THEMidwifeought to have a specialKnowledgeinThisMatter, since a Thing of so much Moment asLifeitself often depends upon it; yea, andthis Knowledgeis of absolute Necessity to all Persons practisingMidwifery, because many different Points of the greatestImportance, are thereby plainly discover’d: But before I enter upon these Things, I would have it rightly understood, that nothing else is meant here by thePerformanceof theTouch, than (upon having first pared theNailsshort, equal, and smooth)passing the two Fore-fingers of either Hand, (previously well anointed with Fat or Butter, when proper Oils are not to be had) through theVulvainto theVagina,in order to reach the Orifice of the WOMB, and to discern itsForm, by feeling it on each Side.
ANDit is not only requisite that the Woman inLabourbetouched, before herPainscome on, because then theMembranecontaining theHumoursbeing loose, theInfant’sPosturemay be the better distinguish’d; but the sameTouchalso is to be continued during theForceof thePains, the better to know theirNatureandEffects; whether theInfantcontinues still at thePassageor not; and whether theHumoursare contractedlength-ways, or press’d into aFlat Form, and the like. For after thePainsare over, it is easily to be perceiv’d, whether they havepromotedtheBirthorNot.
BUTduring thisPerformanceof theTouch, great Care must be taken not to handle theMembranescontaining theHumourstoo roughly, lest they should break in the Action.
NOWthat theMidwifemay the more readily perform herTouch, she must take good Heed to what is said of theCavityof the[157]Pelvis: for as it rises from theBottomobliquely, ascending forwards; so, upon this Occasion, in seeking for theOrificeof theWomb, she must not thrust herFingersstreight along according to theLengthof the Body, towards the bending of theOs Sacrum; but guide themupwardsfrom theBottom, as if thro’ theVagina, she would touch theNavel: For Thus herHandbeing turn’d inward, and herFingerstending towards theNavel, theOrificeof theWomblying directly in the way, she meets with it readily at first. Whereas they who go otherways to work, seek it in vain, and find it with Difficulty.
THISObservation I thought the more requisite in this Place, becauseMIDWIVESnot accurately understanding theSituationof theBonesof thePelvis, think that theWomband itsNeckorVaginareach according to theLengthof the Woman, and make use of theirHandsaccordingly: First hurting theVaginaandRectumin the Bending of theSacrum; and then finding no fartherPassagefor theirFingers; but being altogether ignorant of the above-mentioned Method of finding the saidOrifice, they are very often surpriz’d, fall into greatConfusionfor want of betterInstruction. Whence I proceed to——