IFafter theTorrentsof Difficulties andOceansof Danger that theMotherhas painfully gone through, and narrowly evaded, theChildshould at last be lost; theComfortof herBurdenwould be but small, and theRewardof herSufferingsbut very little: Wherefore specialCareought to be taken to prevent such melancholyEvents; in order to which, we are not only to remedy suchIndispositionsas it (too often) brings with it into the World, but also to defend it from the many periculousContingencies, to which theTendernessof its Body, and theDebilityof its Age expose it.
THEfirstDutythen, that theINFANTrequires of us afterBIRTH, whether born by theHead, or extracted by theFeet, is thetyingandcuttingof theUmbilicalVein, orNAVEL-STRING; which being a thing generally well known, I shall have no Occasion to insist upon it, especially since tho’ the commonGossipsmay differ in thePerformance, yet they always agree in theFact.
HOWEVER, that we may not pass thisessential Pointby in Silence, in case a notable Word may drop by the By, I would,——
I.OBSERVE, that, until theSTRINGbe cut, theChildis to be carefully laid onone Side, not on itsBack, for fear that theHUMOURS, running to itsMouthorNose, may choke it, for want of free Evacuation.
II. I would take notice, that, if need require, while theMIDWIFEis busy about theMother, in extracting theAFTER-BIRTH, cleansing theWOMB, &c. the most capable of theGossipsshouldtieandcuttheSTRING, especially if theINFANTis weak or ill; otherways it may be deferred until theWomanbe entirelydelivered, and fairlylaid. Then,——
III.ASto thePerformanceof this Matter, it may betiedwith a good strongThread, laid four or five-fold, according to its Strength; and theKnottied close withintwo Inchesof theCHILD’sBody: Tho’, I say, that theKnotis to betiedclose, yet it must not be so strictlytiedas to cut asunder theSTRING; which might easily happen, especially to theINFANTSof a tenderer Constitution. And the Reason that I would have theConstrictionmadetwo Inchesfrom the Body, is this, That in case anyBloodshould happen to drop out afterwards (as it often happens) there may beroomenough totieit again nearer theNAVEL.
IV.THESTRINGis not to becut offclose to theKnot, but alsotwo or three Inchesfrom it; so that, if it happens to swell with Wind (as is very common) after beingtied, it may beloosedagain, theWinddischarged, and itself convenientlyretied. But the far better and preferable way is, to tie thisVeinintwo Places, and cut it asunder betwixt theLigatures; beingthereby secure from losingBlood. Some (I know) will not have theVeinto betiedbefore theCHILDcries or makesWater; but, however, longDelaysin thisCaseare no ways convenient, nor without Danger.
V.THISVeinorStringbeingcut, must be wrapped up in athreeorfourfold Rag, to defend theBABEfrom Cold or Pains of theBelly; which otherways might ensue from thenakedVein’s lying upon its Body: Which being done, this Part of theStringis to be laid on theupper Part of the Belly, with a smallBoulsteron the Top of it; and then swathed with aLinnen Swathof aboutfour Inches broad, to keep it firm and steady.
VI.THEfirst time that theCHILDisunswathed, a newKnotought to be made ortied, and that to prevent allDangerby Loss ofBLOOD, which may readily happen by the firstKnot’s relaxing, as theSTRINGbegins to wither away or contract.
THISbeing so duly taken care of, it remains only in general, that the Infant be presentlywashed, cleansed, and examined all over, and at last orderlyswaddled. All which if theMIDWIFEdoes not perform with her own Hands, she ought at least to see it carefully accomplished: Upon which she may then say, she has faithfully discharged herDutyto both theMOTHERand theCHILD.
VII.BUTmore particularly, in theseventh Place, I must take notice, that as soon as theNAVEL-STRINGis thus duly handled and provided for, theINFANTis to be tenderly cleansed of the adheringExcrements, and washed all over in a little warmWine,Milk, orAle; especially itsHead,Arm-Pits,Groins,Cods, orPrivities, &c. are to be softly cleansed and gently bathed with a softSpungeorRag, dipt in the sameLiquors: But if theviscous Mattersticks too fast or close to the tender Body, a littleOil of sweet Almonds, or freshButter, may be added to either of the foresaidLiquors. As also theEarsandNostrilsought to be well cleansed and unstopped with small Tents offineRagswet therein; and theEyeswiped with a soft dryCloth; as theMouth,Tongue, andJawsmay be cleans’d by theFinger.
VIII.THESEthings being all very carefully and tenderly performed, every Part of the Body ought to be diligently searched, in case of aDislocation, or any otherAccident, happened byViolencein theBIRTH, or otherways; that presentRemediesmay be used, according to the Nature of theCircumstances: And especially the twoConduitsof theURINEandORDUREare to be examined; since it sometimes falls out thattheseare not perforated, and consequently that theMeconiumcannot be voided, which inevitably proves fatal, unless timelyCarebe taken.
IX.ASto theURINE, allChildrendischarge it as soon as born, at least as soon as they feel theHeatof the Fire; when if theExcrements, properly calledMECONIUM, tho’ improperlyCOLLOSTROby theItalians, do not follow a little after; I mean within anHour or two; then a smallSuppositorymay be used, such as asugar’d Almondanointed with a little boiledHoney; or a Piece ofVenice-Soapanointed with freshButter; as also a littleSyrupofRosesorViolets, mixed with the Oil ofsweet Almondsby Expression, that is, drawn without Fire, may be given in theMouth, anointing theBellywith the sameOil, or with freshButter; in like manner as a smallClyster(upon occasion) may be discreetly used and managed to purpose.
X.THEINFANTbeing in these respectsprovidedfor, it is now to be duly dressed and swaddled in itsSwathing-Cloathes; and beginning with theHEAD, aCompressof a three or fourfold fineLinnen Rag, aboutfour Inches broad, is to be applied to theMOULD, for defending the (yet open)BRAINfromCold, &c. whichCompressis to be carefully covered with, and pinned to the ordinaryCAPSmade on purpose. Next then, some small softRAGSare to be laid behind theEars, upon theBreast, in theArm-Pits, and theGroins; after which theBABEis to be wrapped softly up inwarm Blankets,and discreetlyswathed; not too strait, especially not about theBreastandStomach, that it maybreathethe freer, and the better retain theMILKit sucks. TheARMSare to be stretched along theSides, and theLEGSequallystreight, with a little of theBedbetwixt them; and theHEADis always to be kept steady, as the wholeCHILDis to be preservedthuswarmly wrapped up, and judiciously appointed. But now because theINFANTis commonly committed to theNurse’s Care, I shall, in the next Place, enter upon theDescriptionof the properPersonfor that purpose.