the diversDistempers, and differentSYMPTOMSof theWoman’sBREASTS. ButThese Subjectsbeing as different as numerous (which I have already hinted) I must refer them to another Opportunity; being resolved to keep the present Work, for the common Good, within thePurchaseof all sorts of People as far as possible; and until such time as something onthese Headsappears more judicious or elaborate,either frommy own, or some morecapable Hand, I hopeEnglish Womencan be at no great Loss for goodInstruction, or readyAssistance; especially not in this famousCityofLondon, which is, by the Divine Mercy, abundantly well-stock’d, and singularly well provided, with some of the most excellentPhysiciansof the Age, as well as with some very ingeniousPractisersin the Art ofMIDWIFERY.
AND, thus, in fine, havingpilotedthe goodWoman(as it were) thro’ thethree GulphsofGESTATION;BIRTH, andCHILD-BED, and at last brought her into safeHarbour; we may now (I hope) securely leave her there, torefitfor the same prosperousVoyageagain; whilst we, in the next Place, undertake to provide for theSafetyof herCARGO, or direct theRegimenandNursingof theCHILD. And FIRST—