Full text of "Observations in midwifery : as also The country midwifes opusculum or vade mecum"

See other formats

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2010 with funding from

Open Knowledge Commons and Harvard Medical School

http://www.archive.org/details/observationsinmiOOwill

OBSERVATIONS IN

MIDWIFERY.

AS ALSO

THE COUNTREY MIDWIEES OPUSCULUM

OR VADE MECUM.

By PERCIVALL WILLUGHBY, Gentleman.

1 i MSB

ED1TED FROM THE ORIGINAL MS. BY

HENRY BLENKINSOP, F.R.C.S.E

ETC. ETC. ETC.

Da spatium tennemque moram, male cuncta ministrat
Impetus.

Statii Theb. Lib. X.

W A R W I C K

Printed at the Shakespeare Printing Press, High Street,
by H. T. Cooke and Son. 1863.

2 oYt*/- .%s*J> I'06

PREFACE.

The curious MS. which is now first printed, was purchased by
me some years ago from a Bookseller's Catalogue. It is written through-
out with great neatness, and bound in old calf. There is a paper amongst
the Sloane MSS. (No. 529) which contains a portion of the Observations,
but in a condensed form ; and there is in the possession of J. H. Aveling,
Esq , M.D., of Sheffield, a MS. resembling mine, both in the handwriting
and the binding, though in some respects it is not quite so complete. I
am indebted to Dr. Aveling for his courtesy and kindness in allowing me
to compare his MS. with mine.

My thanks are also due to several other members of the medical
profession, and especially to William Munk, Esq., M.D., the learned
compiler of The Roll of the Royal College of Physicians of London, for their
assistance in my endeavours to obtain information respecting the life of
Percival Willughby.

Preface.

I regret that the result has been so unsatisfactory. Repeated
attacks of illness have, during the last two years, prevented me from
pursuing the subject further, and have delayed the publication of this book
so long, that I feel I cannot offer sufficient apologies to those gentlemen
who have kindly sent in their names as subscribers.

I venture to hope that the volume so long promised will be an
acceptable addition to the libraries of my professional brethren.

HENRY BLENKINSOP.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE.

SCION of two ancient and illustrious families, a
Physician of great repute, actively engaged in the
practice of Midwifery in the Counties of Derby
and Stafford, and in London, for half a century,
Percival Willughby has nevertheless left behind him no materials from
which a complete biography can be compiled. The personal information
respecting him is fragmentary and unsatisfactory. He was born in the year
1596, and was, as Dr. Denman remarks in the Preface to his Introduction
to the Practice of Midivifery, "one of the six sons of Sir Percival Willughby,
and grandson of Sir Francis, so famous in the time of Queen Elizabeth."
He was in fact the sixth son of Sir Percival, and as appears from a MS.
pedigree of the family, was uncle to the celebrated Francis Willughby, the
Naturalist. Sir Francis Willughby, who was born in 1547, and who built
Wollaton Hall, in Nottinghamshire, married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir
John Littleton, of Frankley, and by her had five daughters, the eldest of
whom, Bridget, married Sir Percival Willughby, of the house of Eresby.
Sir Percival Willughby and Bridget his wife had issue five daughters and
six sons. The fourth son, Sir Francis Willughby, Knight, was the father

Biographical Notice.

of the Naturalist, whose son, Sir Francis, the first Baronet of the family,
dying unmarried, was succeeded by Thomas, his brother and heir, who, in
1711, was created the first Baron Middle ton. The sixth son was Percival.
It is a curious circumstance in connection with the future pursuits of our
author Percival, that his father and mother, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth,
prayed for a writ "de ventre inspiciendo" against Dorothy, the second wife
and widow of Sir Francis Willughby, of Wollaton, which Dorothy alleged
herself to be with child by Sir Francis.

The proceedings in the case are so curious, that we make no
apology for inserting the following extract from the old Law Eeports : —

WILLOUGHBIES CASE.

" Percival Willoughby, and Bridget his wife, one of the co-heirs of
Sir Francis Willoughby, (because Sir Francis Willoughby died seized of a
great inheritance, having five daughters, whereof the eldest was married to
Percival Willoughby, and not any son ; and the said Sir Francis, leaving his
wife Dorothy, who, at the time of his death, pretended herself to be with
child by Sir Francis, which, if it were a son, all the five sisters should
thereby lose the inheritance descended unto them,) prayed a writ de ventre
inspiciendo out of the Chancery directed to the Sheriff of London, that he
should cause the said Dorothy to be viewed by twelve knights, and searched
by twelve women, in the presence of the twelve knights, and ad tractandum
per ubera and ventrem inspiciend, whether she were with child, and to
certify the same unto the Common Bench. And if she were with child, to

Biographical Notice.

certify for how long time in their judgments and quando sit paritura.
Whereupon the Sheriff accordingly caused her to be searched, and returned
that she was twenty weeks gone with child, and that within twenty weeks
fuit paritura. Whereupon another writ issued out of the Common Bench,
commanding the Sheriff safely to keep her in such an house, and that the
doors should be well guarded, and that every day he should cause her to be
viewed by some of the women named in the writ, (wherein ten were named),
and when she should be delivered, that some of them should be with her, to
view her birth, whether it be male or female, to the intent there should not
be any falsity. And upon this writ the Sheriff returned — That accordingly
he had caused her to be kept, &c. And that such a day she was delivered
of a daughter. ' See Groke's Elizabeth, London, 1669, p. 566.

We have not been able to procure any information respecting the
early life of Percival Willughby, except that he received a first-rate education,
the expense of which his father could ill afford ; and that he was a lad of great
industry. Percival and his brothers, Thomas and Henry, were first sent to
school at Trowbridge, and from thence were removed to Rugby. They were
afterwards removed to Eton, and finally, all three were sent to complete
their education at Oxford. The master of the school at Rugby wrote several
letters to Sir Percival, in which he commended them all for their great
industry. These particulars appear in a MS. account of the Willughby
family, formerly in the library at Stowe, written by Cassandra Willughby,
the second wife of James, the first Duke of Chandos. This MS. in so far as
it relates to our author Percival, appears to have been compiled from letters

Biographical Notice.

and papers which were in the libi'ary at Wollaton, and we extract from it the
following interesting particulars : —

" While Sir Percival was thus grievously oppressed with the want
of money, his son Henry, and his son Percival (who were at Trinity College,
in Oxford) suffered under the same calamity.

There are, in the library at Wollaton, several letters written from
Oxford, by Percival Willughby to his father, in which he very generously
expressed his concern for the expence which Sir Percival was at, to maintain
him at Oxford, and his desire to free him from that charge.

There is a letter from him to Sir Percival, dated January, 1619, in
which he writ that now a fair opportunity offered itself, for his uncle Robert
Willughby had proposed his being placed with Mr. Feames Van Otten, who,
for a hundred pounds, offered to keep him seven years, and to teach him
Music, Physic, and Surgery ; and had promised to use him like a son, main-
tain him like a gentleman, and allow him the free use of his study, and to
teach him the secrets of physic : that under him he should have time for his
own private studies, and to keep his public exercises as before. And after
this, his Uncle Eobert had promised that he should live with him, and that
he would bring him into his business.

In other letters, Percival Willughby earnestly pressed his father to
consent to this offer, and not to scruple his being so placed, as thinking it an
undervaluing to him, for, with God's blessing, he did not doubt but the
profession of Physic would make him more happy than his two eldest

Biographical Notice.

vn.

brothers ; and by the help of that practice, he believed he should never stand
in need of them, but he questioned not that they would stand in need of him.

It appears by the old papers that Sir Percival was at last prevailed
upon by his son, and did consent to send him for seven years to this famous
person, Mr. Feames Van Otten, who used Percival Willughby with great
kindness, but died before his time was out. There is a very melancholy
letter from him to Sir Percival, upon the death of Mr. Feames Van Otten, in
which he grievously lamented the loss of such a master.

This Percival Willughby so well improved himself in the time he
served so good a master, that he soon took his Doctor's degree, and became a
very eminent Physician.

He married the daughter of Sir Francis Coke, of Trusley, A.D.,
1631, and settled himself in Derby town, where he practised Physic, and
lived in great repute, till he was near ninety years of age. He had by this
wife two or three sons, who all died unmarried, and two daughters, the
eldest of which married Mr. Hart, and the younger married Mr. Burton,
of Derby.

Henry was not so fortunate as his younger Brother, Percival, who,
by his practice, gained such an income, as allowed him to live with great
plenty, but Henry, who studied the Law, did not live to reap much profit by
it ; after following that study at Oxford, he removed to the Inward Temple,
and, from thence, he writ a great many very melancholy letters to Sir
Percival, his Father, which still remain in the Library at Wollaton."

Biographical Notice.

It is doubtful whether the family historian is correct in stating
that Percival Willughby took his Doctor's degree. We have been unable to
find any record of it. The passage in the MS. would naturally lead to the
conclusion that he took the Degree early in life, and that can hardly have
been the case, for on February 20th, 1640-1, he was admitted an extra
licenciate of the Royal College of Physicians, of London, and was described
as "in villa et comitatu Derbiensi et alibi in Medicina bene et multum
exercitatus," but there was no mention of his possessing a degree in
Medicine*

Neither did he possess it in 1666, when his wife died, if we may
draw any inference from the inscription on her gravestone, in which he
describes himself as simply "generosus." It is true that in the inscription
on his own gravestone he is described as M.D., but that in itself would not
necessarily imply more than Physician.

The statement that he settled in Derby, in 1631, is, however,
corroborated by our author's reports of cases attended by him (v. p. 268,)
and in fact it is probable that he was practising there in 1630, (v. p. 130),
but when and where he first commenced practice we are unable to discover.
He must have been in practice as early as 1624, if we may rely upon his
statement made in January, 1669, that he had practised "nigh forty-five
years," (v. p. 114.)

Until the year 1655 he appears to have practised in Derbyshire,
and to have been resident in Derby, but in that year we find him living in

* See the Eoll of the Royal College of Physicians of London, by William Munk, M.D.,
Vol. I., p. 213.

Biographical Notice.

Staffordshire, (v. p. 259, "whitest that I lived in Stafford, &c." and p. 49.)
and it would seem that he was not resident in Staffordshire for a long time
before 1655, for he says (p. 77) "About the year 1654, 1 travailed with my
guide, about the middle of summer, all the fore part of the night, and
was brought to Bromidgham, in Staffordshire."

His sojourn then in Stafford was not of long duration, for in 1656
we find him in London, and in this instance he gives us in a few words, the
reason for his removal. " I left Stafford and went to London, there to live
for the better education of my children, in May, 1656. And by reason of an
Apothecary, that formerly had lived in Stafford, I quickly had some practice
in midwifery, among the meaner sort of women." (v. p. 238.)

During his residence in London, however, he was not without
practice of a higher class, for in 1658 we find him, with his daughter,
attending " Sir Tennebs Evanks lady."

His daughter at this period appears to have been of great service
to him. The first mention of her is in 1655, when he takes her with him to
a case at Congerton, (v. p. 158), but in 1656 she appears to have been
competent to attend cases without her father's assistance, and to have
practised in Staffordshire, and subsequently in London, (v. p. 119.)

We cannot positively fix the duration of Willughby's residence in
London, but inasmuch as he mentions cases in London in 1658, and 1659,
and in 1660 we find him attending a case eight miles from Derby, it may
fairly be assumed that he returned to Derby sometime in the year 1659, or
1660.

'Biographical Notice.

Here he resumed the extensive and laborious practice which he
appears to have carried on till within a few years of his death ; frequently
taking long journies on horseback through the night, regardless of bad roads
and bad weather ; now staying several days with a patient in the country,
receiving all the time importunate messages from other ladies who required
his services ; now losing his way in a forest, and riding hard to be in time.

It is possible that his son may have assisted him during the
later years of his practice, for he mentions receiving such assistance in the
year 1670, (p. 175,) and it is noticeable that his observations on cases
cease about that time.

He died in the year 1685, at the advanced age of 89.

On a stone placed within the rails of the Communion table in the
Chancel of St. Peter's, Derby, is the following inscription : —

"Hie jacet corpus Percivalli Willughby, M.D., filii Percivalli
Willughby de Woollaton in Comitatu Nottingham, Militis. Obiit 2 die
Octob. Anno Salutis 1685.
^Etatis suae 89."

Beneath this inscription are the arms of Willughby, and on a
stone near it is the following inscription to the memory of Elizabeth,
our author's wife : —

" Hie jacet Elizabetha uxor Perciva. Willughby gen. filia
Francisci Coke de Trusley Milit. ipsa obiit 15 Feb. 1666, setatis suse 67.

dfoplaitaiifln: of Ctfle Igage.

The figure of Juno Lucina represented on the title page, is
engraved from a cast taken by Mr. Doubleday, of the British Museum, from
a fine Eoman large brass coin of the Empress Lucilla, in the collection
of the Museum.

At the request of a friend, Edward Hawkins, Esq , F.R.S., F.S.A.,
keeper of the antiquities in the Museum, has kindly permitted the coin to be
copied expressly for this publication.

The flower held in the right hand of the Goddess is part of the
ancient emblem of Hope ; and the object of hope seems to be indicated by
a figure of an infant at the side of the Divinity.

The whole representation would appear to point out the trust of
the Empress in the protection of the Goddess Juno Lucina during
parturition.

(S^planaiion of Jfronttsjraa.

This curious woodcut is copied from a rare volume intituled
" Thonue Bartholini Antiquitatum veteris puerperii Synopsis." — Amstelodami
MDCLXXVI. It is thus explained in the text, and aecompanying note.

"Imminente puerperio clavis tradita a maritis, locusque puerperii
idem eligebatur, quern olim habuerant Patres, purpura stratus antiqua imperii
nota, sed ad plures ob luxum deinde divulgata. Habitu ornantur proprio,
quern ex figulina tabula eruimus*. Caput fasciis cinctum, pallio abjecto et
soleis, quse peracto resumuntur opere.

Assident, sed nee poplite in alterum genu imposito, nee digitis
pectinatim implexis.

Proxima quseque apprehendentes dolore se sublevant, primaque
cura est, ob partus facilitatem, palmam tetigisse.'

* Tabulam illam figulinam, quae asservabatur olim in Museo V.C. Martii Milesii
Sarazani exbibet nobis Jac. Philip. Tomasinus de Donariis, ex quo nos earn bic proponimus

Tabulam banc Puerperarum votum exhibere et Dianas Nemorensi sacram putat
Tomasinus, quippe quae Nemi inventa est, ubi celebre olim Dianas Templum. Continet autem
base obstetricem, qua? puerum in lucem jam editum gremio fovet, et dextra mulierem
puerperam sustinet fere nudam, babitu dimisso. Ita enim de babitu puerpera? Plautus
Truculent. Act II. Sc. 5.

vosmet jam videtis

Tit omata incedo puerperio . . . . "

0^M^s?>

OCT 23

Q93

Observations in Midwifery,

By Percivall Willughby,

Gentleman.

everall Worthies have set forth the waves of anatomizing of the
womb. An eminent person of late hath published a treatise
" De formato foetu." Several! others have written of the diseases of the
womb.

These little belong to the knowledge of midwives, I shall there-
fore passe by these learned works. My endeavours shall bee very
little to meddle with diseases, physick, or medicines, but to shew the
handy operation to midwives, how to produce the fetus, when perfectly
formed, and how to help poor suffering women in distresses, and, chiefly
to direct the country young midwives, with what I have read, seen and
performed, giving them severall examples, and caveats, with perswasions,
intreating them not to bee too busie afore fitting time. So their women
will bee more easily, and better helped in their sufferings, and their own

Observations in Midivifery, by

repute advanced in the practice of midwifery, by observing what hath
been by mee performed at severall times in diverse places.

And for their good I have put forth these observations in English,
knowing that few of our midwives bee learned in severall languages.
For I have been with some that could not read, with severall that could
not write ; with many that understood very little of practice, and for
such as these bee, it would do no good to speak to them of the anato-
mizing of the womb, or to tell them of the learned workes of Mercatus,
or Sennertus, or Spigelius.

What I shall do is not to shew any new way of practice to the
learned (of whom I desire to be instructed) but to inform the ignorant
common midwives with such wayes as I have used with good successe.
My thoughts bee onely for a publick good, and chiefly to benefit my
own nation, and the midwives inhabiting England. And it is my desire
to expresse myself in such plain familiar words in this work, as may
bee well understood by them, for the better easing of labouring women
and the saving of poor innocent infants lives.

To set forth a discourse concerning the posture of the child in-
closed in the womb, would not at all advance their knowledg, and I do
decline it. For Pareus saith, that reason cannot shew the certaine situ-
ation of the infant in the womb, and that it is altogether uncertain,
variable and diverse, both in living and in dead women. It will bee
sufficient for midwives to know in what posture the child commeth, and
how to alter unnatural and difficult births, and so to help their women
in distresse, that the secondine or uterine cake groweth to the botom of
the womb, and is firmly there fastened to the uterus, and that it is not
easily separated from it, except it bee when the birth is drawing toward

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

the delivery, at which time, like a ripe fruit, it easily forgoeth the former
connexion.

Yet it may bee usefull to give them a glimmering light, what
learned anatomists have, in some part, set forth.

They say that there bee two coats Amnion and Chorion, which
cover the infant in the womb, which coates or membranes hold in the
waters, in which the body of the infant swimmeth.

To which membranes other Anatomists adde a third, which they
call Allontoides, which some call a duplication of the membrane Chorion,
and some doubt whether there bee such a coat as Allontoides.

And these Anatomists and Physicians say, that the humour, which
is contained in the .Amnion, is most thin and transparent ; but the hu-
mour which is in Chorion is thicker and darker.

And that these coats Amnion and Chorion do encompasse the
infant in the womb, and that the use of these membranes, or coates, is
to contain and keep in the waters, in winch the infant swimmeth, and
with winch the foetus is nourished.

This coat Chorion is rough and viscous without, but within
smooth and glib, and in women the upper part of it is thicker and soft-
er, and fleshy, but the lower part thinner and more membranous. And
in women tins membrane, called Chorion, groweth to the secondine, and
the secondine sticketh to the side, or upper part of the womb.

In processe of time, when the thinner and purer part of these hu-
mours bee exhausted, the relicks do then put on the nature af an usefull

Observations in Midwifery, by

excrement, and are reserved in some animals, that they may secure the
foetus, and facilitate the delivery, by their moisture making supple the
straits of the womb, and so enlarging the narrow passages.

Most of the purer part of the humour inclosed in the coat Amni-
on is commonly spent near the approaching time of delivery, and then it
is probable that the foetus desireth to get forth, by reason that his pro-
visions fail him.

Then, through the infant's enforcing, and the paines of the mother,
the womb openeth, and the Chorion, containing the waters, descendeth,
which the midwives feeling, they say that the waters gather, and that
the birth approacheth. After the breaking of these waters, the child
followeth them.

At this time, and not afore, the midwife may be assistent to the
labouring woman, for the better helping of the cornming forth of the
child, or rather for the receiving of it.

After the child is born, the midwife must fetch away the secon-
dine. The upper part thereof doth stick to the womb all the time that
the woman goeth with child. But the middle part thereof doth grow to
the Chorion. And this secondine, or after-birth, separating of it self,
doth come away last in the delivery ; and is constituted of the humours,
membranes, and fleshy substance, as also of the umbilicall vessels.

Let the midwife look on the secondine, after that she hath fetched
it, and it will shew her this membrane Chorion, like a broken bladder,
from whence the waters issued, and in which the infant, swimming in the
waters, was contained, sticking to the secondine, into which the navel-

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

string is inserted, by which navel-string the midwife's hand is guided for
the bringing away of the secondine.

And I was moved rather to speak of the Chorion and Amnion,
and of the waters in which the child swimmeth, hanging by the navel-
string, for that there bee some simple midwives that imagine that the
child oft sticketh to the woman's back ; and they do not blush to affirme
their ignorances, how they have separated the child from sticking to the
back.

In the first place, I wish and desire all midwives not to bee too
forward, or too officious in their undertakings, least that they disquiet
nature, whose onely work it is, and I would have them to understand,
that they bee but nature's servants in all their performances, and that
they must attend her time and motion, as hereafter shall be shewed.

Secondly to be cautious, That they take not the wind, or stone-
colick/or such like distemperatures, or the raging paines and swellings of
cancerous tumours in the womb, for a woman's labour, that is with child.

An ordinary, poor, gentle clyster will shew the truth of these dif-
ferences, and there is no place so barren that will not afford sufficient
materials to make it.

Bee not afraid to use such clysters as may onely free your women
from several dis-quiets in their bodies, for they cannot hurt any woman,
or her burden; they will prepare, supple, and make a larger way for a
better passage, and will make the work more easy and prosperous under
your hands, by bringing away the common excrements, filling the great
gut, which oft cause a long and troublesome labour, hindering the descent
of the child.

Observations in Midwifery, by

Anno 1630 I was desired by one Powell, a countryman, dwelling
at Weston in Darbyshire, to visit his wife. Her midwife beleeved that
shee was in labour, and had used some enforcing endeavours to lay her.
But, after my comming, finding that the waters had not flowed, and that
the womb was closed, instead of proceeding any farther, I caused her to
take a clyster of milk, in which Avas boiled an handfull of chamomil, to
which strained was added a spoon-full of sugar, and, afterward, the yolk
of an egge ; and this was given lukewarme. Shee found great easement
at the receiving of it. Shee went immediately to her bed, shee slept
quietly all the night ; at the discharging of it, in the morning, all the
dis-quiets of her body were removed, and shee continued well for the
space of a moneth, after which time shee was well delivered.

In my first dayes of ignorance, I thought that it was the best way
to suffer midwives to stretch the labia vulvas with their hands and fingers,
when the throwes approached. But friendly nature in time shewed mee
my mistaking errour. Through the remotenes and the large distance of
severall places whereunto I was called, the women, in the meane time,
keeping the labouring woman warm and quiet, and the midwife desisting
from using violence, by such usage I found the woman oft happily
delivered before my comming ; and so it was made manifest to mee by
observation, That haling, with pulling, and stretching their bodies, with
suffering them to take cold, did ever much hurt, and never any good to
women in distresse to procure or hasten labour.

At the first approaching pain, bee it of labour, or of the colick, or
of tumours, or through sharp humors, or costivenes, a lenitive clyster
will mitigate the labouring woman's sufferings, and facilitate the work,
no way hurting the woman, or child.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

Let the quantity not exceed a one six ounces, or, at the most, to
bee but half a pint, and the longer the labouring woman keepeth it, the
better successe will follow.

The reason, why so little a quantity is prescribed, is, for that it may
bee the longer retained, and so it better easeth, suppleth, and enlargeth
the passages.

At Chesterfield, in Darbyshire, about the yeare 1646, Dorothy
North, wife to Gilbert, being great with child, was afflicted with some
disquiets in her belly. Several! midwives were called to assist her ; one
of them thrust up her hand, and made great struggling in her body ;
at the taking of it forth, her hand was all over bloody, and this midwife
made great vaunts of her skil, and doings, and said, That the child did
stick to the woman's back, but that shee had removed it.

At my comming, I found that the waters had not flowed, and
that the womb was closed ; I gave her a milky clyster that much abated
her paines. I instructed one of the milder sort, that was left alone with
her, what to do, and what to observe, and intreated her to bee gentle
and patient with the woman, and to stay the appointed time, assuring
her, That the fruit would fall off it-self, when that it was full ripe.

Some two or three dayes after my departure, shee was well de-
livered by this midwife, but her child was dead. I saw this woman
Anno 1668, shee hath had severall children since her harsh usage; shee,
with her children, were then living, and in good health.

I should bee troubled to heare any midwife affirme, that a child
did, or could, stick to the back, or side, of the mother. It would argue

Observations in Midwifery, by

and shew a grosse ignorance in snch a midwife. Let midwives make it
rather manifest, that they have so mnch understanding in their callings
as to know, That the child is inclosed within the membranes in the
womb, and that it there swimmeth in water, and that the womb doth
not stick to the back, or side, much lesse the child, swimming in water,
and inclosed in severall coates, containing or holding in, these waters in
the womb. And that they cannot help any woman before the womb
doth open, and that, in part, some of the waters have issued.

And, if that, in any place, they shall heare other midwives, or
women, to affirme such untruths, to give no credit unto their sayings,
but to account them ignorant and foolish, void of knowledg in the mid-
wife's bed.

In London Anno 1656 I was desired by a countryman, dwelling
foure miles from the city, to visit his wife. Hee said, That shee had
been in labour severall dayes, and could not bee delivered by the mid-
wife.

I found tins woman sitting up, and very faint, and her young
midwife troublesome, and sharply eluding the woman in pain, telling
her, That shee could have found in her heart to have tied her feet in her
chaire, and so, whether shee would or not, to have delivered her.

I gave the woman and midwife good words ; I put the woman
into her bed, and afterward, perceiving by my fingers that no waters had
issued, and that the womb was closed, I gave her a clyster that much
eased her paines ; afterward, with cordiall powders and juleps, her dis-
quiets were taken away, and about a quarter of a year afterward shee was
happily delivered of a living child.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

I leave all women to their liberty to make choice of their midwife,
yet I will not bee forward to perswade them to take such a midwife,, as
will bind them, perforce, fast in their chair es, against their wills. Or,
that will pull, stretch, or hale their bodies, or use any violence to enforce
the womb, in hopes of a speedier delivery. Such struglings and doings
make a difficult, painfull, and long labour.

Not far from Nottingham there dwelt a good woman that oft had
great pashes of bloud, accompanied with pain, comming from the womb.

Some midwives affirmed that shee was with child, whereupon
Physicians were consulted with. Upon the wrong informations of these
midwives their prescriptions proved fruitles, and afforded no ease to the
afflicted woman.

But one of these midwives afterward assured her, That shee
could ease and deliver her of the child. The poor woman in distresse,
desirous to be freed of her tortures, hearkened and submitted to her
skill. The midwife thrust up her hand into her body, and took hold of
shee knew not what, and endeavoured violently to pull it away. But
through her struglings and enforcements, great pains ensued, with a flux
of bloud, and the woman being not able to endure such violence, the
midwife was restrained from farther proceedings.

After this usage I was sent for, instead of a child, I found a
swel'd, cancerous tumour in the womb, that tortured this woman with
terrible shootings and stinging paines, accompanied with noisome fluxes
of humours ; of all which disquiets, within a few moneths afterward,
shee was eased by death.

These passages may move midwives to bee cautious of their pro-
mises, and circumspect in their sayings and undertakings, and, withall, not

Observations in Midwifery, by

to bee too busy afore fitting time, to provoke or hasten delivery ; and
to forbear all harsh proceedings, ever suffering the womb to open it self,
and the waters to flow without their enforcements, and to offer no vio-
lence to the womb or passages thereof. Otherwise they will not ease,
but afflict, their women, by their unadvised waves, and ignorant pro-
ceedings.

I advised a good woman, a physician's wife, that had suffered in
severall labours, not to put her self under her midwife's hands before
the waters flowed, and that shee could feel the child's head ; nor to be
compelled to sit on the midwives stool, or woman's lap, or to kneele,
before enforcing throws came upon her; and at no time to suffer the mid-
wife to hale, or stretch, her body with her hands or fingers, through
hopes to hasten her delivery ; but to rest quiet in, or on, her bed, and to
keep her self warm, and to let her midwife do no more then to anoint
her body, and, when the time should come, to receive the child and to help
to fetch the after-birth if need require. Shee followed my counsell, and
afterwards gave mee thanks for my directions and assured mee, That
shee had found much ease and comfort by them ; and that her sufferings
were little, and nothing so grievous as formerly they had been unto her,
occasioned by her midwife's enforcements.

In Darby, Feb : the ninth, 1667, a poor foole Mary Baker, wan-
dering for sustinence, wanting cloths to keep her warm, having gone
barefooted for many years, was, in an open, windy, cold place, nigh to a
house of office, delivered by the sole assistance of Dame Nature, Eve's
midwife, and freed of the after-birth, without the help of any other mid-
wife, or any assisting woman present with her. It was reported, That
the child, being a wench, lay naked upon the cold boards more than a
quarter of an houre. Shee, being found out by the child's crying, was

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

not immediately succoured, but neighbers being called they took up the
child and found the navel-string separated from the after-birth, which
came of itself afterward. In her extremity shee was destitute of a warm
place and bed, wanting necessaries fitting for a woman's releef. This
poor creature, leaning with her back against a wall, was quickly deli-
vered and more easily than many have been by midwives in warm places.
Shee and the child lived.

It is a good and fitting thing that every woman should have
her midwife with her, at the time of her delivery. But it is not abso-
lutely necessary, for that many bee delivered without the help of mid-
wives.

The midwife's dutie, in a naturall birth, is no more but to attend,
and wait on, nature, and to receive the child ; and, (if need require) to
help to fetch the after -birth, and her best care will bee to see that the
woman and child bee fittingly and decently ordered with necessary con-
veniences.

The after-birth oft commeth of itself, yet it is not amisse to assist
nature for the producing of it.

There bee some midwives, that never offer to fetch the after-birth,
but suffer nature to expell it, and their women have done well.

I know a worthy good man, that had two children, at severall
times, as good as born, before the midwife did, or could come unto his
wife.

I have known severall women, that have -been delivered without
a midwife. Therefore to have a midwife is not absolutely necessary, yet
very convenient, to assist the woman, and so to avoid all future sus-

Observations in Midwifery, by

picions, and to free some of the looser sort from the danger of the
statute-law, in case that the child should bee found dead.

Let not women, turning niidwives, delude themselves, by think-
ing, That this work will be learned by seeing a few women delivered, or
by little practice, or by discourse, or by reading books, that it will suf-
ficiently bee understood. All these bee good helps and inducements to
shew them somewhat in the way of practice. But, in cases of danger,
and in unnaturall births, without much practice, they will find them-
selves ignorant, and at a stand, not knowing what path to follow, or
what course to take for the woman's safety, or the saving of their own
credits.

Every delivery hath taught mee something, or, at the least, hath
confirmed my practice.

For, although much practice enlighteneth the understanding, yet
they shall sometimes find, That all bodies bee not alike, and that some
unexpected newnes, or casualty, may happen in the mother, or in the
child, or in the labour, or in most of them, the which I have sometimes
seen.

I knew a woman, that was happily delivered of eighteen children,
yet, through an accident, happening before her travailing, shee died of
the nineteenth in the night after shee was delivered.

I desire that all midwives may gain a good repute, and have a '
happy successe in all their undertakings; and that their knowledge,
charity, and patience, with tender compassion, may manifest their worths
among their women, and give their women just cause to love, honour,
and to esteem them.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

Let rnidwives pray to God to direct theni, and to blesse their
women,, and that he would bee pleased to free them from all the dangers,
& perilous accidents, happening sometimes in child-bed.

And, in all their undertakings, ever to desire, That God would
bee graciously pleased to inform their judgments, & to guide their hands,
for the better helping, & saving of their women, and children, and,
lastly, with submitting humblenes to implore his gracious mercy for
mitigating their punishment, which is decreed and pronounced against
them

" In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children.'"

And let rnidwives read 12, 13, 14, & 15 verses of Zechariah, &
consider the 15 verse, what God said, " I was but a little displeased,
& the heathen helped forward the affliction," & in the 16 verse saith
the Lord, " I am returned with mercyes."

God was displeased with Eve, therefore he said, " In sorrow thou
shalt bring forth children," not that hee would destroy her. Therefore
let rnidwives endeavour to mitigate their women's sorrows, and no way
augment them, by haling, and pulling their bodies, to help forward, & to
increase their sufferings.

Usually, before the time of delivery, three sorts of humours do
come, and bee seen in most women.

The first is slimy, and commeth by the dilatation of the outward,
and inward orifice of the womb. Sometimes it commeth two, three, or
four dayes before the travail, by little dabs, or like snot, and it doth
much good, by opening, and moistening, and causing a slipperines in
the outward parts of the body, for the more easy delivery.

Observations in Midwifery, by

The second hath some small reddish straines or streakes in this
slime, which appeareth, when the womb enclineth to opening, and the
membranes begin to crack, before the issuing of the waters.

The third is called, by the midwives, the water, in which the child
swimmeth.

Let mee perswacle and intreat the midwife, not to torment the
poore woman, at the first comming of her paines, by putting her to
kneel, or to sit on a woman's lap, or on the midwife's stoole, Jmt suffer
her to walk gently, or to lie down on a truckle bed, having a warme
closier to her body, and her cloths wrapped close about her, keeping her
in a moderate temperature, not too hot, or too cold, but so, as shee may
well endure, anointing the places, concerned in travail, with fresh butter,
goose grease, capon's, or hen's fat, or balsamum hystericum, as occasion
serveth.

When the upper parts of the belly seem as if they were empty,
and fallen, and the lower parts big, and full, then the child sinketh
down, and this is a forerunner of labour.

Dr. Harvy saith fol : 472 " Of the birth/'

" The matrix being near delivery, doth bear down, groweth soft,
and openeth its Orifice. The Waters also as they commonly call them,
are Gathered, that is, a certain part of the chorion, in which the fore-
said humour is conteined, doth usher in the Foetus, and slide down from
the Matrix into the Vagina, or Sheath of the Womb : and the neigh-
bouring parts also are loosened, and ready to distend : also the Articu-
lation of the Holy bone, and the Share-bone to the Hanch-bone (which
Copulation, or Articulation is by Synchondrosis, or a gristly ligament)

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

is so softened and losened, that the fore-said bones do easily give way to
the parting Infant ; and by gaping open, do amplifie the whole region
of the Hypogastrium, or Lower belly. And when these things are in
this condition, it is certain that the Birth is at hand. And that so the
fetus (like a ripe fruit) may come forth into the World, Nature makes
this provision of dilating the parts."

The words of Ambrose Parey, ch : 13. lib : 24, "Concerning the
Generation of Man."

" When the naturall prefixed and prescribed time of child-birth is
come, the childe being then growne greater, requires a greater quantity
of food : which when he cannot receive in sufficient measure by his
navell, with great labour and striving hee endeavoureth to get forth :
therefore then hee is moved with a stronger violence, and doth breake
the membranes wherein he is contained. Then the wombe, because it
is not able to endure such violent motions, nor to sustaine or hold up
the childe any longer, by reason that the conceptacles of the membranes
are broken asunder, is relaxed. And then the childe pursuing the aire
which hee feeleth to enter in at the mouth of the wombe, which then is
very wide and gaping, is carried with his head downewards, and so com-
meth into the world, with great pain both unto it selfe, and also unto
his mother, by reason of the tendernes of his body, & also by reason of
the extension of the nervous necke of his mother's wombe, and sepa-
ration of the bone called Os Ilium from the bone called Os sacrum.
For unlesse these bones were drawne in sunder, how could not only
twinnes that cleave fast together, but also one childe alone, come forth
at so narrow a passage as the necke of the womb is ? Not onely reason,
but also experience confirmeth it; for I have opened the bodies of
women presently after they have died of travell in childe-birth, in whom

Observations in Midwifery, by

I have found the bones of Ilium to bee drawne the breadth of ones
finger from Os sacrum : and moreover, in many unto whom I have been
called being in great extremity of difficult and hard travelL I have not
onely heard, but also felt the bones to crackle and make a noise, when I
laid my hand upon the coccyx or rumpe, by the violence of the disten-
tion. Also honest matrons have declared unto me that they themselves,
a few daies before the birth, have felt & heard the noise of those bones
separating themselves one from another, with great paine. Also a long
time after the birth, many do feele great paine and ache about the region
of the coccix and Os sacrum, so that when nature is not able to repaire
the dissolved continuity of the bones of Ilium, they are constrained to
halt all the dayes of their life after. But the bones of the share, called
Ossa pubis, I have never seene to be separated, as many do also affirme.
It is reported that in Italy they break the coccyx or rumpe in all maidens,
that when they come to bee married they may beare children with the
lesser travaile in childe-birth ; but tins is a forged tale, for that bone
being broken, is naturally and of its owne accord repaired, and joyned
together again with a Callus, whereby the birth of the childe will be
more difficult and hard."

But, in all my practice, I never observed such separation in the
bones of Ilium from Os sacrum, as is mentioned by Dr. Harvey, or by
Pareus.

It is reported, That the wild Irish women do break the ossa Pu-
bis of the female infant, so soon as it is born, & I have heard some
wandering Irish women affirm the same to bee true, and that they have
wayes to keep these bones from uniting. It is for certain, that they bee
easily, and soon delivered ; and I have observed, That many wanderers
of that nation have had a wadling, & lamish gesture in their going.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

I knew a woman, nigh London, that had severall hard, difficult
labours, with much sorrowfull sufferings in her travailing, before shee
could bee delivered, and that shee was sometimes delivered by a man
midwife. After each delivery shee was long weak in her loines and
hips, and complained of much paine in those places, and shee went long
wadling after each delivery.

I have known two women in Darbyshire, the one, after delivery,
complained much of weaknes, and paines, which shee for a time did
constantly feele in her loines and hips; the other had the same sufferings,
and they both went lamish, and wadling, above a moneth after their
delivery, if not a longer time.

There came a woman from Nottingham unto mee to Darby;
some two yeares afore, both the bones of her arme were broken, and in
all this time, the bones did not knit again. I applied lapis osthcocollse
with whites of egges, and other astringents, and so splinted her arme,
and then shee became able to lift up her hand, and hold light matters,
the which shee could not do afore. But I cannot say, that the bones of
her arme did again unite, or that her arme was any way usefull, longer
than she had it wrapt in astringents, and splinted and rouled, for that
shee came no more unto mee. Why may not the same thing happen to
maids in os pubis, or coccygis, in respect of union, as it did to the arme
of the Nottingham woman ? But Pareus saith, that these bones will
joine together again with a Callus ; but why doth hee say, a little afore
this place, that when nature is not able to repaire the dissolved conti-
nuity of the bones Ilium, That women are constrained to halt all the dayes
of their lives after ? The Irish women have affirmed, that they can
keep the share-bone from uniting. And I saw and felt what I have
written concerning the Nottingham woman's arme, and that it was most

Observations in Midwifery, by

true. Why may not the same disunion happen in os pubis, or coccygis?
But I leave every one to his owne thoughts and belief.

When paines begin to follow the woman, and signes of travaile
appeare, then let the midwife enquire, when shee was at stool, or made
water, least the intestinum rectum, being loaded with excrements, or the
bladder, full of water, should presse the neck of the womb, and so
hinder the birth, and make the labour more painful and difficult.

Let, therefore, these passages of the body bee freed -of the excre-
ments, either by a clyster, or a suppositer. But a clyster is more proper,
and let it not exceed the quantity of six ounces, or, at the most, but
half a pint. Let the labouring woman retain it as long as possibly shee
can ; though it bee three or foure houres, or longer, or all night. At
the discharging of it, it will bring away all excrements, and, through the
long keeping of it, it will dilate, supple, and bedew, with its moisture
all the passages, and stir up the expulsive faculty, and so cause a more
easy delivery.

But, if there happen unto her a loose stoole, or two, or more,
before, or nigh her travaile, then you need not to give her a clyster, yet
let the midwife move her to make water.

When paines increase, and bee frequent, beginning at the back,
and running all along the belly, without staying at the navel, and, chiefly,
if they run all along the groin, and in the botome of the belly, and the
thighes inwardly ; It is a great signe, that shee begins to fall into labour.

Then let the midwife, having her finger anointed with Balsamum
Hystericus, or some other ointment, feel the matrix, if she find the
the orifice of the womb to open, and to dilate, shee may bee assured
that shee is in travaile.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

All women bee not delivered after one fashion. Some desire to
bee in, or on, their beds, others, to be sitting on the midwife's stool ;
or on a woman's lap ; some kneeling ; others, standing, supported by two
women, or hanging with their armes about their ne_cks.

But the best, and safest, way is to bee delivered either in, or on
their beds, or pallets, or kneeling, so that the woman bee strong, and
the child lively, having their bodies decently covered, and the genitall
parts kept warme.

Having brought the woman to her bed, or pallet, raise her upper
parts, by putting a bolster and pillow under her head, and a pillow under
her back and hips, to raise them up, having her thighes kept asunder,
her knees bowed, her heeles drawn upward, and to rest her feet, and to
thrust them forward against something laid at the bed's feet. Let her
bee well anointed with some of the afore-named ointments, alwayes keep-
ing a warme closier to the birth-place.

It is a usuall custom in some midwives, to roule up the cloths
from the bed's feet, to come unto the woman's body, when that labour is
on her. It is a better way, then to lay their cloths, as they kneel, on
their hips ; her body and thighes, thus lying naked, the woman must
needs take cold; and shee cannot bee altogether freed from suffering of cold
by rouling up of the cloths. This is a more decent way. But, if the
midwife will sit, or kneele, by the bed-side, in a natural birth, and put
her hand under the clothings, or blankets, and so under the woman's
thigh, pressing down the cloths close to her arme, then shee shall bee
sure to keep all cold from the woman's body. "What should the mid-
wife's hand do there more, then to anoint the woman's body with
convenient oiles, or ointments, and to receive the child, at the instant
time of delivery?

D~2

Observations in Midwifery, by

Before the womb doth open, and the waters issue, the midwife
ought not to bee too officious, let her anoint the parts onely, and use
her gently ; not alwayes, upon every sleight pain, or trifling throw, to
bee thrusting her fingers into the birth-place. But, rather, to give her
good, and comfortable words, and, if the child commeth right, to commit
all the work to God's mercy, and not to disturb nature, (whose onely
work it is) by giving of medicines to make throwes. Neither must shee
go about to hasten the birth, by using any force to the woman's body,
to dilate the passages by her hands and fingers. Such doings cause
long, and difficult labours.

Medicines, given too soon, send down humours too hastily, winch
obstruct the passages, causing swellings in the genitall parts, and a more
troublesome labour.

It will bee sufficient to refresh her with mace-ale, or caudles, or
a little wine and Alkermes, and to anoint her body with Balsamum
Hystericum, or other oiles.

The midwife's office, or duty, in a naturall birth, is no more, but
to receive the child, and, afterward, to fetch the after-birth, if need
require.

Therefore let me perswade all midwives, not to do any thing
hastily, or by force, to enlarge the passages, in hopes of a speedy delivery,
much lesse to let forth the waters, by breaking, or tearing the mem-
branes. Such doings bee hurtfull both to the mother and child, for the
midwife ought to bee quiet, and, with patience, to wait on nature untill
they do break, or crack, of themselves.

Ambrosius Pareus saith. "In the time of child-birth, when the
infant by kicking breaketh the membranes, those humours runne out,

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman,

which when the midwifes perceive,, they take it as a certaine signe that
the childe is at hand. For if the infant come forth together with those
waters, the birth is like to be more easie, and with the better successe ;
for the necke of the wombe and all the genitalis are so by their moisture
relaxed and made slippery, that by the endeavour and stirring of the
infant the birth will be the more easie, and with the better successe"
accompanied.

There bee some midwives, that, through ignorance, or impatience,
or being hastened to go to some other woman's labour, do teare the
membranes with their nailes, or cut them with scissers, and let forth the
waters, to the great hurt and danger both of the mother, and the child.

The waters being issued, and voided before the appointed time,
yea, often, before the child bee well turned in the womb, hath been the
death of severall children, and oft hath endangered the travailing woman's
life.

If the infant bee not excluded before all these humours bee
wholly flowed out, and gone forth, but that it remaineth, as it were, in
a dry place, presently, through drines, the neck of the womb, and all
the neighbouring parts, will be contracted, and drawn together, so that
the birth of the child will bee very difficult, and hard to bee performed ;
unles the neck of the womb, to amend that default, bee anointed with
oile, or some other relaxing liquor, to make the parts slippery both with-
in, and without ; as oile of sweet almonds, or lilies, and a whole egge,
yolk and white, beaten and all mixed together, and poured into the
privy passage, to make it glib, in stead of the waters that are run forth
too soon; and, for this purpose, the anointing and putting into the
body the Hysterical! Balsam will prove most excellent.

Observations in Midwifery, by

Before the waters flow, the infant, by its own strength, may turn
in the womb, but, afterward, it cannot, through the drines of the parts
contracted and drawne together ; and so oft it commeth in a difficult
way of delivery.

One Mrs. Jane Wildbore, that I lately delivered in Darby, per-
ceived (as shee assured mee afterward) that shee felt the child scrabling,
with Iris fingers, at the mouth of the womb, before the waters flowed.
I felt the same, and was much troubled at it, fearing an unnaturall birth.
I acquainted others with my fears, but I said nothing to her (for feare
of disquieting her) or shee to mee. At the flowing of the waters, tins
child, through Iris own strength, turned downward, and pitched his head
into the birth-place, and shee was soon delivered, July the 20, 1667.

"When some midwives bee puzled, or, through ignorance, have
committed some unhandsome doings, by tearing the membranes, and
that the infant, for want of moisture, doth not descend, but abideth un-
moveable in the womb, by slirinking of the membranes through drines
of the parts, then presently they say, that the child commeth crosse, or
that the head of it is pitched in the flank, or that the child lieth over-
thwart the womb. And then they send for a man midwife.

One Mrs. K. P., a London midwife, being to go to another
woman, in hopes to deliver her woman quickly (as, upon my inquiry
shee confessed privately to mee) did teare the membranes. All the
waters issued suddenly forth; the child being deprived of moisture,
perished in the womb. The next day shee desired my assistance, and
told me that the child's head lay in the woman's hip ; but I could find
no such thing, neither could I reach the child with my finger. Of my
opinion was another midwife. Shee, finding that I would not bee too
hasty to work, as shee desired, in my absence, the better to save her

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

credit, shee caused another man to bee sent for. Hee was of my opin-
ion, yet told tins midwife, That hee would send her a medicine to pro-
cure labour, and that at night, hee would come again. Then hee drew
the child with his instrument, and the woman hardly escaped with life,
being long afterward sickly and weak. And all this misery was occa-
sioned through the midwife's folly, by tearing the membranes, and let-
ting forth the waters too suddenly ; for the more leisurely the waters
dribble, the easier will be the delivery.

Let the midwife patiently observe, and wait on nature's time and
ways, and, when some waters begin to drible in small quantity, consider,
whether this issue commeth with pain, or without any disquieting.
For Dr. Harvy saith, That, in some women, at severall times such fluxes
(which midwives call by-waters) have issued forth, in the midst of the
going with child, without abortion.

In this case, let the woman keep her bed, or rest much on it ;
lying quiet, and stirring little, so these fluxes may cease again. How-
ever, shee may go a longer time, and, at the last, bee safely delivered, yet
it threateneth some danger of miscarrying.

This midwife, K. F., was with a woman in the Strand, from
whom, by pashes, and driblets, the waters issued three or four dayes, or
longer, before her delivery. The midwife, being ignorant, and not know-
ing what to do, pretended a visit to mee, (which was not usuall) but, at
the last, shee asked my opinion in the aforenamed case. I told her,
That, in many women, the water issued for severall dayes, and at
severall times, and yet, that the woman did well, and, in due time was
safely delivered. Shee much wondered at my words, shee blest herself,
and said, That shee never heard the same afore. Whilst that the Apo-

Observations in Midwifery, by

thecary was preparing, by my directions, some medicines for her, shee
hasted again unto her woman, and left her daughter to bring them.

Shee was with the woman not a quarter of an hour, but the
waters flowed again, in a larger quantity, with throwes, and the child,
within a very little space, followed them, and so her credit was saved,
and shee confirmed in a practick way, that shee knew not afore. For
winch kindnes this old midwife, afterward, gave mee thanks.

Guillimeau saith, That there bee some women, that have these
waters issue out, and come away, long before they are ready to he down.
Hee reporteth that, of late memory, Mad : Arnault, who having gone
6 or 7 moneths, and troubled with a great colick, that had held her al-
most two moneths, and took her every day at certaine houres ; shee
being at her house hi the countrey, intreated him that hee would come to
see her, and to have lus advice and counsell, whether it were fit for her
to come into the city, winch he advised her to do, both because of the
great pain shee had, and also for her. exceeding greatness, being of opini-
on that shee might have two children. Being come to Paris, her colick
was somewhat mitigated, and a little while after shee voided two or three
gallons of water, without any pain, thinking verily that shee was not
with cliild ; yet, five dayes after, shee was delivered very happily, and
with little pain, of a fane daughter, there following very little water, or
none at all.

Hee saith, That hee saw another Lady, in whom these waters
came away above ten dayes before her delivery. Yet shee kept not her
bed, but followed her ordinary busines.

Therefore let not the midwife bee too bold, to hasten delivery, ex-
cept the paines bee proper for travaile.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

When the waters, by the paines, and strivings of the mother, or
by the enforcements of the child, shall bee newly broken out, and that
throwes bee strong, and increasing, then let the midwife, with what con-
venience may bee, place herself nigh to the travailing woman, and, hav-
ing her hand anointed, feel the matrix, that shee may the better find
whether the child commeth naturally, or not.

If, in feeling, shee perceive that there is an hard, and equall
roundnes, it is most likely to bee the head of the child, and that it
commeth naturally. If shee feele any unevenes, shee may suspect the
contrary.

When the midwife shall perceive that the birth commeth well,
and according to nature, and that the child's head is pitched in the
birth, (the which they call a naturall birth) and that the throwes follow,
and increase upon the woman, and that the child doth endeavour to
come forth, and that the womb doth strain, and force itself to bee freed
of the burden : Then let the midwife encourage the woman, intreating
her to bear down her throwes, to hold in her breath, by stopping her
mouth, and to strain downward, as though shee would break wind, or
go to stoole, and not to hinder her labour by sucking in her breath, or
lamenting her sufferings ; and let her assure her with comfortable words,
That the child is ready at hand to come into the world, and that shee
will soon be delivered by putting her endeavours to the work.

But if, at this time, labour should begin to flag, and throwes
decrease, toward the latter end of the woman's travaile, it would bee
convenient to give a dose of the midwife's powder, to quicken the child's
expulsion, and it will much advance the woman's delivery.

Observations in Midwifery, by

And then, and ever, let the midwife forbeare to use violence,
which liindereth the birth, through much haling, or pulling, or stretch-
ing those tender parts.

Such doings create paines, with swellings and sorenes, and make
the labouring woman unwilling to endure her labour, and the putting
down of her throwes ; and, severall times, this too much officiousnes
causeth evil accidents to follow, as tearing the body, sores, and ulcers,
or flouding and scouring. All winch, in childbed, bee found too oft
dangerous, and they may prove fatall.

Let the labouring woman herself, or some assisting woman, (as
occasion urgeth) gently presse downward, with the palm of her hand,
the upper parts of the woman's belly ; stroaking, and putting the
child downward by little and little ; and let every one encourage the
woman with good hopes, that her sufferings will quickly bee at an end,
and that such paines bee incident to all women in their travaile.

This pressure hastens the delivery, and quickeneth the throwes,
and maketh the labour more easy to bee endured.

When the child's head doth offer itself, the midwife must gently
receive it with both her hands ; afterward, when the woman's throwes
increase, or, without them, shee may draw forth the child's shoulders,
by sliding up her fingers under the child's armepit, and easily nudging
the child's body toward the other side, slightly drawing with her ringers ;
so will the rest of the body quickly follow, which must not bee pulled
forth hastily, or rashly from the woman's body.

So soon as the child is born, let the midwife fetch the after-birth,
the navel-string will guide her to it, by which shee may gently move the
after-birth from side to side, to make it separate from the womb through

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

that motion. It usually descendeth with the child, and lyeth in the
vagina uteri (the sheath of the womb) like a loose handkerchief in
one's pocket. Let the midwife gather it leasurely into her hand, and
hold it gently, without squeezing, then cause the woman to cough,
sneeze, or boken, and, whilest she is so doing, let the midwife sleightly
draw it away. This coughing and sneezing, or bokening, by pressing
the belly together, doth, of itself, thrust forth the midwife's hand, and
the after-birth.

If the womb shall be found very moveable, and loose (as some-
times it is, when the belly hath been greatly stretched out, through the
greatnes of the child, and multitude of the humours) in this case let
the midwife cause some other woman to lay her flat hands on the sides
of the woman's belly and navel, and gently to presse them together, and
to stroke her belly downward, whilest that shee draweth the after-birth
from her.

Sometimes the after-birth doth not descend into the vagina uteri,
but is retained in the body of the womb, and this will prove difficult
and troublesome to the midwife to fetch, and few know how to do it,
and they had better to let it alone unfetched, then to keep much strug-
ling in the woman's body. Nature, with time, will expell it, with the
giving of such medicines as enforce the birth, and keep open the womb.

In this case, let the understanding midwife anoint her hand, and
follow the navel-string, which will lead her to the mouth of the womb ;
if it be shut, or somewhat closed, let her, by degrees, with her anointed
fingers, open the womb, and, having gotten to the after-birth, let her
shake it a little by the navel-string, and, being loosened, gather it
leasurely into her hand, and then cause the woman to cough, boken, or
sneeze, and shee will the easier bring it forth by these enforcements.

i~2

Observations in Midwifery, by

The after -burden is easiest drawn forth when the woman kneeleth.

Some women cause two bags of linen cloth to bee made, and to
bee filled with warm salt. These bags they will the woman to hold hard
in her hands, nigh as high as her breast, close together, and then to
bend her back and head forwards, and lifting up, and stretching abroad
her elbowes, with strong blasts, or puffes, to blow on these bags, and,
with this motion, the after-birth will bee driven forth.

When the woman is freed from the after-birth, let her be laid in
a warm bed. Let the midwife permit her to He on which side shee
pleaseth, a little groveling, pulling somewhat up her feet, and sometimes
to hold her breath a little, and sleightly to strain downward, as though
shee would break wind, and to stroke, with her own hands, her belly
towards her navel and flanks, when that shee finds any disquietings in
her body. By these wayes all clods of blood, and what might casually
bee left remaining in the womb, will be expelled, and driven forth. And,
at the woman's desire, let her turne on the other side, keeping her feet
warm, with the rest of her body. Tor which intent, shee may keep on
her stockins, to avoid cold, and lay warm woollens to her feet, for cold
is hurtfull to a woman hi child-bed.

By such doings the woman will bee much refreshed, and eased
in her sufferings, and there will happen no inconveniency, by lying on
either side, as shee best liketh, contrary 'to the thoughts of foolish
opinionated midwives.

If it be feared, That some part of the after-birth should remaine
unfetched away, do not again make a new searching for it in the womb ;
but lay emplastrum Hystericum, or Galbanum, spread on leather, to the
navel, and anoint the birth-place with Balsamum Hystericum, and anoint

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

under her nostrils with oile of amber, or smel to Galbanum, and all
will succeed well, and, usually, after a refreshing sleep, when that the
woman maketh water, the remaining part will come away, and, with the
water, it droppeth into the chamber-pot.

A Scholemaster's wife in Staffordshire sent for mee, and said, that
shee expected that day, or that night ensuing, to bee delivered, and was
troubled, for that shee was disappointed by her midwife, and desired my
assistance. I intreated her to keep her warm bed. At six o' clock that
night shee sent again for mee. At present, there were little signs of la-
bour, but ordinary grumblings, and grinding paines. But within a
little space afterward shee had throws. Having my finger anointed, I
found that the womb began to open. Presently after, a second throw
followed, and the waters gathered, and did much increase. After the
third throw the waters flowed, and a living child followed the waters,
and was easily borne. The after-birth was immediately fetched and shee
was speedily, and happily, delivered, Anno 1649.

A naturall
bivth.

This birth was so speedy, that the woman had not time to turn
herself, but the child was borne as shee lay on her side.

But Goodwife Ann Frith, a woman in Derby, 1646, having a hard
and long labour, was much haled and pulled by her midwife, that hoped,
through much tugging, quickly to deliver her. So that the lips of the
vulva were greatly swelled, and turned outward, and became discoloured,
with sundry colours.

The midwife, supposing these swellings to be part of the after-
birth, thrust her fingers into them ; forthwith the blood spirted on the
midwife's face, and ran down her gorget. Upon this I was sent for.

A naturall
birth made
difficult.

Observations in Midwifery \ by

I found the child dead, I drew it with the crochet,
weaknes, and lived about twenty yeares afterward.

Shee recovered her

By these reports you may see nature's wayes. In the first, how
easily shee was helped, in due time, by warm keeping, without strug-
ling. In the second, the ill event ; through too much officious igno-
rance of the midwife, crossing nature by her strivings, and starving the
birth with cold.

Dr. Harvey saith, That, in a natural and genuine birth, two things
are required, winch are assistant the one to the other ; that is to say, the
woman in travaile, and the foetus, which is to bee produced. Both
which, except they bee ripe for the busines, the birth is hardly succes-
full. For if the fetus, being disquieted, and coveting to bee enlarged,
do prevent his parent, by exciting her, and offering violence to her
womb : Or, if the mother, by reason of her infirmity of her retention
(as if her womb were disturbed with a kind of nauseousnes) or, by some
necessity of expulsion, bee beforehand with the infant ; the birth is to
be reputed a disease, or symptome, rather than a naturall, or criticall
production. As also, when some parts of the conception escape out, and
others are still retained within, namely, if the foetus attempt a depar-
ture ere the after -burden bee dismissed from the sides of the womb : or
else the after-burden, on the contrary, bee loose from the uterus, the
foetus being not rightly composed, nor the uterus relaxed, for the accom-
modation of the work.

And, therefore, the younger, more giddy, and officious midwives
are to bee rebuked, which, when they hear the women in travail cry out
for pain, and call for help, least they should seem unskilfull, and lesse
busy then comes to their share, by daubing their hands over with oiles,
and distending the parts of the uterus, do mightily bestir themselves,

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

and provoke the expulsive faculty by medicinall potions ; so that, being
impatient of a competent expectation, by their desire to hasten and pro-
mote the birth, they do rather retard and pervert it, and make it an
unnaturall and difficult delivery ; and, leaving the membranes, or some
part of the after-burden, still adherent to the womb, they do both expose
the poor woman to the injuries of the aire, and, vainly perswading them
to their stooles, weary them out, and bring them in danger of their
lives.

Hee saith farther, That it is much happier with poor women, and
those that dare not own their great bellies, where the midwives help is
never required. Tor the longer they retain and retard the birth, the
easier and more successful proves the delivery.

In the unfortunate dayes, when Sir John Gell Baronet, then
Colonell of Darby, and Mr. Thomas Gell, Iris brother, Lieutenant and
Eecorder of Darby, and Mullanus Evankt Iris Major Lieutenant, and
Mr. Dolton, Major, Anno 1647, There happened that a comely, well fa-
voured servant was gotten with child in Darby. Nobody mistrusted her
belly. Shee lay in the same room, where her mistris lodged, in a
truckle bed, at her bed's feet, where, in the night, shee was delivered
without any midwife, not making any noise, or uttering any sorrowfull
complaint. Presently after her delivery shee arose, and took up the
child, and carried it away into a remote place, and hid it in the botom
of a feather-tub, and covered it with feathers, and so returned to her
bed again, and was not mistrusted by her mistris, or any one of the
house.

A most easy

birth without

the midwife's

help.

It was then the custome of Darby souldiers to peep in the night
through windows, where they espied light. By them her secret doings

Observations in Midwifery, by

were discovered, and at the Sessions in Darby shee had, afterward, her
triall.

But, in those lawles dayes, the Jury would not find her guilty of
murder, for that shee was an handsome, comely creature, and beloved of
the souldiers, that then pitied her misfortunes. For which reason John
Shaw, the foreman of the Jury, pitying the woman, and willing to in-
gratiate the souldiers to bee his friends, would not find her guilty, and
said, hee thought it no reason that a woman should be hanged for a
mistaken harsh word or two in the Statute.

The souldiers smiled, and rejoyced at her delivery. But some of
Darby Magistrates frowned, and were offended, but they durst not
shew, or utter their thoughts in words, or deeds, for the cause afore-
mentioned,

I have heard simple women much to commend haling, torturing
midwives, and to account them good and expert in their callings. For
that, in the woman's labour, they took great paines to deliver them, and
that the sweat did run down their faces, in performing of their work to
deliver their women.

But, surely, these women never felt their doings, and I know that
it may prove a blessed happines, to travailing women, to have such mid-
wives at a remote and great distance to bee sent for, when the paines
first approach. So they may escape severall tortures and mischiefes,
procured by such midwives.

In the meane time, friendly nature, the best of midwives, keepeth
them warm, and quiet, on, or in, their beds, putting them to no harsh
usage in the midwife's absence; and, through her mildnes, and

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

comfortable assistance, the child is oft easily bom, before the laborious,
and ignorant midwife commeth.

Frequent reports have often published the very same truth, from
the mouths of such poor, unfortunate creatures, as have publickly la-
mented their mishaps, before their downfall under the gallows.

I have known severall creatures of this gang, and their fellow fol-
lowers in ill fortunes. But I never heard that any of them complained
of a painfull, or hard delivery ; but that nature left them so strong, that
they were able to go about their usuall works, and to perform their ser-
vices, without making any halt in their employments.

I was well acquainted with a servant, that worked all the day
long without any dismaying or complaint, Anno 1651. A little space
before supper shee went to bed. After supper one of the Ladie's
daughters came to see what ailed her. Shee, poor creature, turned the
cloths of the bed, and shewed her a child, as good as born, without any
midwife's help, and shee and the child did well, and they both were
living 1669.

E. T., of Hampton Bidway, This unfortunate woman, being in bed
with her sister, rose up, and went into an out-house, and there was de-
livered of a child. Shee returned quickly again into her bed. Her go-
ing and returning was not perceived by her sleeping sister. Being mis-
trusted by her neighbours, and some woman, upon suspicion, being sent
to search her, without any ado shee confessed her wickedness, and showed
them the place where the child was buried. Shee was asked by the
Coroner, why shee had not a midwife to assist and help her in her la-
bour. Shee answered, that shee needed no help, or assistance, and that
shee was well enough delivered without a midwife, and that shee was so

Ara easy
naturall birth.

Observations in Midwifery, by

well, that shee could have gone twenty miles the day following. Shee
was sent to Stafford Gaole, from thence shee was conveyed to the place
of execution, where shee ended her sorrowful! life with great repentance
Mar. 31, 1670.

iAnd why may not this woman's confession bee received, without
any other testimony, to confirm what I have oft said, and severall wo-
men have found to bee very true, That midwives bee very convenient to
assist travailing women, but that they bee not absolutely necessary, to
help in their extremities, unles it bee in an unnaturall and difficult birth.

And this is recorded by Dr. Harvey. The memorable relation
was delivered to him from the noble Lord, George Carew, Baron of Tot-
nes, and, for a long time, President of Munster in Ireland, who also
wrote the Annals of those times.

There was a woman, big with child, which followed her husband,
who was a souldier in the Army, being daily in motion, was, it seemes,
forced to make a halt, by reason of a little river, that ran crosse the
place, whither they intended to march. Whereupon the poor woman,
finding her labour come upon her, retired to the next thicket; and
alone by her selfe, without any midwife, or other preparation, brought
forth twins, which shee presently carried to the river, and there washed
both her self, and them, which done, shee wrapt the infants in a course
cloth, and tied them to her back, and that very day marched along with
the Army twelve miles together barefooted, and was never the worse for
the matter.

The next day after, the Deputy of Ireland, the Lord M ountjoy
(who, at that time, was Generall of the Army against the Spaniard at
the seige of Kinsale) and the President of Munster, being affected at

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

the strangnes of the story, did both vouchsafe to bee Godfathers to the
Infants.

There is a generall report That the wild Irish, when their pangs
of labour come on them, will arise, and leave their company, and, going
into a ditch, will there bee suddenly delivered. And, returning from
thence, will bring their infants wrapped in their coats with them.

I believe that their doings may bee paralleled by some of our En-
glish women. For there was a great woman's servant, whose breasts
were pressed, and her belly violated by her master's misdeeds.

In time, when shee did grow big, her mistrisse, perceiving that
all was not right honest with her, turned her out of her house.

This creature, going over a larg, long Common, was suddenly
surprized with pangs of labour, and there delivered in the open cold aire.

After the Irish mode, shee brought this infant (her son) home to
her friends, shee was not dismaid, or injured with the coldnes of the
place, shee well recovered, her son, being well nursed, and educated be-
came a lusty man. Hee lived long, and died master of a great estate.

Dr. William Sermon saith in his English Midwife, fol: 96, That
it would be almost a miracle to see a woman delivered without paine.
Though I am apt to beleeve, that the wife of Thomas James did enjoy
that happines, whom I saw delivered of a lusty child, in a wood by her
self, which presently after shee took the child, and put it into her a-
pron, with some oaken leaves, and marched stoutly with it almost half a
mile, to an uncle's house of mine ; where shee got sufficient entertain-
ment for the time shee would stay, and, within two houres, her child,
and her self, being refreshed, shee would no longer bee treated; but, in

2 p

Observations in Midwifery, by

the manner aforesaid, (linen which the child had about it, onely excepted)
took her journey a long mile farther, not in the lest discouraged; and,
the next day, came and returned hearty thanks. This accident happen-
ed as shee walked home-ward from a market-town, in the yeare 1644;
the manner of which I saw, being, accidentally, placed under a hedg
(purposely,) to shoot a hare, that I knew frequented the place where
shee was delivered.

But Dr. Jacobus Primrose saith in his cap: 7 , de difficili partu,
fol: 300, Nee absq: dolore partus naturalis fieri solet. Malum eiiim est
si ille evanescat, ut in muliere gravida observavi, quse subinde laborans
absq: ullis torminibus, et obstetricis ope, exclusit foetmn, quern claman-
tem adstantes mulieres audiverunt, hincq: mortem prredixi, quee sequenti
die secuta est.

In the dayes of ignorance I was requested by a Gentlewoman to
assist her midwife in the time of her labour.

The Gentlewoman then knew no way usefull for her delivery, and
I, at that time, knew very little of the handy operation of midwives,
more then by drawing with the crochet. So I gave way unto the mid-
wife to hale, and pul, and stretch the woman's body as shee pleased, not
knowing then any better practice. So the midwife tormented her from
six in the morning untill six at night, using violence to the birth-place,
and, sometimes, in the fundament; upon every small throw haling and
stretching her body, to enlarg the passages, keeping her all this long
time either kneeling, or sitting on a woman's lap.

God released the woman from the midwife's tortures, and both
our ignorances, in sending her a gracious delivery after much suffering.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman

Being with child the second time, shee was much disquieted with
fears, and wept, to think what shee had suffered, and was likely again
to undergo. Shee desired again my company to bee with her in her la-
bour. I Avillingly granted her request, and desired her to keep her self
warm and quiet in bed, untill I could come in unto her, in case that I
was not at home.

Grumbling paines came upon her in the night, the next morning
shee sent early unto mee a messenger to acquaint mee with her condi-
tion. I was twelve miles from her house; within two or three houres
after her messenger was gone, the birth so much approached that shee
was forced to arise. Shee sent for her midwife to come; whilest that
shee hastily bound up her head, at the midwife's comming shee was
quickly delivered, troubling her no more but to receive the child.

I hasted to go with her messenger. I found her, at my com-
ming, easily and safely delivered, and chearfull, and shee, with the child,
in a good, lively condition. '

After this time being in Staffordshire with a worthy good man, T
saw his wife great with child. Shee told mee what terrible afflictions
shee had suffered in the birth of her first child, and wept much at the
remembrance of them. Shee intreated mee that I would come unto her
in the time of her labour, and for that purpose shee would send good
horses for mee. I gave her instructions to lie quietly in, or on, her bed
untill 1 could come in unto her, and not suddenly to put herself under
her midwife's hands. Shee sent mee horses. I went eight miles unto
her. In the mean time shee kept her body warm, and lay quiet. So
soone as I was come shee sent for mee into her chamber. Going with
her midwife apart from the company, I asked her how this Gentlewoman

Lady
Brounjliton.

Mrs. Shaw,
midwife.

Observations in Midwifery, by

Goad wife

Johnson.

was, and what shee thought of the birth. Shee replied, That shee could
not tell, and that in all her days shee never was with so peevish a
woman, and that shee would not suffer her to touch her body. I sate
by this Gentlewoman a little space, and, perceiving that labour came
upon her, I went forth of the roome, putting her under the midwife's
hands. The waters issued without enforcement, presently the child
followed them, and shee was easily, and quickly, delivered.

When I went away, shee gave God thanks, and said, that her
paines were nothing, in comparison to what shee had formerly suffered.

I have delivered, through God's gracious permission, a Gentle-
woman of severall children. I alwayes entreated her to keep herself warm
in bed, or else rest much on her pallet; and, if that shee was bound in her
body, alwayes take a washing clyster before her labour approached ; and
in no way to force her labour. I did not compel her to keep her bed or
pallet, but desired her, in the time of her travaile, not to have her
chamber thronged with much company.

'Shee ever performed my desires, shee was alwayes delivered on a
pallet- bed. I never forced her body; but, after the issuing of the wa-
ters with a few through throwes, shee was ever happily, and quickly, de-
livered, by warm keeping, with quietness.

From the bodies of these three last women mentioned, as also in
others I took this observation, That those women were easiest, or soonest
delivered, that kept themselves warm, and quiet, in, or on, their beds or
pallets, deferring their labours to the very last, and patiently suffering
nature to bedew, with humours, those places, and so to mellow and
open, by degrees, their bodies, without midwives enforcements.

Being in Allhallowes Church in Darby at morning prayer, there
was a young woman prayed for that was in great extremity in travaile.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

That night,, about nine of the clock, some women came to me,
desiring my counsel! for her delivery.

I appointed an ordinary clyster and willed. That shee should have,
after that it came from her, two ounces of oile of sweet almonds, mixed
with posset drink, given her to drink ; yet, for all this, the extremities,
with tortures in her back, continued, and no labour followed. Her
midwife was crosse-gained, and sufficiently ignorant, and a great tugger
of womens bodies.

In her sufferings, about half an houre past twelve in the night,
shee called all the women hard hearted Jewes, for that they did not send
for mee.

I came to her about one of the clock in that night, shee had great
tortures in her back, the which I caused to be anointed with oile of
charity, and, afterward, to her back I laid the emplaster de smegmate,
spread on leather.

So the bitter paines were somewhat mitigated. I gave her the
quantity of a great nutmeg of Lucatella's Balsam, wrapped in a wafer,
nevertheless her paines continued very sharp.

I anointed the os pubis and os coccygis and the birth-part with
Balsamum hystericum, and conveyed a spoonfull of it to os matricis, then
presently the pain removed from the back, the womb opened, and the
waters gathered and soon flowed, and shee was, in a small space,
quickly delivered of a lusty living daughter. When the after -burden
was fetched I gave her a spoonfull of oile of charity, it freed her from
all after troubles, which formerly were grievous unto her, and shee was
delivered that night afore two of the clock, June the 20, 1661.

Observations in Midwifery, by

Dr. Harvey saith, That it is no novelty to experienced midwives
that their women do sometimes bring forth their conceptions whole and
entire, without any breach in the membranes at all.

xlnd this kind of birth seemeth to bee the most naturally wherein
the fcetus (like a mellow fruit which droppeth from the tree, without
shaking out its seed before the time assigned by nature) is born with
the secundines embracing it.

But where it commeth otherwise to passe, and that the after-bur-
den doth adhere to the uterus, after the child is borne it is oftentimes
hardly divided from it, and doth enduce evil symptomes, which are ac-
companied with noisome smels, and sometimes with a gangrene, whereby
the mother is brought into imminent danger.

Margaret Cliffe, the wife of Thomas, a weaver, dwelling at Newton
in Staffordshire, January the 7, 1671, this woman was delivered of
twins, the first was a boy, the second came inclosed in the secondine,
and was a female ; the midwife laid this birth in her lap, and opened
the secondine, and took forth the child. Life "was scarce perceived in
it, but, by laying the after -birth on hot coales, and stroking the navel-
string toward the belly, the child recovered and liveth. This was
certified to mee by Margaret Kempe, midwife at Abbots Bramley, that
laid her of these, two twins.

I never did see a birth in this kind, where the child was borne
with the secondine embracing it ; for midwives, in difficult, long tra-
vailes, break the membranes with their struglings, before they send for
mee. But this following report maketh mention of a birth somewhat
nigh unto Dr. Harvey's sayings :

A young, good conditioned, Lady (the Lady Byron) of an honour-

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

able family, desired my company, and intreated me to bee with her, and
to assist her in the time of her travaile, and in the meane space to di-
rect her what was convenient to bee done, or observed by her. For
severall weeks shee used the Hystericall Balsam, with which the birth-
place, the ossa pubis et coccygis were anointed, and rubbed in with a
soft hand, very gently, every night, against a warme fire. Shee could
not take Lucatella's Balsam, nor a julep, made of aqua parietarise et
syrupi capil : veneris, these made her vomit. I gave her figs, and willed
her to eat white bread toasts, with fresh butter, every morning. Shee
had a thin and weak body, and was troubled with great feares, never
having any child afore.

August the thirteenth the moone changed, that night shee had
some grumbling disquiets, and the ensuing night they increased.
Thursday, August the fifteenth, I came early in the morning to her,
and finding some foregoing signes of labour, at her desire shee was re-
moved into another chamber, and laid into a truckle bed about seven in
the morning.

Shee had some intermissions of her paines, and then she slum-
bered ; shee was kept quiet and warm in her bed, in a moderate tem-
perature of heat. In the afternoon, about one of the clock, the womb
began to open, and the waters leasurely gathered, the child descended
with them, and the head was as good as three quarters in the world be-
fore any water issued. About a quarter past foure shee was delivered
of a daughter. It was troublesome to fetch the after-burden as shee
lay on her back. Shee was put to her knees, and then it was obtained
easily, and so shee was then removed into another bed.

Shee had good, easy labour, and was not, afterward, disquieted
with any sorenes.

Observations in Midwifery, by

Sliee was apt to a loosnes, and, in that respect, I did not give her
the balsamum post partum, but, instead of it, shee had caroway comfits,
of which shee chewed at pleasure, and swallowed the moisture.

The ensuing night shee slept well, and the day following was free
from smart and paine. Saturday and Sunday her breasts began to
swell, but without all trouble shee applied the emplaster Diachilon unto
them.

The child was baptized Aug. 22, 1661, and was named Elizabeth.
Aug. the 23, I left this Lady, giving her thanks for her loving favours
to mee. Tins Lady and her child were living 1666, as also in 8ber the
4th, 1671.

Tliis Lady, afterward, did make choice of a midwife that dwelt
some seven miles from her. Shee alwayes sent for her after that shee
began to bee in travaile. Before shee came unto her the child was
ready prepared to come into the world, and the midwife was put to no
more trouble, but to receive it.

And this passage may make apparent to all labouring women,
That it will prove a great happines to have haling, laborious midwives
at a remote distance, when their paines of labour first approach. And
I have heard other women say, That some of their children were more
easier borne, then others of them, and that they were delivered so soon
as the midwife came.

Let mee assure such women that, through ignorance, praise these
haling midwives without desert; That they had a better, invisible mid-
wife to assist them, Dame Nature, then these ever were, or will bee ;
which Eve's midwife, through quiet and warm keeping, did so prepare
and made the birth ready for another midwife's comming, that shee had

Percivall Willugliby, Gentleman.

left her nothing more to do, but to receive the child, and fittingly to
dresse and order it. And all women would do better to make such
liiidwive's nursekeepers, rather then (such as they would be called)
midwives.

And this Dame Nature, Eve's midwife, hath easily, and fortu-
nately delivered severall women in the absence of these laborious
midwives, whilest thai some other occasions withstood their speedy
comming.

I have known severall women, that have had two children at a
birth, some that have had three at a birth, none, that have had more,
though others have affirmed that they have known more.

When I find twins, so soon as the first is borne, I, presently after,
put up my hand anointed, and fetch the other. If the membranes were
not broken, I did not feare to break them, and then to draw the second
child forth by the feet.

I was called to a tayWs wife in Darby, Elizabeth Elde, her mid-
wife had long strugled with her. The child offering an arme, shee had
pulled by it, in hopes, to draw the child forth from the woman's body
by her violent doings. The child's arme was made black, and much
swel'd, and the child was deprived of life, and the arme became mor-
tified. The poor woman was fearfull of my help, but I, with others,
gave her good comfortable words. Shee was perswaded, and submitted
to the women's desires.

After that I had placed a woman sitting on a truckle bed, with
her legs spread abroad, and her feet close to the ends of a short bolster,
laying a pillow on her lap, I desired this labouring woman to kneele on
the bolster, and to straddle as wide as shee could. 1 put her head

Arm .

Gret -
ton
mid-
wife.

Observations in Midwifery, by

down to rest on the pillow that was in the woman's lap. I did not re-
duce, or put up, the bruised arnie, but, sliding my hand along the child's
side, I found a foot, and did draw it forth. I quickly obtained the
other foot, and then I did draw gently both feet together. The arme
went up of it self, as the body of the child turned round. I brought
the child past the navel, and turned the face of it to the back of the
woman. T put my finger into the child's mouth, and so pressed down
the chin upon the throat ; and then again I drew gently by the feet with
my other hand, and shee was quickly delivered with ease, contrary to all
the thoughts of the women present hi the chamber, of a dead female
child.

And, for- that shee had another child in the womb, I did not fetch
the after-birth, but put her into a warm bed, and, upon some thoughts
deferred the present proceeding for the delivery of the other child, wil-
ling the midwife to let mee know when the waters flowed for the second
birth. But this unworthy, self-wil'd midwife, hoping to demur her off,
never called mee. I came againe unto her some foure houres afterward,
and the waters had issued. I found the woman raving, and talking
idly. I gave her good words, and, through the perswasions of her
friends, shee was brought to kneele. Then, by the feet, I quickly de-
livered her of a weak, yet living, child. The twins were of diverse
sexes, and this woman had two severall after-births, and they were both
brought away, the one after the other. Sbee had not any forcing pain,
or throw upon her, when I put up my hand to fetch the children by the
feet. The woman thanked God for her speedy delivery, and much re-
joy ced at her sudden help.

The last child was a boy, hee lived two or three dayes, and then
died. The woman recovered, and hath since assured inee, That shee

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

would never feare mee more, but that, in case of extremity, sliee would
refer herself to God, and mee, rather then to any midwife living.

I believe, upon after considerations, that it had been much bet-
ter for Goodwife Elde, and her child, if that I had not deferred the
second birth, but had delivered her again forthwith of the other child,
by the child's feet.

The deferring happened through some thoughts, which came into
my memory, from a discourse, in former time, between mee, and a good
kinswoman of mine (Mrs. Willughby) that was a long experimented
midwife, of much practice, and of good repute with women, dwelling
in Westminster and London. This good woman assured mee, That
shee had laid severall women of twins, and that shee never forced the
second birth by breaking of the waters, and that shee had left these
women for six houres, or longer, and, after her comming again, that
then shee had delivered them safely of the second child.

All this, for the worth of the good woman, I beleeved, but never
had made experiment of it ; yet, for Goodwife Eld's sake, I should (if
occasion served) never againe defer the second birth, but chuse rather
to deliver the woman so soon, as possible I could, of the other, after
that the first child was borne.

Mrs. Judith Ward of Darby, having twins, the wench was de-
livered by the midwife ; but the second twin (a boy) could not break
the membranes, although hee much strugled for a long time. I began
to fear her life, and the losse of the child. Therefore, to preserve both,
I slid up my anointed hands, I brake the membranes, I took the child
forth by the feet, and hee lived a yeare, and then died.

Observations in Midwifery, by

Great
head.

Pareus saith, If there be severall children in the womb at once,
and of different sexes, they have every one then severall secon dines,
which thing is very necessary to bee known by all midwives. I advise
the midwife, that shee look for the navel-string in all births of twins, and
see, whether they bee not included both in one secondine. If they bee,
then there bee not two secondines. I have seen this thing, although
the infants were of diverse sexes, included in the same membrane, and
these navel-strings were a span distance the one from the other.

After the last child was borne, this woman oft fainted, and was as
good as gon. But, by spirting aqua vitas up into her nostrils, shee
again revived, the which was done as oft as occasion required. Mar :
18, 1663.

She conceived again with child about a yeare and a half after tins.
In the time of her labour, the child's head was found too great for the
passage. To preserve both, through hopes that the child might bee
alive, I turned the birth from the head to the feet, and the infant was
drawn forth by the feet ; after that she had suffered above twenty foure
houres in extremity, and that all hopes of delivery, by a naturall and
usuall way, were extinct.

Shee conceived again the third time, with pain and much suf-
fering ; and shee was then delivered by her midwife. The child lived
half a yeare, and then died.

I was sent for again, July 1, the fourth time, 1671, shee was
delivered before I came.

January the fifteenth, anno 1665, I was sent for to Thurnestone,
three mile from Darby, to deliver Elianor Cripple, a shepheard's wife.
I found the first child dead, and that it smelt, so I drew it with the

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

crochet. And it was thought that this child was killed by the midwife's
violent struglings.

For the second child I slid up my anointed hands, forthwith I
brake the membranes ; I quickly delivered her, drawing the child forth
by the feet.

When hee was born, hee had two teeth in his lower jaw, wlute
and long ; his body was of a very swarthy, muddy colour. But after a
small time hee became reddish, and well favoured, and cried very loudly.
The mother and the child bee both living.

In her weaknes I went foure times to see her, and shee com-
plained very sadly to mee, how one of the midwives (that was a young
woman) had afflicted her through much pulling, and stretching her
body.

I saw this woman, with her child. They were both well, and in
health, Mar; the 19, 1667—8.

The two teeth, with which hee was born, were turned very black,
all the rest were white, and the mother since hath told me that hee hath
cast these two teeth.

And I find by experience, That as soon as the first child is born,
if that the membranes bee not broken, that it will bee the best way
forthwith to break them, and speedily to deliver the woman of the other
child by the feet, whilest that the passage is open, and much dilated ;
the longer it is deferred, the more will the woman suffer through the
closing, and swelling, that usually followeth those places.

March the first, ] 667, I was called to Ocbrook, to Elizabeth the
wife of Thomas Holland. I found two midwives with her, shee had

Observations in Midwifery, by

twins. And the first child (a female) did thrust forth an arme, by which
the child was pulled by the midwives, and, afterward,, it was forced up
into her body, and, between these midwives, the arme, nigh unto the
shoulder, was broken, and the child deprived of life.

This woman was much spent, and made very sore, and swel'd, be-
fore my comming.

I placed the woman kneeling on a bolster. I put down her head
to a pillow, that was laid in a woman's lap, sitting afore her. Then,
sliding up my hand over the child's arme, I easily obtained a foot, but
could not well hold it, being very slippery, untill I laid my forefinger
beyond the child's heel, and, holding it between my fingers, with the
foot placed long wayes in my hand griped, with some striving I brought
the foot to light, but could not well hold it untill I took it in a linen
cloth, and the child, afterward, would not remove, until I forced the
shoulder a little backward, by thrusting up the arme, which was fixed
in the neck of the womb ; and then the body easily turned round.

I drew the child by the foot, untill it came nigh to the twist of
the body, and then, finding the other foot, lying on the belly, I put my
middle finger between the thigh and the child's belly, and drawing easily
by my finger, and by the foot, I brought it to the neck, and, having
turned the child's face to the back of the woman, I put my finger into
the dead child's mouth, then, drawing by the feet, shee was quickly laid,
without any throws or enforcements from the womb, of this female
infant.

The second child was a male child. I fetched him by the feet;
and hee was easily and quickly borne alive.

In the same uterine cake, in winch both these infants were in-

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

eluded, I found both navel-strings, a span distant, the one from the
other, having the several navel-strings united to that membrane.

And, therefore, it is not alwayes certaine, that infants of diverse
sexes should bee folded in several! secondines, (as Pareus would have
it) for I took great observation of this secondine, and of the diverse
sexes, and I speake no more, but what I saw, and found to be true in
these infants so placed in their mother's womb.

After the woman's delivery, I much feared that shee would not
have recovered her weaknes ; for that her face, hands and feet were very
cold, her spirits weake, her speech very low, and her strength much en-
feebled, and shee had a weake pulse.

Her cold hands and feet were wrapped in warm cloths, and over
her lips was held a warm hand, hollowish ; that her breath by reverbe-
rating against the hand, might returne warme againe upon her face ;
and over the hand and face was spread a thin linen cloth, warmed : and
sometimes a warme face was laid to her cold cheeks, and, by these
wayes, with warme and quiet keeping, beyond expectation, through
God's permission, shee recovered. And these wayes, by the hand, for
renewing heat in her, T learned and observed from the midwives.

The weake-born child lived, but could not suck. It was fed with
boiled milk, thickened with white bread and sweetened with sugar. I
saw the mother Anno 1669. Shee said that her son lived, and was
able to go about the house.

In Stafford, Anno 1655, a poor labouring man's wife was brought
to bed in the night of a child, the midwife could not find the
after-burden, and my help was desired in the next morning. I went
unto her, I found that shee had another child. I drew away the dead

Observations in Midwifery, by

child by the feet, and the woman recovered ; her husband was a sawer
of timber.

A young woman in Darby, Nov: 1671, had a slip and stumbled,
but did not fall, being great with child, in the eigth moneth of her
going with child. Shee continued in pain a whole week afterward, and
the last foure dayes her paines were great. I was called, the 14th.
day, die Solis, and a little before my comming, the waters had issued.
When I came into the chamber, the midwife told mee that the child
came right. But I saw a great deale of blood lying on the floore, the
winch, I believed, happened by the midwife's haling of her body. And
I perceived that the woman was unwilling to continue under the mid-
wife's hands. Not long after, a child was born, and there appeared
another child. I feared the woman's life, for that again shee lost much
blood, and it did run upon the floore in a streame. About half an houre
afterward shee was delivered of a second child, and when the after -bur-
den • was fetched away the flux of blood stopped. Shee was weak a
week and more. One of the twins was weake, yet shee and her twins
Avere alive December the 13.

The twins were both females, and both contained in one secon-
dine, the navel-strings were thick and larg, about a span distance the
one from the other, and the substance of the uterine cake was not fleshy,
but thickish and quobby, furry, soft, and full of venes, without any
fleshy substance. I never did see the like afore.

Goodwife Smedly, being troubled with a dribling of the reds, in
a larg quantity, for a long space, was much weakened, and dejected by
them ; but was cured by mee by taking pil. pacifica every night, hora
somni, when shee went to bed.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

After her recovery sliee conceived of two female twins. Sliee told
raee that the first was quickly, and easily born. But, for the second,
shee suffered much, through the midwife's enforcements to hasten the
birlh, and was wearied out with pain, and distracted with it, and her
life was much endangered before shee was delivered of the second child ;
but shee recovered, and both her children lived.

A difficult birth

1. Is called that, which continueth long, as severall dayes, and
hath greater pain then ordinary.

2. A difficult birth Avill afflict foure or five dayes, or longer, and,
usually, the child dieth in that time, and sometimes the mother with it.

3. But a naturall birth is not of long continuance (if it con-
tinue twenty foure houres it may bee called a hard birth).

Many causes of a difficult birth bee alledged, some bee internall,
others externall.

4. From the mother being weake, or being very young, or
old, or being too leane, or too fat, and not able to presse down her
belly for the expulsion of the child.

5. Or having an ill conformation of the bones, or troubled with
diseases, as the colick, or stone, &c.

6. Or bee disquieted with passions.

7. Or if, in the parts belonging to the womb, there bee tu-
mours, ulcers, or sores, or painfull, swel'd piles.

8. Or from the fetus, when it is too great in

H 2 "

Mother.

Foetus.

Observations in Midwifery, by

9. Head, or body, or when it is weake, or dead, or seldom mo-
veth, or when it offereth to

10. come forth with the hands, or arme, buttocks, knees, or
feet, or in any other evil posture, one hand and foot, both hands and
feet, or with a distorted neck, or lyeth oblique in the womb.

11. As also when the membranes, containing the child, bee
suddenly broken, and so the child bee left in a dry womb.

Mercatus saith, That it is a signe of a hard delivery, when the
waters flow, some dayes before the birth, very copiously. For the
waters being spent before the time, the infant cannot slide forth by
reason of the drines of the womb.

12. Sennertus saith. That it is a signe of a hard delivery, when
that the laboring woman's paines bee faint, and that there is long in-
termitting time between the comming of them, and that the paines run
more to the back, then to the birth place.

13. Or/ when the membranes bee too strong, or thick, that they
cannot bee broken with the child's enforcements.

In respect of the womb, the birth may bee difficult, if it bee too
narrow in the passage, if ill conformed or distorted, or obstructed with
swellings, ulcerated, or any way ill affected, or troubled with the stone
in the neck of the bladder, or with excrements in the great gut, or too
much water filling, and extending the bladder, or the hemorrhoids. Or,
if the os coccygis bee too firme, and will not yield a passage for the de-
parture of the infant.

The ill placing of a woman in time of her delivery.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

If all things proceed right in the birth, and the infant is not borne,
it is to be feared that the infant's head is too great, or that some mole, or
tumour is joined to the infant.

If the passage through the bones bee too narrow, or strait, if
anointing with convenient oiles, or ointments, shall profit nothing, the
infant perisheth, and it must bee drawn away by the Chirurgion's hand,
otherwise the mother will perish with the child.

Si secundina exeat, manente foetu, lethale. 304, Primrose.

14. Or from externall causes, when the aire is too hot, or cold,
or too much heat, or cold, in the chamber may hinder the birth, or too
much feeding on grosse, or astringent meats, nigh the time of birth.

15. Also, the too forward hastines of the midwife may cause a
difficult delivery, immoderate evacuations, or if, by the labour, vomiting,
epilepsy, or convulsions, or fluxes of blood do happen.

16. Too much sleepines and stupidity retard the birth, and
shew nature to bee weake.

17. The bladder, full of water, and the intestinum rectum,
stuffed with excrements, will cause difficult labour.

18. When the child is dead in the womb, swoonings, and con-
vulsions, and sleepines usually follow, and these accidents bee oft the
forerunners of death.

19. Those that fall into travaile before the full and fixed time,
are very difficult to deliver, because the fruit is yet unripe.

A weake infant is known by the mother's long sicknes, or that
shee hath had a loosnes, or if that shee hath been troubled with a flux
of blood, or that her milk hath run much out of her breasts.

Head.

Bones.

Observations in Midwifery, by

Waves
in dif-
ficult
births.

Sneezing is good, and much advanceth the woman's delivery, it
also driveth forth the after-birth.

Let all cruelties, as cutting of children in pieces in the mother's
womb, with all violent wayes in every difficult labour, bee forborn. For
it retardeth the births, and, oft lacerating the body of the woman,
maketh her paines intolerable, which renders her so weake, and hearties,
that shee hath no strength left to endure her throws, and the child's en-
forcements. Whosoever useth such harshnes, may well be branded with
cruelty, and ignorance in midwifery.

A London midwife, very officious, endeavouring to have a speedy
delivery, through haling, and stretching those tender parts, made a la-
bour of long continuance, and, with her halings, a breach about an inch
long into the fundament. With this affliction the woman was much
disquieted. Eor ever afterward her excrements came forth by the birth
place ; yet this woman did much commend her laborious midwife, and
said that shee took great paines to deliver her, to save her life.

This fact was done in Fleet-street. The woman came to mee for
help, and shewed me her torn body.

Where this grief can, without trouble bee suffered, it will bee much
better not to meddle Avith it, then to endeavour to cure it. For it will
cause the next labour to bee more dolorous, and difficult, by making a
new laceration, or incision.

But, not being cured, the ensuing births will bee more easy, by
reason of the spaciousnes of the breach, the vulva and intestinum rec-
tum being laid together, and making but one passage.

Zacutus Lusitanus reporteth, That a certain midwdfe carried a long

PercivaM Willughby, Gentleman,

knife secretly in her sleeve,, with which shee cut the womb, or funda-
ment, whilest that the woman was in great paine. fflouding followed
her wicked practice, and, if any recovered after her cruelty, they lived
miserably all the rest of their dayes, ever having their excrements
comming per vulvam. Tor these her evil deeds shee was banished by
the Magistrates. De praxi medic, admirand., lib. 3. obs. 141.

A good woman dwelling at Brincliffe, nigh Sheffield, through a
difficult labour, fell into the hands of an ignorant woman. Shee cut
the child into severall pieces in her body. By this midwife's knife, and
the child's bones, the woman's body was hurt in the extraction of the
severall parts of the child's body. And, through the raising of the
neck of the womb, it became ulcerated.

Some severall yeares after I was sent for, and, after mee, severall
others. By our applications her paines were mitigated, but none of us
could cure her. At last, of this affliction shee died, ulcerated in her
body.

A good Gentlewoman, big with child, desirous of my acquaint-
ance, and to have my counsell, came of purpose to mee to Darby, and,
after some conference, returned to her house in Staffordshire.

At the time of her travaile, the child proffer'd an arme. This
unnaturall birth dismai'd the mother, and troubled the midwife. My
company and assistance were wished for. And man and horse were
provided to have fetched mee. But this resolution was unfortunately
altered, and shee was perswaded to put herself under the hands of a
wicked woman, that took upon her to free her of the child.

This woman first cut off the child's arme. Afterward, shee divi-
ded the child into severall parts, to pull it forth by pieces. Her knife,

Mrs.
Gif-
ford.

Arme.

Observations in Midwifery, by

in doing this work, was broken with many great notches, as shee
hackled in her body. All which a Gentlewoman told mee, that was
there present.

This Gentlewoman died in few dayes after shee had suffered her
barbarous tortures. I comming afterward among her sad friends, la-
menting her death, they shewed me this knife, full of great notches.
And all of them reviled this ignorant woman, and too late distasted her
evil doings.

Mercatus saith, That all children bee born by the head or feet,
although they may lie in the womb oblique, contorted, or depraved with
various postures. I have known some children comming by the but-
tocks, and so borne.

That is supposed to bee a natural! and easy birth by all mid-
wives, when the infant commeth forth with his head forward, presently
following the flux of waters.

But when it commeth by the arme, back, or belly, buttocks, side,
knees, or feet, these births they call unnaturall,and they have need of
help.

Let midwives, therefore, bee perswaded, That, as oft as they
perceive the child to bee comming forth in an evil posture, either with
his belly, or back, forward, or, as it were, doubled, in a crooked posture,
or with Ms hands and feet together, or with Ins head forward, and one
of Ins hands stretched over his head, or with the buttocks, that they
ought to turn the birth, and to draw it out by the feet.

In all these births, when too great straitnes of the narrow passages
has not hindered my endeavours, and where the bones, through the

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

rickets, or unnatural weaknes, have not been of an ill conformation, I
have onely used my hand, and have happily delivered the women by the
child's feet, without the use of any kind of instrument whatsoever, and
I had rather so do it, then to make use of the crochet.

In all difficult births, I shall endeavour to set forth, with God's
permission, my wayes, in as plain directions, and familiar, easy words, as
possible I can find forth, being desirous to help Avomen in their afflic-
tions, and to save their children's lives.

Let, therefore, the midwife, in every difficult birth, bee well as-
sured whether the child be alive, or dead.

Let her not bee too hasty to send for a young chirurgion, to
extract the infant, and let her never put him forward to bee busy in
such works ; least, unadvisedly, hee destroy a living infant, through her
perswasions, which may, in time, terrifie both midwife and chirurgion,
as also others.

Whether the child bee alive, or dead, the mother may give some
probable conjecture in what condition her child is, by the stirring, or
not moving of it. Also the midwife may have some foreknowledg.
For, if that shee perceive any pulsation in the navel-string, or in the
arteries of the head, or temples, or in the arteries of the wrists of the
hands, or feet, or that it suck the finger. For any of these signes shew
the child to bee living.

And, as long as the child is living, to have a tender conscience,
not to destroy life, although it come in no good posture, but rather
endeavour how to amend the birth by their own practice, or by the help
of others.

Observations in Midwifery, by

When the head commeth first, and is nmch entered into the pas-
sages, or into the bones, then to keep the travailing woman quiet, in a
warme temperature, not too hot, or cold, in, or on her bed, made as
formerly directed, will much conduce to her more easy delivery ; anoint-
ing the birth place, sometimes, with Balsamum Hystericum, or such
like, and putting some of it into the woman's body.

Sometimes the externall parts of the woman's body may bee so
narrow, that the child will happen to stay after the head is past the
bones, and can come no farther forth, but resteth there, pressing forth
the body, and fundament into a larg tumour.

In this case, put the woman to her knees, and anoint the body
very well, both inwardly, and outwardly. Afterward, toward the back
of the woman, put up two fingers anointed, between the rump-bone, and
the child's head, keeping your fingers steadfast on the head, with the
back of your hand toward the back of the woman ; then lift up the back
of your hand toward the rump-bone, and it will dilate the straitnes of
her body, and the lifting up of your hand, with the holding your
fingers steadfastly on the child's head, will turn the circle of the lips of
her body over the childs head, and so it will the better slide forth. All
this while keep warme the birth-place, oft anointing it with balsamum
hystericum, or other oiles, and, if more need require, you may at this
time conveniently give a dose of pulvis parturiens.

By these meanes I laid a young woman, labouring of her first
child, in Darby Jan : 23. 1667.

And after the same way was delivered Mrs. F. of Hopton 1631. 1
took the same way with a woman at Kegworth.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

After this way I helped Goodwife Forman of Spoondon, having
suffered much, and delivered her of a living child 1660.

To facilitate her labour I gave her a decoction of germander,,
penyroyall and calamine boiled in posset drink, the which I tinctured
with saffron • and to a draught I added a spoonfull of the Earle of
Chesterfield's powder, and two spoonfuls of oile of sweet almonds.
This quickened her throws, and at last, brought forth the child.

Yide the powder of eeles by Helmont, Dr. Willm. Sermon's to
that purpose.

But, in this birth, there will bee some danger of a breach into
the fundament, unles you bee very cautious, and it will bee much ha-
zard to prevent it.

I was called to Osliston, foure miles from Darby, to a young
woman, a stranger in that place, labouring of her first child. The
child's head was great, and it was descended to the labia vulvae, and did,
with the head, largly extend, and presse forth all the parts thereabout,
and her body was too strait to afford a passage for the child's head.

I oft anointed those parts with oiles, and gave her severall medi-
cines to facilitate the birth. Yet, for all my care and endeavours, the
child's head made a breach, which did not reach into her fundament,
winch cured itself, and shee was delivered of a living child.

But the father of the child was not known, and the mother's
friends had not cared, if that the child had died, so that the woman
might bee saved ; and what afterward became of the mother, and the
child, I know not.

Observations in Midwifery, by

A dead
child.

A diffi-
cult
birth.

I was sent for Aug : 15, 1667, to Church Broughton, to deliver
Isaac Saint's wife. The child was great, and had much entered the
bones, and there it did stick, and would not bee removed.

After the anointing of her body, and keeping her warme and
quiet, I gave her a dose of this powder following, and within an houre
after the taking of the medicine, thorow throes came, and shee was de-
livered.

The head was more easily borne, then the rest of the body. The
dead child did stick at the shoulders, they were drawn forth by putting
my finger under the child's arme-pit. The child was swel'd in all the
body, and in several! places the skin was flayed off it, it did stink ; yet
the woman recovered, and hath had another child since that time, and
was then delivered by her midwife.

The powder

R Trochis. Myrrh. 3iiij, Castorei 3j, Succin. Alb. 3ij, Croci
Optimi gr. X, Boracis 3J, M. fiat pulvis cui adde 01. Succin. gut. hj ei>
dividatur in tres partes eequales. I gave one paper full in posset-drink,
tinctured with Saffron, and sweetened with sugar, and, with God's per-
mission, a happy and good delivery followed after the taking of the
medicine. ,

Mrs. Alice Heath, a scholemaster's wife in Staffordshire, was by
mee delivered of a living daughter. Her waters had flowed some three
days afore, and her labour was long and painful. Her Husband came
to mee Dec: 24, in the afternoon. I went with him.

I gave her the midwife's powder, but it did little good, to which
I added, afterward, some borax, with some oile of amber, and the balsam

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

of charity, the which opened her body. At last, between the child's
head, and her body, I put my two fingers, and lifted up the skin toward
the fundament over the child's head. Then it pleased God to suffer the
child's head to slide into the world.

The after-birth was difficult to fetch, but, at last was obtained.
After her delivery shee lost some blood. That night shee and her child
took good rest, and shee slept well. The next day, being Christmas
day, I left them both chearfull and well, in the afternoone 1662. I so
returned to Darby.

To prepare women's bodies, and to cause them to have easier
labors, let mee commend unto them the use of oiles, and mollifying
clysters, as also sometimes to eat figs.

Let mee commend to the meaner sort of women, which have not
store of meanes to supply their desires, good salad oile. But, to the
more able, and richer sort, oile of sweet almonds, newly drawn. These
oiles will dilate the passages, and mitigate, and shorten their paines of
harsh, and long, dry labour ; taking a spoonfull or two in broth, or pos-
set-drink, in the mornings, or at night, or at both times.

So will anodyne, and mollifying clysters, and to eat white bread
tosts well buttered, with good, new, sweet, fresh butter, for a fortnight,
or longer continuance, before the time of travailing approacheth.

Mrs. Isabel Mumford, a woman dwelling in Darby, about the
yeare 1655, having her children born with great affliction, intreated mee
(if I could possible) to direct her some meanes, whereby shee might bee
the more easily delivered in time to come.

I willed her to take, a moneth before the time of her travaile,
every day good oile in posset-drink. Shee made use of my directions,

Observations in Midwifery, by

Clysters.

and, afterward, shee assured mee that it gave her much ease, with a
quicker and more comfortable speed in her deliveries, then usually, shee
formerly had enjoyed.

Jan: the sixteenth, 1669, I went to see her, not knowing that
shee was with child, and seeing her very great, and imagining that shee
was not far from her account, I asked her whether shee made use of the
oile. Shee told mee that shee ever did make use of it nigh the time of
her labour, and that now shee was in taking of it.

But said, That shee could not take it in the morning, but took it
at night in warm posset-drink, for being taken in the morning, it did
much trouble her stomach all the day after ; that it kept her body in-
different soluble, and caused her labours to bee more moist, and easy,
whereas, before, it was very dry and difficult and tedious unto her. A.nd
few dayes after this my visit shee was well delivered of a living child by
the midwife.

But the richer and more wealthy sort, I advise them to take oile
of sweet almonds, newly drawn, to the quantity of an ounce, in two
ounces of parietary water, or in white wine possets, or in thin broth.

And, every night, and morning, to anoint the birth-place, and
the rump-bone, and the share-bone with balsamum Hysterimn, or oile
of lilies, sitting before a warme fire, and gently rubbing it into those
places with a soft hand.

Let the poorer sort use oile of lilies, capon's, or hen's grease to
anoint with.

For, where the body is much bound, there will follow a hard and
difficult labour, unless an emollient clyster bee administred, to free the
rectum intestinum of the excrements.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman

Gulllimeau, the French King's chirurgion, reports,, That hee was
present at the travaile of a sick, poor woman, that had not been at
stoole in ten dayes before, whose great gut was so fuTd, and stuft with
excrements, as hard as a stone, that it was impossible for her to receive
a clyster, and wee were constrained, before shee could bee delivered, to
get out all the said excrements, otherwise, it had been impossible to
have taken forth the child.

In country villages, where nothing but herbs, milk, and eggs,
with some course sugar, was, at the most, to bee had, I have made clys-
ters of such materials, and have used them with good successe.

But, usually, I give such a clyster, if that I am where such
ingredients may bee procured.

Take a pint of new milk, make thereof a posset with good ale, in
a pint thereof boile chamomil flowers half an handfull, of cumin seeds
a little spoonfull, of anniseeds, and sweet fenel seeds, and of Unseed, of
each half a spoonfull, Bruise all the seeds grosly, boile these together
leasurely, to the consuming of the one half, then strain it, and to some
foure, or six ounces of this decoction put a spoonfull of hard sugar, and
keep it warme.

Then take Venice turpentine, washed with plantane water, six dra-
chmes, put it into a pewter-dish, and adde to it the yolk of an egge,
with a spoone stir them well together over a small heat of embers, and
they will well mix by stirring, and come like a milky cream, then, being
lukewarm, put this mixture into a clyster-bag, and adde to it two spoon-
fuls of oile of sweet almonds, or of salad oile, and so let this clyster bee
given ; and let the woman retain it as long as shee can conveniently,
the longer, the better, as three, or foure houres, or, if it may bee, all
night, and sleep, or endeavour to sleep after the taking of it.

Observations in Midwifery, by

At the discharg thereof the intestimim rectum will bee freed, and
emptied of all the excrements, and the uterine passages will bee suppled,
and made pliable for a more easy dilatation to the delivery.

But if the woman should have a loose stoole, or two before her
labour, then you need not to trouble her with a clyster.

The thicker, and bigger the end of the clyster-pipe is, the easier
it will enter, and better passe into the woman's body for the giving of
the clyster, and, through the greatnes of the end, it will put aside all
the wrinkles, or folds of the intestinum rectum. But if the pipe will
not go easily up, but is hindered with these folds, or wrinkles of the
gut, then, with your finger anointed with butter, or, with a candle, a
little warmed toward the end, and conveyed three or foure inches into
the body, you may make a free passage, for the going up of the clyster-
pipe, and for the better receiving of the clyster.

When the child is much descended, and filleth the birth-place,
you must not put the clyster-pipe directly forward, but put it aslope,
backward, between the vagina uteri, and os coccygis, so you may, without
trouble, or losse of the clyster, deliver, or put it up. Otherwise, the
child's head, filling Ihe passage, will suffer no part of the clyster to bee
conveyed into the fundament. Or, instead of a clyster-pipe, you may
make good use of a catheter, as you do the clyster-pipe.

I was sent for by a Lady, and Kinswoman, who thought that shee
was within a fortnight of her account, but shee continued above that
time seaven weekes, shee used, a b'ttle, the Balsum Hystericum to anoint
with, and took, sometimes, a spoonfull of oile of sweet almonds, com-
mended to her by Dr. Phipps. But both these shee used seldome, and
in small quantity, and so shee had no good by them.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

And, for that shee was very costive in her body, I oft moved her
to take a clyster ; but shee would not hearken unto my desires, and shee
gave too much belief to foolish women, that were about her.

Friday the 29 of Nov. 1661 about foure in the afternoon, shee
forced herself to have a stoole in her closet. By this great striving, so
soon as shee came into her chamber, her waters did breake without any
pain, and flowed all that night, and all the next day in abundance, (the
which I took for an evil signe) and shee had no labour at all with the
flowing of the waters, and shee would sit up all that friday night.

I perswaded her, on Saturday at night, to go to bed, and was
called again to her December the first early in the morning. I then
moved her to take a clyster, assuring her that it would much promote
her labour, and ease her paines, with hastening the birth, through open-
ing, and dilating of all the passages, but shee would not bee perswaded
to follow my desires, nor hearken to my motions.

Her chamber was too great, and too light, at the iime of her
labour I could not obtain the favour to have it darkened. Her Hus-
band feared the knocking in of nailes should spoile the windows.

In the afternoon on Sunday shee had an hard stoole, but it must
bee concealed from mee.

Her labour being long, and tedious, I intreated her to take the
Earle of Chesterfield's powder, to move the birth, in posset-drink, in
which was boiled calamint and penyroyall, and afterward tinctured with
saffron. Some two houres after, with much beseeching, and entreaty, I
did get her to take it again, and I did acute it with borax. Then shee
had some through throws, and in her labour, the excrements of her
body were forced out before the child's head, as it descended. And,

Observations in Midwifery, by

before the child was borne, great blasts of wind, of long continuance,
like farts, came from the womb, between foure and five, that Sunday at
night.

The child was still-born. The midwife made much ado to revive
the child, but in vaine.

I caused her to separate it from the after-burden, fearing again
that some evil accidents might happen by the retaining the after-burden,
through closing of her body.

This Lady suffered much through her great averseness against
clysters, otherwise, shee might have beene more easily delivered, and,
in probability, might have brought forth a living son.

The midwife was fearful to fetch the after-burthen, so I was put
upon the work by her husband, the which I quickly performed. And,
for that shee was apt to fioud, I gave her a drachm of the prepared pow-
der of white amber, rnixt with the yolk of a raw egge, in a caudle, .and
each particular succeeded well, the death of the child onely excepted.

In the birth afore this, the midwife durst not fetch away the after-
burden, for that shee flouded as oft as shee touched her body. It rot-
ted away from her in severall pieces, and had like to have been her
death. Shee was afterward, long weak, and had great white, painfull
swel'd legs during her weaknes.

Had shee taken a clyster, I verily beleeve that shee would have
had better, and speedier labour, and that then the child's head would
not have forced forth excrements, before the birth. So pain ensued,
and made her have little or no power to help herself in her extremity.

In all my practice of midwifery I never, afore, or since, observed

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

such blasts, or gusts of wind to come from the womb of a woman in
travaile.

Sennertus de partus naturalis signis sic inquit.

Alvus ut laxa sit, non dura, det operam. lino, si partum jamjam
instare animadvertat, clystere emolliente alvum laxare utile, imb neces-
sarium est, cum, si alvo obstrueta ad partus labores accedat, non pariim
periclitetur.

October the eleventh 1668 I was sent for by a right Hoble Lady,
and desired by her to bee in the house all the time of her travaile.

Shee was of a contrary opinion to the former Lady. Her usuall
custome was, for a week, or more, before shee thought that her labour
would come upon her, to take two clysters every day. The first to free
the body of excrements (if there were any) and to prepare her body, in
making way for the better keeping of the second.

At her full time shee was, in short space, easily delivered of a very
great child, without much strivings, pain or trouble. I did wonder to
see so great a child born with so easy delivery.

T left both mother and child alive, and both likely long to live,
some foure, or six dayes after her delivery.

I have observed in all women, that I have laid, and have the same
affirmed by severall midwives,

That, where the intestinum rectum was loaded with excrements,
that there was alwayes a troublesome labour, and that the child's head,
as it slided, would thrust forth the excrements before the child could bee
borne, and I can speake it experimented in diverse women, having had
my hands &c

k~2 :

Observations in Midwifery ', by

Therefore it is very necessary that the intestinum rectum bee freed
of all excrements, in all women, before they fall into travaile. Tor that
in those passages a little stoppage will cause troublesome struglings with
much painfull sufferings.

As also to empty the bladder, by making urine, so the child will
have a more spacious, and more easy egresse at the time of birth.

I was called to lay Christopher Naylor's wife of a dead child in
Darby. After that I had brought it a little past the navel, suddenly
abundance of warm moisture flowed upon my hands, I was somewhat
dismayed at the feeling of it, for fear that it should have proved bloud.
But when I looked on my hands, I found that it was onely a great flow-
ing of her urine, which had been stopped. Shee had not made water
for severall dayes afore, and the child's head, by pressing the neck of
the bladder, did cause the stoppage of her urine, and the bladder, being
greatly distended with her water, did hinder the child's head from des-
cending. And that was the cause of the difficult labour, and, in proba-
bility, of the child's death; the stopping made by urine.

Thomas ' Raynold Physician in his book of the birth of mankind,
saith, That a labouring woman, when necessity requireth, may take a
clyster. But it must bee very gentle, and easy, made of the broth of a
chicken, or other tender flesh, putting thereto course sugar, or hony,
with some salt, or there may bee made a decoction for a clyster, by
seething in water mallowes, or holyoakes, with hony, and salt.

But Pareus, with others, commend sharp clysters to bee given to
women in labour, to bring away the excrements, and to provoke the ex-
pulsive faculty, for the more easy exclusion, or driving forth of the
infant, but hath not left us a direction how to make them.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

I find this clyster in Guillimean fol. 122. R Bismal. cum radic.
Matricar. Mercnr. aa m. i. Aristol. nostrat. Dictam. Arthemis. aa m. s.
flor. lavend. p. s. sem. lin. foenugr. aa 5s- fol. sen. mnnd. 3vj. Fiat om-
nium decoctio, de qua cape quart, tij. in quibus dissolue Diophseni. Hier.
simpl. aa 3iij. 01. Eutac. Cheyrin. aa ^ij- na^ clyster.

Madam Louyce Boarges, midwife to the Queen of France, was of
Pareus opinion. Shee was called to a woman, that was very weak, and
had been in labour nine or ten dayes, and whatsoever shee took, shee
instantly vomited it up.

Shee perceived that nature was oppressed, and had not any good
assistance, and that the infant was retired back again, which stifled the
mother, and provoked this vomiting.

Whereupon shee gave her a good, strong clyster, to awaken na-
ture, and to bring the infant lower, winch it did, according to her hopes.
Afterward shee gave her a small quantity of rhubarb water, and, at every
houre's end, the yolk of an egge, and these stayed with her.

By this time nature began to bee strengthened, and the paines of
the infant came again in lesse time, then two houres after the taking of
the clyster, and other nourishment.

When shee saw her pretty well, and that nature strove to expell
the infant, shee gave her half a drachm of confection of Alkermes, in a
little wine, and, a little while after, another clyster, into which shee put
a little Hiera, and a little Benedicta laxativa, which finished the work,
and shee was then delivered of a very lusty child.

And it was her opinion, That a woman, travailing in the ninth
moneth, ought chiefly to bee succored with clysters, Thus Madame Lou-
yce Bourgious.

Observations in Midwifery, by

I have known severall medicines used by some with good successe,
which, in the hands of others, have proved fatall.

I have nsed milky, and anodyne clysters, made with aniseeds, and
cumin seeds, and fenil seeds, yolks of egges, and Venice Turpentine
washed in plantane water, with oile of sweet almonds, or such like oile.

But I durst not bee bold to give sharp or strong clysters to wo-
men nigh their account, or in their labour, for feare that they should
move too much to stoole, and so cause a drawing of the after -purging
from the womb to the bowels, and so, through too much purging, de-
stroy the woman after her delivery.

Guillimeau saith fol. 48 That, if the woman bee troubled with
pain, you may give her a clyster as this

ft Pol. malv. matrica. aa m. j. nor. chamam. melilot. et summi-
tat. aneti aa m. s. sem. anis. fenic. aa 3nj. bulliant in jure capit. vervec.
vel vituli. de quo accipe quart, iij. In quibus dissolue 01. Anethi, Cha-
mamil. aa ^ij sacchar. rub. $i. s. Butyr. recent, ^j- vitell. ovor. duor.
fiat clyster.

Nevertheles hee was of opinion (if it may bee don possible) that
they should abstaine from clysters, because hee had seen women, some-
times, through as small a clyster as tins, fall into great torments, yea
even into throws, nature being thereto prepared and ready, winch turn-
ed to the chirurgion's disgrace.

There was a good woman in Darby, that had severall great pashes
of the reds, but whether shee had suffered any false conception, or abor-
tion, I knew not, with cordials, and pil. pacifica shee was restored the
first time.

Shee afterward conceived, and went forth her full time, but in her

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

labour fainted, and swooned. I was then sent for, and found her sit-
ting, whether in a chair, or on a woman's lap, I do not now remember.
Shee was very pale, and faint, having a dying countenance, and her mid-
wife not attending her work, but pulling her by the nose, to keep life in
her.

I willed the midwife, with the women, to lay her on her bed.
With good spirits, and uterine cordials shee came again to herself, and
when, afterward, labour began to approach, I gave her a dose of pul-
vis parturiens, and put her into her midwife's hands, as shee was lying
on the bed, and shee was speedily delivered of a dead child. And thus,
at the second time, shee was recovered.

At her fainting, and swoonings, I suppose the child died in the
womb.

Afterward, shee conceived again, and, nigh the time before labour
came on her, shee desired an apothecary to make her a clyster to move a
stoole, or two. J. W. hee made it. I know not, but this clyster of his
gave her many stooles, and brought much .weaknes on her. Shee being
not well that night, after the clyster had done working, her midwife was
sent for; shee, and her midwife, supposing her paines to bee not any-
thing relating to her labour, the midwife went home, leaving her in bed
with her husband. But, within a very little space, the waters flowed.
Her Husband made hast again to fetch the midwife. Before the mid-
wife came, the child was bom, through nature's force, without the mid-
wife's assistance, and heard to cry lying in bed with the mother. The
child lived, and the mother seemed to recover her strength. But the
second day after her delivery, shee was ill, and troubled with a loosnes.
The fourth day I was sent for. I found her fainting, and altered in her
understanding. I used my best endeavours to help, and restore her the

111 suc-
ces of a

clyster
given to
a woman
bef. lab.

A child
born af-
ter the
mid-
wife
was
sent a-
way, in
the mid-
wife's
absence.

Observations in Midwifery, by

third time. But fainting, with sensible fading every houre, increased,
and deprived us of a good neighbour, and that afternoon shee died.

Her corps soon corrupted, so that they were necessitated to bury
her the next day. And I beleeve that her death began in the womb,
with a mortification, occasioned by the turning away of the after -purgings
of the womb to the bowels. But, for her sake, I will bee cautious in giv-
ing clysters, that shall bee strong, to provoke severally or many stooles,
nigh the time of labour, least that the same disaster should happen
under my hands.

A Lady, that had a great belly, shee assured her physician, That
shee was not with child, and that it was wind, and humours, which
made her body to swell, and to bee so big. At her request hee gave
her a potion. It worked much on her body. And, that night follow-
ing, shee was delivered of a living child, with little suffering. The phy-
sick left no farther motion of purging after her delivery, and shee well
recovered. But I cannot commend her unadvised doings, although no
evil accident followed.

The La-
dy Lee.

When the meanest of the people were made Priests, in Jeroboam's
dayes, then Israel began to bee afflicted. Afterward followed the des-
truction, with the captivity of the people.

When the meanest of the women, not knowing how, otherwise, to
live, for the getting of a shilling, or two, to sustain their necessities;
become ignorant midwives, then travailing women suffer tortures, by
their halings, and stretchings of their bodies, after which followeth the
ruinating of their healths, and sometimes death.

Whatsoever woman shall commit her body to the practice of a
young midwife, that hath read a little in a midwife's book, and hath

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

there seen schemes of the postures of severall births ( the which shee
doth not understand) and, perchance, not by her skil, but by nature's
force, hath laid a woman, or two, in an easy and naturall birth; I shall
fitly compare such a woman to an unadvised passenger, that will hazard
Iris safety with a Pilot, that never went a sea voiage, but, by reading of
bookes, or crossing the Thames, or some small river, makes himself a
Pilot. And I imagine, not any, if wise, will commit their safety to
these midwives at land, or to such Pilots at sea, unles they bee destitute
wholly of all other help.

A woman is not borne a midwife ; It is education, with practice,
that teacheth her experience; And midwives have need of good memories
to help their judgments in all their undertakings.

The young midwives at London bee trained seven yeares first
under the old midwives, before they bee allowed to practice for them-
selves.

Severall midwives, (chiefely about London) use midwives stools;
many in the country make use of a bolster, stuffed with hay or straw.
Others, in severall places, make use of both. Por a woman to lie on
her back on her bed, in an unnaturall birth, or to use a midwife's stoole
is not so convenient, as to kneele on a bolster, for that the midwife can-
not have the command of her hand to put back the child, or to turn the
birth comming in an ill posture, as shee is placed on the bed or stoole,
for that her work resteth above her hand, and so it will bee very trouble-
some to put it backward, alwayes falling again on her hand.

But kneeling on a bolster, and her head put downward, the child
will go back from her hand, of itself, or it will bee the better helped
by the midwife, for putting it again into the hollownes of the woman's

Observations in Midwifery, by

body, and there to keep it, untill the birth may bee fittingly ordered, as
occasion shall require.

The labouring woman, sitting with her body naked on the mid-
wife's stoole, usually taketh cold, which starveth, and straiteneth the
body, and oft bringeth much griefe, and affliction both to the mother,
and the child, with a long continued labour.

I rather commend an easy, low pallet, or a warme bed, and they
bee more usefull, when that the child commeth naturally, following the
waters.

The placing of a woman in a fitting posture doth much facilitate
the birth.

A bolster is most fitting for an ill posture, as also for a difficult
birth, where the child hath need to bee altered, or turned, for the la-
bouring woman to kneel on in a descending posture.

A midwife's stoole is good for little, or, rather, for nothing, yet
severall women do highly commend them.

In case of necessity, midwives, that know how to make use of a
bolster, and of the bending postures belonging to it, shall bee freed of
severall inconveniences, and incumbrances, incident to delivery.

When a child is to bee turned, or to bee extracted by the crochet,
the best way then will bee, for the woman to kneele on a bolster.

Tor which observe this order. v

First take the bolster, and shorten it, by shaking all the feathers
into one end, making it indifferent hard; Then roul the bolster in a
sheet, or blanket, to keep it firm, that the woman's knees sink not much

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

into it. Or use a sack stuffed with hay, or straw, and rouled in a blan-
ket, or sheet.

Then place an assisting woman, sitting on the pallet, or bed, with
a pillow on her lap, and her legs spread as wide, as shee can convenient-
ly, and let the bolster bee laid, as nigh as may bee, to her knees, and
feet.

Then bring the woman, and cause* her to kneele on the bolster,
spreading abroad her knees. After this, put her head downe, unto the
pillow lying in the woman's lap, that sitteth afore her.

Then is the woman fitted for turning of a child from the head to
the feet, or for the altering of the birth, or for the drawing of a dead
child with the crochet.

If you have a desire to turn the child, when that it hath too great
a head, or when the bones bee evill framed, and hinder the comming
forth of the child, then, after shee is placed kneeling on a bolster &c

Slide up your hand anointed into the woman's body, and, after-
ward, spread it flat upon the child's head, and gently force the child
back, toward the mouth of the womb, untill you have roome enough to
search for the feet, and having found a foot, draw it leasurely forth,
holding the foot in your hand griped between your fingers. The in-
fants body will turne easily round, and so bee drawn forth.

February the fifteenth, 1667, I was called to one Anne Harison,
at Horsley woodliouses. I found the woman's spirits decayed, and shee
as good as dying. The midwife told mee, That the child was dead, and
I beleeved her, after that I had seen the child's arme, which was much
swel'd, and mortified, and pulled forth, and fixed in the birth by the
midwife's enforcements.

l 2

Great
head.

The

shoulder

fixed

the

birth.

Observations in Midwifery, by

The

child

much

entered

through

the bones

in a na-

turall

birth.

After my way prescribed, not reducing the arme, I brought downe
a foot, and I drew gently by that foot, untill I had obtained both feet.
But the arme of the child, at the shoulder, was so used, and fixed in the
neck of the womb by the midwife's pullings, that the child's arme would
not move to go up, or the child's back bee brought to turn round, untill
I took the child's arme into my hand, and, by the elbow, had forced it a
little upward into the woman's body. After this, the body of the child
turned easily round, and the arme went up, of it self, without forcing,
and, after my usuall way, shee was soon delivered. The after-birth,
without any strugling, or laceration, was soon fetched away.

In this woman, after that I had put up my hand into her body, I
found that I slid it on the backbone of the child, I did not take it out
of the woman's body, but I turned my hand round, and, with ease, I
came quickly to the child's belly, where I found the feet. Without any
torture shee was soon, and easily delivered. I observed, That shee had
os coccygis very broad at the end of it, and thick, and inverted, nothing
moveable. Through the ill position of her body, as well as through the
ignorance of her midwife, and her unhandsome usage accompanying the
unnaturall birth, her death was hastened by the midwife's enforcements.
Shee lived but a small time after her delivery, about an houre or two,
and so departed.

Vide Mrs Stone of Eudgly.

When the child hath much entered into the bones, it will bee a
difficult matter to thrust him back, to turne him to the feet, chiefly,
after that the woman is become weake, through the midwife's strivings.

But if the child bee not entered much through the bones, and bee
alive, having a great head, or pitched in the woman's flank (as mid-

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

wives will have it) or with his head bending to the back, or breast, and
that, through these difficultnesses, the woman is endangered, and the
midwife knoweth not how to deliver her; Here I hold the best way to
preserve the mother, and the child, will bee to turn away the head, and
to produce him by the feet, which is the last, and onely refuge to help
both, and to preserve the child with the mother.

About the yeare 1654 I travailed with my guide, about the mid-
dle of summer, all the fore-part of the night, and was brought to Brom-
Idgham in Staffordshire, to a woman in labour, and her midwife could
not deliver her, though the child came in a naturall birth.

I found the child alive, I speedily altered the posture of the birth,
as shee kneeled on a bolster, I turned back the head, and I brought
downe the feet. By them I soone delivered her of a living sonne; and
the mother and child lived. I saw them both afterward in May 1656.

In the yeare 1650 I was desired by a worthy Gentleman to visit
his wife. I found her a whimsicall, conceited woman.

Shee sent mee word, That shee had been foure dayes in labour.
When I came to her, shee was sitting in a chair in her chamber. After
some conference with her, I assured her, That shee was not in labour,
and that, at the least, shee would go two dayes more.

For the present, upon my words, shee was quieted. But, at the
end of these two dayes, shee was passionated, and would force her body,
without just cause, by violent strainings, to bee delivered. And all
this work was occasioned by her schrimshaw midwife, a woman, that
thought that shee knew all things, and understood very little in her cal-

Head.

More
land the

Inne
keeper.

The
birth
by the
head in
a self
wil'd
wo-
man.

Observations in Midwifery, by

Before my comming, this midwife had forced up her hand into her
body, and shee assured this passionated woman, that shee felt the child,
and that shee must forthwith bee delivered of it, to save her life.

I had much ado with this woman. I could not quiet her resolu-
tions, shee would, perforce, make throws, and violently thrust them
downe by holding her breath, and forcing her belly downward, Thus,
through much straining, the womb was forced open, and part of the
chorion descended.

I told her, That shee much wronged herself by her violent en-
forcements, and that, as yet, shee had not any signe of true labour on
her, and that such ill doings might bee her mine.

But shee, with her midwife, would have their wills, and would
have my requests to bee overpowered. I intreated the midwife not to
bee too hasty, and not to break the membranes containing the waters,
and assured her, That, when shee forced not her body, that the mem-
brane's, containing the waters, was not to bee felt, and that shee might
perceive it return up again into her body, so soon as her strivings ceas-
ed; and, for the present, shee had no true labour on her body.

But, between the woman's enforcements, and the midwife's igno-
rance, the waters issued. Then shee made great ado, and cried out,
That shee should bee ruinated, and die, if that forthwith I would not de-
liver her. I intreated her patience, assuring her, That it would bee much
for her good, and easement, if that shee would bee pleased to take some
rest, for a little while, before her delivery, to revive her spirits, and to
renew her strength. But my intreaties, and perswasions made her
much more impatient, and shee made great ado to bee delivered.

I was then necessitated to tell her, That, as shee was laid upon

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

her bed, that I could not come nigh to her body, and, as shee was plac-
ed, lying on her back, that it was impossible to deliver her.

Shee would then get up, and put her self to her knees.

After my usuall way, in the turning of the birth from head to
feet, with some trouble, shee was delivered. Shee fainted, and was ill
afterward. But God was merciful unto her, in that hee did not reward
her according to her rash, passionated follies, and shee recovered.

Alice Smith of Darby, dwelling at Nun-Green, was disquieted by
her ignorant, perverse midwife, for the space of ten dayes. After which
time, being ill, and fainting, her neighbours laid her on her bed, sup-
posing her to bee dying, whilst that some others of them came to my
house for mee.

But I was abroad, yet I went unto her so soon as I came home,
about eight a clock that night.

Shee desired to bee quiet, and hoped, That shee should sleep.
So I returned to my house.

In the morning, afore eight, I was sent for. The women thought
that shee had flouded. Some small issue of blood there had been, but,
before my comming, it was staid. -

After this, shee complained of a fumes at her stomach. Her
body was sweFd, so that shee could hardly breath. Her belly was also
sweFd, and hard. The right side of her face was puft up, and her eye
as good as closed with swellings.

The inhabitants of our towne, being foule mouthed, and apt to
censuring, and the miclwives of no good disposition, ever thrusting their

Observations in Midwifery, by

ignorant carriages upon others, made mee unwilling to use the crochet,
although, in my thoughts, the child was departed, and did somewhat
smell.

The
Head.

The head came first, but I put it back, as shee kneeled. Being
placed behind her, I delivered her by the child's feet. The after-birth
did stick to the womb, but I separated it from the sides, and brought it
whole away, shee felt little pain in her delivery, and had a few after-pur -
gings. Her face, and stomach swel'd more and more.

Being laid in bed, I gave her two spoonfuls of oile of charity,
which did much revive, and comfort her.

Shee complained of the coldnes of her feet, there were laid warme
bricks, wrapt in cloths, unto them.

Yet, for all our helps, about some five, or six houres after, shee
quietly departed, and her face presently corrupted.

The child might have been well drawn with the crochet, but that
operation would not have prolonged her life. Shee was ancient, and
the os coccygis broad pointed, and turned inward. Had it pleased God
to have given her a longer time, it would have been ten to one, but that,
at some time or other, by bearing of children, shee might have perished
in this bed, through the ill conformation of her bones.

Vide

position
conforma-
tion
framing
common

of the
bones

Per email Willughby, Gentleman.

And, to prove the truth of this last report, severall following re-
ports will make manifest what hath been said.

Margery, the wife of William Barker, a painter in Darby, being
severall dayes in labour, and, at the last, by her midwives left comfortles,
without any hopes of delivery: By her, and her friends desires, my help,
and assistance were requested.

I found a narrow passage, and the child had not at all descended,
being hindered by the broad end of os coccygis, inverted, and not flexi-
ble, and the child too larg for so strait a passage, and the birth
comming by the head.

Whereupon, I turned the birth from the head, unto the feet, and
thus I quickly laid her of a dead child, and shee soon recovered Novem-
ber the fift 1666.

Shee conceived again. In her travaile, shee suffered much ex-
tremity; winch moved the woman, with her midwife, and her friends,
to send to my house, and to desire my help again. But I was out of the
Town, some fourteen miles from Darby. They thought it a long way to
send, and nobody came to mee for her, but deferred time, in hopes of
my comming home; though they all knew, that shee greatly desired my
help, and that I would have come, for that I had promised- her my
assistance, if need required.

After six days suffering shee died July twenty five die Ois. 1669
in my absence.

After my returning to my house, the midwife told mee, That the
child never descended, or came within the bones, and that her body
being narrow, shee knew not how to deliver her; and that it was past

Head.

Observations in Midwifery, by

her understanding; and these things I knew well enough; that the bones
would not permit, but hinder the passage, and, by this report, the pre-
cedent is confirmed, and my words made true.

Head.

August the fourth 1668 Mrs Mary Harley of Walton in the-
wolds, being in labour, and having suffered three or foure dayes much
affliction; her husband, with her desire, caused mee to bee sent for.
The child came right, with the head pitched toward the bones. Shee
had, severall times, strong forcing throwes, but they nothing availed.
To move more strongly the expulsive faculty, I gave her severall doses
of the midwife's powder, acuted with a larg quantity of Borax. But
they nothing helped our desires, which made mee to suppose, That the
child's head and body were too great for the passage. Shee was ancient,
and I was greatly desirous to save the mother, with the child.

Therefore I thought it good to put back the child's head, and to
deliver her by the child's feet, the which I did about twelve a clock that
night. And each particular seemed to answer our proceedings with
good successe, for the present time. All of us thought the cliild had
been dead. But, holding the feet toward the fire, and with laying the
after -birth on hot coales, and stroaking the navel-string toward the
belly, the child revived, and was baptized the sunday after, and was
named Mary.

The child's tender feet were blistered through the heat of the fire,
and carelesnes of the women.

As for the good woman. Shee was very well for the space of an
houre, after her delivery, and, for her preservation, shee gave God
thanks, and for my care of her shee also thanked mee.

After this time shee fainted, and I was ignorant of the cause,

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

whether it might bee through some clottering of blood in the womb, or
through the losse of blood, wee thought that shee would have presently
died; for that shee had no pulse, little, or no breathing to bee perceived,
her face altered with blackening, and shee was quite deprived of her

senses.

Bat, through God's permission, • with cordiall spirits, shee was
again restored, and shee recovered her breathing, and the use of her
senses, and took good rest all that night following.

Shee was subject to a scouring, the which I disliked. I gave her
severall medicines to prevent it. But, above all, shee praised, and best
liked the boiled milk with pepper. At her friends desire I stayed with
her ten dayes. I would willingly have stayed longer, for that I feared
her weaknes. But, perceiving that they were willing to let mee go, I
took leave, and departed, after that I had left them some directions.

It was reported that shee was afflicted with convulsions toward
the end of the moneth, and so died. And whether any loosnes, or
what other infirmity might happen unto her, I know not. Her friends
never more did send unto mee to acquaint mee with her condition.

But the child is lively, and thriveth, and every day getteth
strength.

Had I not drawn the child by the feet, the mother would not
have been delivered. And, if that I still had deferred time, in hopes to
have had a naturall birth, this child, born so weak, would have perished
in the mother's womb, and the mother with it, and they would not have
been separated.

I twice delivered one Goodwife Katherine Renshaw in Stafford.

M %

Convul-
sions.

Observations in Midwifery, by

At the last time blood clottered, and began to congeale in her body, a-
bout an houre after her delivery; through which shee was much pained,
and began to faint.

I dipped my finger into oile, and put it up into her body, and
there gently I moved my finger three, or foure times, and presently the
clotters of blood issued forth in abundance from the womb. Without
any more disquiets shee soone recovered.

Head.

A diffi-
cult

birth by
the head.

Both these infants I turned from the head to the feet, to deliver
the woman. The first child was still-borne, the second lived three, or
foure yeares, and then died of the small pox.

I was sent for to come to one Goodwife Wilder, where I found
midwives tormenting the woman. The child came by the head, and the
midwives hoped, by haling, and stretching her body, to deliver her.

. But when I perceived their tormenting, ignorant wayes, and found
that the infant's head was great, and would not descend, I placed her,
kneeling, on a bolster, and put her head down to a pillow, placed in a
woman's lap, sitting afore her. I put back the head into the hollownes
of the woman's body, and turned the birth unto the feet, and thus I
quickly delivered her about June 1646 of a dead child, and shee was
living, at Twyford in Darbyshire, severall yeares afterward.

Mar. 1. 1670 I was desired to come to Tutbury in Stafford-shire
by Thomas Key, to help to deliver his wife Katherine Key, with whom
three midwives had been, and one of them, with much strugling, and
haling, had greatly tormented this distressed woman.

This travailing woman assured mee afterward. That, had shee had
strength, shee would have kicked this midwife into the fire, for that

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

shee did nothing else, but pull, and stretch her body with all violence,
to enlarg the passages, not caring, if that shee had torn her body to do
it.

The child's head was too great to slide through these narrow pas-
sages, and the shoulders larg.

After the child had somewhat entered the bones, some (if not all
of them) took hold on the skin of the head, the which was made raw
and red by their pullings, and the cuticula with the haire, was flayed
from the skin. They also endeavoured to separate the sutures of the
head, and had, in part, done it. The skin of the head was pulled from
the skull, and was swelled much bigger than a* man's fist ; and part of
the child's braines was squeezed through the sutures into this tumour.
So the head was lessened through the woman's endeavours to bee laid,
and the midwife's enforcements. But the skin was thick, and tough,
and did hold without tearing, or breaking.

I made a ligature upon this swel'd tumour; and, with difficulty, I
drew forth the head, but it stuck at the shoulders, and, although I had
the help of drawing by the head, wrapt in a linen cloth, yet it would
not stir by my strength in drawing, untill I put a fillet with a slip-knot
about the child's neck, and intreated a woman to help to draw by it.
Through her assistance, with my endeavours, the female infant was
drawn forth from her body.

Shee had been five dayes in extremity. The infant was, in some
parts, flayed, and did somewhat smell. Shee had a loosnes within three
dayes after, but it was not violent, and it did not disquiet her body, but
staid of it self, and shee recovered. I went to see her July the 10
1671.

Observations in Midwifery, by

Elia-
nor
Hurt.

Head.

Over-
grown
chil-
dren .

TNota, when a child hath lieu long in the body dead, the skin will
flay off, and the body of it will putrefie, and smell.

I was at Colton in Staffordshire, about the yeare 1655, and was
there desired to help a poor woman, that had hen severall dayes in ex-
tremity, and the birth was by the head. But, finding her weak, and, in
probability, not likely to live many houres, I entreated all the women to
pardon mee, and my endeavours, for that I perceived, that shee had too
long suffered, and would not live. But the woman in labour, with her
neighbours, and relations, greatly desired, and intreated my help. Tor
life or death, shee resigned herself to God's will, and determination.

I put up my hand anointed into her body, I turned the birth, and
presently drew away the child by the feet. It was dead, and grievously
smelt, and was flayed and sweFd, being great in body. In her body
internally shee was very cold.

According to my prediction, within few houres after her de-
livery, and my departure, shee died. And all the sweet herbs, with
bran, and warm water, that I washed, and rubbed my hands with, did
not remove from them the stinking smell of this child's infected body
for severall dayes afterward. Shee was Robert Middleton's wife.

And, seeing some women bee in great clanger of death, having
overgrown children in the womb, the passages being incapable of farther
dilatation, which happeneth, when the child in all his body is too great
for the passage, chiefly in the head, and shoulders, and yet, in part, hath
entered the bones, and that the child hath hen long in the womb, dry,
and deprived of all humidity, so that there is no hope left to turn the
birth unto the feet; In this sad case it is the safest way to draw the
child with the crochet, after that it is dead, rather then to put back the
head to fetch the feet.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

The hand, in this sad condition, will bee very grievous for the wo-
man to suffer, oft producing evill accidents. And this operation will
prove difficult to bee performed, when that the woman hath long suffer-
ed, and that the body is left dry, after that all the humours, moistening
the womb, have flowed.

The crochet is of most excellent use, to extract the dead child,
when it is locked between the os pubis, and coccygis, and cannot bee
displaced, or pushed upward, to turn, and so to draw it forth by the
feet, without hurting the mother, or endangering her life, through
bruises.

It is also convenient to take forth a child's head, that is pulled
off, and so left in the womb.

It should bee about 10 or 11 inches long, of a reasonable circuit
in the head of it, that it may take hold; and not too sharp pointed, but
rather somewhat bluntish.

And, for feare, in your working, you should not certainly know
where the point of your instrument bendeth, let there bee a broad nick,
or notch, or some other mark in the handle of your instrument; right
against the point of it, and it will direct you where the point resteth,
and winch way it turneth. Without such a mark you cannot, alwayes,
well find the point of your instrument.

"I know not a better instrument, than the crochet, to help a wo-
man in extremity, when shee is overwearied, and that her strength, with
all other meanes, doth faile, and the woman's body very narrow, or
strait, or swel'd by violent enforcements, and the child dead.

But, if it bee not used with great care, and judgment, it may

Observations in Midwifery, by

My cou-
sin Ham-
mond's
daugh-
ter.

Mercy
Hay-
wood.

Mrs.

Curson.

prove destructive, by ill fixing, as well as by tearing, and losing the
hold, as also by hasty, and rash drawing, and so wo and the woman.

A Gentlewoman, and one nearly related to mee, was delivered by
a man midwife, whilest that I dwelt at London. Hee caused a sheet to
bee held over him, that her body, and his hands might bee covered, for
that nobody should see his rash follies, and a bason to bee set nigh to
her body afore him. His instrument, as hee worked, did overslip his
hand, and was heard to fall into the bason, and, in probability, the wo-
man's body was wounded by his instrument, through his ill using of it.

If this narration was truly related to mee, by those women, that
were present at her delivery, his work was carried on with much un-
handsomenes, and accompanied with great ignorance.

Shee soon after rotted in the womb, from whence noisome vapors,
and ill sented fluxes issued; and so this poor soul, within a few dayes
after, miserably finished her life.

I was sent for to Colton about the yeare 1654 to help a poor wo-
man (Mercy Haywood) that had hen long in labour. The child was too
great for the passage. I deferred the operation very long. And, when
nothing prevailed to awaken the throwes, or to drive forth the child,
(perceiving at the last, the child to bee dead) I drew it with the crochet,
and brought it away indifferent easily. Shee afterward recovered her
health, and strength, and I saw her well in the yeare 1667, as also 167i
in Jan 26.

At Brelsford about the yeare 1634 I layd a Gentlewoman, that
had lien severall dayes in labour. The child came by the head, and did
stink. I quickly drew it with the crochet. Shee soon recovered her
weaknes, and, afterward, had severall children.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

I was sent for to Scrapton in Darbyshire by Mrs Agard, Mr John
Agard' s wife, and desired to come to deliver a baker's wife, that was
formerly her servant. I was not willing to bee too hasty with her.
But, when neither medicines, or a warm bed, or other wayes would not
prevail e, I used the crochet, and I was not long in delivering her of a
dead child. This was done about the yeare 1646.

There was a poor woman, wife to an under-cook, servant to Sr
Henry Willughby at Risly. Shee travailed of a great child. The
birth came by the head. My help was desired. I put her off a long
time, fearing the child might bee alive. But it was dead. Shee began
to rave, and was somewhat distracted, and to discolour in her face. The
cliild was entered within the bones, and could not conveniently bee
tinned back. Therefore I was forced to draw it with the crochet, and
shee recovered. But, afterward, for the present, shee could not hold
her water, untill a yeare, or more, had passed over, and had strength-
ened, and setled her weak body.

Aug: Anno 1668 the twelfth day, Jane Potter, the wife of Adam
Potter of Dufneld, having been in labour for severall dayes, was de-
sirous of my help. Her body had been much strugled with by severall
midAvives. The child was corrupted, and did unsavourilly smell. There-
fore I would not offer to disquiet her with more strivings, to turne the
child from the head to the feet, but drew it leasurely with the crochet ;
and, in the drawing, moisture issued out of her fundament. I never
knew, or observed the like in any woman afore. After that shee was
delivered, shee was at ease for two dayes. Then a loosnes seized on her
body, and of it shee died in the week following.

When the infant shall hasten to the birth with one hand appear-
ing, the midwife shall, in no case, receive him, but put back the arme

Observations in Midwifery, by

speedily, and bring his head downward, to a naturall birth. And if, in
case the midwife cannot do it, and is ignorant how to alter the birth by
bringing it to the head, or rather to the feet, then I could wish they
would follow the counsell, to bring the woman again to her bed, and
there to place her with her face upward, and her head bending back-
ward, her middle part lying higher then the rest of her body, which
being . done, the midwife shall bind down her belly toward the midriffe
in a reasonable manner, that so shee may drive, and force the infant into
the womb, and may minister occasion, that hee proceed forth in another
forme.

I wish the midwife to make choice of a good rouler, somewhat
broad, and to begin her rouling as low as shee can toward the botom of
her belly, drawing the labouring woman's belly upward with the rouler,
somewhat strait, toward her hips, or lower parts, but not too hard, and,
afterward, to roule more easily, by degrees, toward the navel.

After this, let the labouring woman move, and roule herself to,
and fro, in, or upon her bed, having her head much lower than her hips,
having her thighes, and belly higher then the rest of her body, un-
till such time, that the infant shall bee perceived to bee returned up
again, and shall appear altered in an apt, or convenient forme, or way
for delivery.

And some assisting woman may do her good service to stroke up-
ward her belly to help to remove the child, and so to reinforce him
again into the womb. But I never have used this way.

But when an arme commeth alone, do not endeavour to reduce it,
by putting it up, but slide up your anointed hand into the woman's
body, over the child's arme, and gently force up your hand. If it bring

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

you to the back, the same will feele hard. Do not take your hand forth
of the woman's body, but turn it round toward the child's belly, where
you shall find the child's feet. Draw by the feet, as directed, the arme
will reduce itself, as the body turneth round. Thus you may soone de-
liver any woman by the child's feet.

If that you find that the child's arme will not move to reduce
itself, and that the child's body will not easily bee turned round, then
conceive that the child's shoulder is locked in the neck of the womb,
between the bones.

To help this let, or hinderance, take the child's arme, and, hold-
ing it in your hand, thrust it upward into her body, yet without violence,
and it will remove this let, and then the child, without any farther
trouble, will soone turne, and so bee born by the easy drawing of the
feet.

Without kneeling on a bolster a child cannot well bee turned.

Thus all other births, as belly, back, buttocks, with the knees,
may bee reduced to the feet.

It will bee much better, and more for the midwives credits, to
make use of the way of rouling, rather then to pull the infant by the
arme, or to cut it off. Tor, so doing, the infant is alwayes destroyed,
and very oft the mother with it.

But, if the arme will not remove, and return again, by the wo-
man's moving, or rouling herself to and fro on the bed, yet do not offer,
in that posture, to deliver her, nor to draw the infant by the arme.

But rather in a bending posture, descending, deliver the woman
kneeling on a bolster. And the midwife being placed behind her, let

Observations in Midwifery, by

her not endeavour to reduce the arme, but rather, by degrees, leasurely
to slide up her anointed hand over the child's arme, and gently to force
it upward. This way will bring her hand to the infant's feet, or to the
twist of the legs, so shee may easily obtain a foot, the winch shee may
bring down, holding it between her forefinger, and middle finger, in her
hand griped, with her thumb laid over her fingers. After that shee
hath brought it forth, let her hold it in a soft linen cloth, or put a fillet,
with a slip knot, over the heele, whilest that shee fetcheth the other foot
(if easy to bee found) or, if the woman's body bee not very narrow, let
her draw gently by the foot, untill the child is drawn nigh to the but-
tocks. Then shee may see where the other foot resteth, which, without
any striving, with her bended finger, placed in the hip of the child, by
easy drawing, shee may bring it forth.

Let the midwife joine the feet together, and, holding them in a
soft, linen cloth, let her draw leasurely, and the child's body will turne
round, and the arme will go up with the shoulder, reducing itself, beyond
belief, or the expectation of many midwives.

Afterward, when it is drawn to the loines, or to the breast, ob-
serve whether the child's face bee turned toward the back of the woman.
If it bee not, turn it, holding the body, between your hands, in a soft,
linen cloth, that the face of the child may bee toward the back of the
woman.

The child will turn easily, without any danger to it, not at all
troubling, or hurting the woman.

Then let the midwife draw again gently, and leasurely, untill it
come nigh unto the neck, then let her slide up her anointed hand, be-
tween os coccygis (which is the rump bone, so called by midwives) and

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

and the child's face. Then putting her middle finger a little way into
the child's month, and placing her other fingers over the child's face,
and pressing down the child's chin into the pit of the child's throat, and
and causing an assistent woman, at that time, to lay a flat hand upon
the mother's belly, over against the child's head, and some part of the
hand above the head, willing her to thrust off the head gently, and by
degrees, that it rest not, to make any stay on os pubis (which midwives
call the share-bone) and, at that instant of this pressure, let the mid-
wife, or some other body, gently, and leasurely draw by the hips, or feet,
and the child will quickly, and without all danger, bee born. Thus
doing, shee needs not to feare the breaking of the child's neck, or the
endangering of the pulling off the head from the child's shoulders.

Therefore to reduce the arme is needles, and, besides, it causeth
much trouble, and it helpeth nothing toward the delivery. It hath oft
much disquieted, and afflicted the woman with great paines, and needles
tortures, as you may observe hereafter by severall births, that I have
laid. I have known, through midwives violence, the armes of children
broken, whiles! that they endeavoured to reduce them, and, with their
rashnes, they have destroyed the children, and greatly endangered the
woman's life.

Cleare Pearson, the wife of Richard, dwelling at Tenant bridg in
Darby anno 1650, or about that time, tooke for her midwife Goodwife
Spencer. The child's arme came down. Shee could not reduce it, shee
having long time, suffered much haling,, and pulling by the child's arme,
and the midwife, not knowing how to help her, by all the women, at
the last, my assistance was desired.

I found the arme swel'd, discoloured, and mortified. I placed
her kneeling on a hard bolster, and put her head down, in a descending

Do what
you please
if that you
find these
words
oft re-
peated.

Arme.

Observations in Midwifery, by

posture, to a pillow, that was laid on a woman's lap, sitting afore her.
I gently slid up my anointed hand into her body. I quickly found the
child's foot, and, by the feet, I gently drew the child; the body of the
child turned round, the arme slided up of itself. I kept the child's
face toward the back of the woman. I put my middle finger into the
child's mouth, and placed my other ringers over the child's face, then I
drew again leasurely by the feet. So the child was soon born, and the
after-birth was quickly fetched, and shee safely delivered, and laid in her
bed. And all this was done in lesser time then half a quarter of an
houre, as severall women, yet living, can testifie this to bee true, and so
performed. And, in a short space, shee recovered.

About a yeare, or two, after this time, this woman had the same
birth again, and had the help of 3 midwives, and each one of them used
much violence. In her sufferings, shee intreated, and desired them to
lay her the same way, as Mr. Willughby had done. Shee told her mid-
wives, that hee did not hurt her. But they concluded, That it must bee
drawn by force from her. Some held the woman, whilest that others
violently pulled the child from her by the arme, and thus shee was tor-
tured by them to bee delivered. I was sent for to Stafford, and came
to her some foure houres after her delivery, and found the woman much
spent, and weake, and deprived of the use of her lower lhnbes. Shee
presently smelt very unsavourily. Shee rotted in the womb, and, within
two dayes after, died, through their unhandsome doings.

Usually, for the most part, when the arme commeth down, igno-
rant midwives destroy the child, by violent drawing by the arme, in
hopes, speedily to deliver the woman by their great strength, by drawing
by the child's arme, to put it out of the mother's body. At last, their
endeavours proving bad, not with their consent, or desires, but through

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

the perswasions of their friends, I have been sent for, to help severall
women in their extremities.

In February Anno 1664, Mary Barton, the wife of Simon, living
at Chelhston, some three miles from Darby, had her child comming by
the arme. After some sufferings, her husband came for mee, whilest
that the child was alive. But the midwife would bee working, and,
with her pulling by the child's arme, shee had destroyed the infant,
before I could come unto the house.

I drew down the feet; the arme, without any enforcement, reduced
it self, through the circular motion of the child's body turning round.
The woman recovered, and shee hath oft thanked mee for being instru-
mental! for the saving of her life.

I do not think it amisse here, in this place, to insert verba An-
tonii Everardi, M. D.

Referam, hoc casu, quid beatee mese conjugi accideret. Tertio
fsetu gravidam, nono prcegnationis mense, labores parturientium arripi-
unt circa noctem. Mox rupta aqua (ut, hie, mulieres loqui amant)
extra genitale infantuli manus propendit. Ubi obstetrix advenisset,
uxorem meam in sedili collocavit, eamq ad continuos conatus (me no-
lente nee instigante natura) adegit. Cum vero res eo modo non succe-
deret, meamq conjugem supra sedem continuo detineret, ac diris craciati-
bus illapsam ex uteri cervice manum, brachiumq retrudere in uterum
niteretur, quo fcetuin ad exitum commodius disponeret, Ego, prae dolore
charge meae conjugis impatiens, ac indesinenter obstetricem admonens, ne
quidem elapsi membri reductionem in uterum cogitaret possibilem, multo
minus moliretur; secundam obstetricem accersiri jussi,prEesertim cum uxor
mihi nunciaret, quid obstetrix earn dilaceraret per illam praeconceptam,

Arme.

Observations in Midwifery, by

ac miseram elapsi membri repulsioneni. Cum insequenti die mane ob-
stetrix altera venisset, ilia manus ad opus applicans, remq clihgenter
explorans, uxorem naeaiii in lectum deposuit, mandavitq, ut quietam se
detineret, nullosq conatus excitaret, nisi quando natura earn sui admon-
eret officii. Interim obstetrix ilia prudens, et expertissima prsedixit
inihi, amicisq preesentibns, uxorem meam non ante parturam, quam
foetus in utero ex indebito situ, irritisq conatibus strangularetur, quod
eventus docuit. Multiplicati sunt labores parturientis, et foetus, inflexo
ad dorsam capite, (salva matre) prodiit in lucem.

I suppose that this learned Gentleman had not much judgment in
the practice of midwifery, when that hee did write his wife's sorrowfull
case, with her great sufferings, and her midwife's ignorant doings.

Had the first midwife, so soon as shee came, reduced the arme
before shee brought her to her stoole, shee might have had the better
successe, yet it proved her to bee the better midwife, for that shee en-
deavoured to reduce it, although shee failed in the performing of it,
knowing, That the child could not bee born in that unnaturall posture.

For the second midwife, shee was onely to bee commended for
that shee took her from sitting on the stoole, and putting her to bed.
For her predictions, they were ridiculous. Shee might have said, That
the mother, through this labour, might as well have perished, as the
child; or that the child would bee first strangled, before it would bee
borne.

But God was mercifull unto this labouring woman in her dis-
tresse, and it is not to bee doubted, but that the posture of the unnat-
uraE birth was altered as shee lay in the warm bed, and moved, and
turned herself from side to side in the same. And I am confident, That

Percivall Willu^hby, Gentleman.

neither the Doctor,, or either of the midwives did, or could receive the
child in this posture, having the head turned backward, and lying on
the child's back, and thus shee to bee delivered.

But this good Dr. giving too much credence to tins last prating,
ignorant midwife, and to her vain predictions, by her words was de-
luded. Otherwise hee would not have published what no woman,
though little verst in midwifery, can imagine to bee true.

Isabel Dakins, of Burrowes Ash nigh Darby, was delivered by
mee of a dead child Nov. last die Ois 1664 about six a clock at night.

The arme came down. I did not put up the arme, but delivered
her quickly by the feet of the child. The arme went up, of itself,
without any forcing, and shee soon recovered, and is living.

In the yeare 1633 I was intreated to come to one Goodwife
Osborn of Ockesbruck, whose child's arme had beene in the world foure
dayes, from Thursday till Sunday at night, and the cliild was not dead,
nor the arme corrupted. I found with her two midwives, whom I much
commend, for that they had not pulled the child by the arme, nor had
offered any violence to the mother, or the child.

I saw that the arme was not swel'd, and that it was ruddy, and of
a good lively colour. I put my finger into the child's hand, and the
child did gripe it.

I asked the midwives what they thought of tins child, whether it
was alive, or dead. They said, That the child was as dead as a doore
naile, and that I might do what I would with it. I shewed them their
great mistake, and said, That a dead child could not hold one by the
finger, and shewed them the child's hand holding my finger.

An arm
reduced.

Observations in Midwifery, by

I placed the woman kneeling, I quickly reduced the arme.
After this a sudden throw seized on her, and tumbled out, in an instant,
both infant, and after-burden together.

This narration I thought good to mention, to shew the force of
nature, how quickly shee performed her work, after that the obstacle
was removed; and that the child's arme, in foure dayes, did not corrupt.
Her son, and shee were living in the yeare 1660. I saw this man, her
son, again in 1668.

And I beleeve, that, if midwives would forbeare (as these two
midwives did) all violent strugliugs, and pulling of children by their
armes, in this unnaturall birth of the comming first by the arme, and
that they would bee patient, and stay untill better help could be attain-
ed, that many infants would bee borne alive, which, by their rash, im-
patient hastines, bee destroyed in the mother's womb.

And, from this child, I beleeve, in part, but not absolutely, that,
if a dead child bee found holding anything in the hand, that the mother,
or somebody else, is not quite free from the death of the child. But I
will not absolutely conclude the mother to bee guilty of the murder of
the infant.

Alice, the wife of Ralph Doxy, was delivered by mee of a dead
child. The arme came first, and it was mortified by the midwives pull-
ings. I slid up my hand, and, upon the child's belly I found the
knees. I fetched down the feet, and quickly laid her at Snelton, Apr.
27 die Ois 1662.

Grace Edinser, the wife of William Eclinser of Elton in Darby-
shire, had the same birth, and, after the same manner, I quickly deliver-
ed her by the child's feet, May 24 circa meridiem 1 662.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

I travailed all night in May 1631 and came to Nottingham by
sun-rising to one Mrs. Reason. With her I found two midwives, and
severall other women of good credit, and repute, all expecting my
coinming, and desiring my help. I found Mrs. Eeason Aveake, and,
through her long sufferings, her countenance began to chang, and I
perceived her nose half way palish. The birth came by the arme, the
which the midwives endeavoured to reduce, but failed in the performance,
and the child was dead by their operations.

I thought it not good with new strivings to disquiet her body, by
turning the birth to the feet, but rather to take the arme off close to the
shoulder, and, afterward, to draw forth the body of the dead child with
the crochet, following the counsell, and directions of Pareus.

All these operations were quickly performed, and the after-birth
was soon obtained. So she was laid into her bed. Thus shee was
eased of her tortures, after her delivery. I gave her an infusion of tin
in white wine, which was made in a quart pewter pot, having the lid
put down, and so the pot was kept warm by the fire, of which shee took
every morning, and night, a wine glasse full.

This medicine kept her body in a gentle, breathing sweat, and
shee was much refreshed by it. By degrees shee recovered her health,
with strength. Yet, for some time, the neck of her bladder was so in-
feebled, that shee could not hold her water, but, as strength increased,
this infirmity left her, and shee lived in good health, above 30 yeares
after her sufferings.

Mercatus doth not approve of the cruelty in cutting riving chil-
dren in several pieces to deliver women.

Yerum inquit licet hsec omnia prodesse non videantur; ad

Place this
with unnatu-
rall births.

Arme

100

Observations in Midwifery, by

crudele illud, et inhumanum chirurgise opus, quo vivus dissecatur puer
(dictu profecto horrendum) confugieudura nunquain est, etiam si, ex
Avic. Aefcij, et Moschionis consilio, fieri posse constet : quod uou liceat
christiano virum interficere, vitse alterius gratia. Prseterquarn quod
multi citra onmem expectationem salvantur.

Sed, implorata Domini nostri Jesu Christi miserieordia, iterum ad
tutiora foetui, et matri auxilia redeundum esse arbitror; et iterum ten-
tanda qua? antea diximus, vel alia denuo experiunda.

ft corticum cassia?, fistula? 5iij bulliant in vino albo tenui ad
medietatem ; Cujus cyathum unum cum jure cicerum et 9j cinam. porri-
ges. Prodest et singulis lioris absorbere croci gr. x. cum rnodico vino
albo. Suffumigium item exungula muli. Conferunt quoq. pilulae,
qua? recipiunt cinam. cas. lign. cumin, aristoloch. myrr. costi aa ^iiij
styra. rubia? aa 3ij Sabin. 5ijss opii gr. viij. Fiant pil. cujus quantitas
sit 5s. Sic pra?stat non parum illud medicamentum, quod recipit sabin.
^iij rutse 5ij cicut. 3J hysso. Cinam. rub. tinctor. aa 5iij. Fiant pil.
quarum porrigere poteris 5J aut 3s cum decocto sabina?.

Yalet etiam suffumigium ex stercore vacca?, et pessarium quod
recipit myrr. hellebor. nigri, opipanacis, fellis tauri aa partes a?quales.
Terantur, et fiant pessaria longiuscula.

Interim, turn in uteram, ut consulit Avicen. lubrificantia, et cero-
taria subtilia, et mucilagines infundes. et adipes liquefactos, et albumen
ovi, et vitellum ejus.

Utimur etiam sequenti clysmate, per syringam aut cannam infuso.
ft lactis vacca? ^iiij pinguedinis porcina? 5s muceaginis lini et raclicis
althea? aa giij M. Quibus factis, tentet iterum diligens obstetrix, aut
peritus cbirurgus, dexteritate et vi illata, puerum evellere, nitens, et omni

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

101

arte studens puerum extrahere vivum, licet sit cum periculo aliquo de-
formitatis, vel quod manens supersit, imbecillus, aut utcunq. lcesus,
Cavens diligenter, ne voluntarie ipsum interficiat. Nam, si malum ali-
quod illi, hac ratione, sucereseat, levius est.

Interim autem vires parturientis omni arte reflcere oportet, et
pueri umbilicum non resecare, donee vel rningat, vel pleret, aut aliquo
modo ex labore partus reficiatur, quod Hippocrates docuerat lib. de
superfsetatione.

Si forte contigerit matrem in partu periclitari, ffetu intus vivo su-

perstite, quod ex motibus, et subsaltationibus infantis conjicies, turn

demum, posthabita matris, cura ejus tantum habenda est. Principio

igitur convenit morientis os, et genitalia patentia adservare; ut per ea

vitalem spiritum, et anhelitum recipere possit

et sectione uteri sic nati Csesares

dicuntur.

I never used this harsh and cruell way. Yet ignorant men have
used it with, happy successe. But to some it hath proved unfortunate.
It is a work not difficult to performe. It hath been performed by
ignorant men, and the women have recovered. But I prefer the work
don by the hand, by turning the birth from the head to the feet. And
in my thoughts it is much safer then the Ceesarean section or crochet.

I have seen two men. For the delivery of them the midwives
used their fingers instead of other instruments. One of them had his
eye put forth. The other not only lost his eye, but Ms cheek on one
side torne, yet they both lived to man's estate.

Vide the schemes, and take that, which serveth best ; for the
Cesarean Section, I do not like it.

102

Observations in Midwifery, by

By the mother's weakness and too much slimy moisture, abiding
in the mouth of the womb, a child may be so enfeebled, that neither
the mother, or the child have power, through nature's force, to helpe
themselves. So nature becommeth sluggish, and ceaseth to drive forth
the child; and this overabounding with humidity is, usually, found
destructive both to the mother and the child.

I have observed, that much moisture lying about the passages of
the womb, cloth much enfeeble the mother's expulsive faculty. It
maketh the child sluggish, and the mother weake, and both their
spirits drowned with humidity.

So also too much drines, when all the waters have issued before
the birth, the child will not descend, because of the siccity, but
abideth, as it were, imprisoned, and locked up in the womb.

In these two cases, with your hand first endeavour to see what
help may be afforded, if that the mother's weaknes will permit.

But if you cannot prevaile by the hand, and medicines no way
help, necessity, as the last refuge, will compell you to use the crochet,
in hopes, to save the mother's life.

Tender consciences have consulted with Divines, in these ex-
tremities, what is most fitting to bee done, to save the mother's life.
The more judicious and mercifull hearted have willed to reliev the
mother, and I shall consent to their judgments.

The more ignorant, and merciles men would not yield to help
either the mother, or child.

In this sad doubt, and grievous operation, both mother and child
will perish, unles the mother bee relieved by the crochet, or the child
by the Cesarean Dissection.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

103

Dr. Harvey saith, there are chiefly two sorts of unnaturall births,
namely, when the foetus is either born before, or after the time allotted
by nature (and this is a kind of abortive birth) and the birth proves
difficult and painfull, because it doth not succeed in that manner, and
order as it ought to do. Or else it is hindered by some bad symp-
tomes, which commeth to passe, chiefly for two reasons.

1. Namely, that the mother doth faile in her expulsive office.

2. Or else, that the foetus is himself but sluggish, and so doth
not promote Ins owne release.

For a. facile and naturall delivery relieth upon the endeavour, and
joint furtherance of both parties.

Now, when the poor, afflicted, labouring woman hath made use
of the utmost of her strength, and endeavours, to produce a birth, and
that her life lyeth bleeding, with tortures, and pangs of labours no way
helping her, and that, in her sorrowfull miseries, shee intreateth to bee
helped, and to save her life ; who can bee so unnaturall to deny her
request ! when that by other wayes shee cannot bee helped.

I was, by my good friend Dr. John Fisher, intreated to visit a
gentlewoman in labour. The birth-place was very moist, and filled with
a bloody ish moisture. Shee had no throws. The expulsive faculty was
extinct. The child was sluggish, and weake, no way helping his own
release, yet her paines continued ; and medicines prevailed nothing to
procure her delivery. Yet I believed, by some signes, that the child
might bee living. Therefore I deferred the time, and put her off for a
day, and a night, in reference to the delivery. In the ensuing morning,
I found that shee had suffered a restles night, and that her spirits were

oTT~

Mrs.
Dutton.

104

Observations in Midwifery, by

dejected, and shee much troubled for my delaying, and shee told lier
husband, that shee could not, much longer, continue with these ex-
tremities, without some speedy help ; which moved her husband to bee
troubled, and offended with my delayes, saying that Ms wife would bee
lost, if that shee longer suffered. But I told him, that I thought that
the child was living, and that I was unwilling to have my hands tinc-
tured with blood.

Her husband sent for the minister. Hee, speaking with the
woman, and seing her weaknes, the minister did move mee to draw the
child, and assured mee, although the child was living, that I might law-
fully do it in such an extremity ; and by her husband's intreaties, with
the desires of her, and her friends, and the minister's persuasions, I was
overruled, and did draw away a weake living infant. The minister was
at hand to baptize this weake child, which was as good as dying before
it was extracted.

After the extraction, the moist issue of bloodyish humours ceased,
and her paines abated, and shee recovered.

I stayed a day, and a night longer, after her delivery, and each
tiring succeeded well for her amendment.

A.nd, upon after considerations, I was better satisfied; that, had
not this way been taken forthwith, that the mother, with a little longer
delaying, would have perished, as well as the child.

The birth came naturally by the head, but the humidity in the
birth-place was great, and her Aveaknes greater. I feared to turn the
child, and to bring the birth by the feet, least that shee should have
perished, through the operation, under my hands.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

105

When the child is great, and all the waters have issued, a hard
and difficult labour usually followeth.

Anne Houghton of Darby, having been long in labour of a dead
child, that was, for greatnes, a little gyant, desired my help. And al-
though I knew that the child was dead, yet I was desirous to hear what
a grave Divine would say in a doubtfull case, and, in my proceedings, to
have his approbation. This Divine thought it much better to let the
child perish, then to lose the mother's life with the child. Upon his
words I did draw away the dead child with the crochet, and shee hath
had severall children since, and shee was there living in health Anno
1669.

Good wife Anne Barnet of Church Mayfield in Stafford-shire,
Anno 1663 had suffered much through a corrupted, dead child, for
severall dayes.

I had delivered her of a dead child, two yeares afore this time. I
thought that I could have laid her again by the feet, but, through the
chines of the womb, the child would not move, and one of the legs se-
parated at the knee, in the drawing by the child's foot. Seing this, I
used the crochet to draw forth the head. Afterwards with much strug-
ling, I brought forth the rest of the body. The child was great, and
swel'd. It was rotten, and smelt unsavouryly ; upon the after-birth,
nigh to the navel-string, was a gangrene, with blisters. Yet this woman
recovered, and did well, and had a child since Anno 1668 and shee was
living in Anno 1669.

This woman putteth mee in mind of another woman, that did
well, at Spoonedon. Shee had the use of her limbs, from the navel
downward, taken away, before I came unto her. Shee was sensible, and

With dif-
ficult
births.

106

Observations in Midwifery, by

rationall. I was unwilling to have laid her, for that shee was very weake ;
assuring the women, that shee could not live many houres. Yet, at the
woman's intreaty, together with the perswasions of her neighbours, shee
was placed kneeling on the side of a bed, and was supported by the
women, holding their hands under her belly. Without any forcing the
child came of itself, and the body of it was full of great gangrened blisters.
The woman, about an hour after, waxed sleepy. Not longer after shee
departed, having her body corrupted with the child's rottennes. I had
sweet herbs, with warm water to wash my hands. But the ill savour
did not suddenly leave my hands. This was done about the yeare 1638.

Elianor Ragge of Darby anno 1664 having had a long, and tedi-
ous labour, was left undelivered by her midwife. Shee sent for mee ;
no medicines prevailed. The waters were all issued, and the womb was
left drie, and the child was dead. With much trouble I brought forth
the head by the use of the crochet. It stuck very hard at the shoulders,
and much at the breast.

I was wearied, and spent with fainting, through much endeavour-
ing, and striving to draw forth the rest of the body. For sometime I
was enforced to leave the work, to recover again my strength. The
work came on very slowly, by little and little, and difficultly, until it
came past the navell. I beleeve that I was an houre, or more, in
striving to get the body forth. Shee patiently suffered all the time.

At last God permitted her a gracious help, and freed her of her
sufferings. Contrary to my expectation, shee recovered, shee was long
weak, and, from her bladder, during the extremity of her weaknes,
came severall little soft stones, infolded, and wrapt in slime, and skins.
Shee hath had another child since still-born. The os coccygis of her
body is very broad, inverted inward, no way flexible, and this causes her

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

107

hard deliveries., and, I beleeve, that shee never will bring forth a mature
child, living, at the full time of birth.

Mrs. Middleton of Wandsly had suffered several! dayes

great paines in labour, and was somewhat distracted with her sufferings.

Shee was a little woman, and her child was too great for the pas-
sage. I hoped that I could have drawn the child by the feet, but her
body was narrow, and the womb was filled with the child, lying in a
round lump. All the waters were issued, and her body was left drie ;
so that I could not turn the child, after that I had obtained a foot in
my hand, but was compelled to desist, and, at that time, to leave the
work.

This did put her to some paine, so that shee would have had
her husband to have sent mee away. But, with good words, I regained
again her favour, promising that I would hurt her no more.

That day I placed her againe kneeling, and rinding that the child
was dead, knowing that I could not alter the birth, I used the crotchet,
by which the skull was much broken in pieces, yet it would not come
easily. It did also stick greatly at the shoulders and at the breast.

I was necessitated to intreat the assisting women, to turn the lips
of her body over the child's limbs, by putting their ringers between
her's, and the child's body, whilest that I drew the child with my hand,
and instrument.

This force was continued untill the child was drawn past the
navell. Afterward, the rest of the body, with the afterbirth, was easily
procured. So shee was laid in her bed.

Shee was, sometimes, very sensible ; and then shee would fling

p 2

108

Observations in Midwifery, by

off all the cloths, ; and he naked, if not carefully attended. Shee lived
some five dayes, after her delivery ; and, being dead, shee voided much
moisture by the mouth.

I was in the house with a good lady, that was long in labour. In
her extremity, I was called, by the midwife, unto her, and desired to
feel how the birth came. I found the skull divided, one halfe thereof
was born, but the other part was not come forth. I instructed the mid-
wife how, quickly, to deliver her of tins dead birth. And afore, or,
since that time, I never did see such a separation in the skull of any
infant's head.

This lady, for severall years, had an implacable enemy adhering
to her body, (a troublesome loosenes) that took advantage of her
weaknes in her child-bed, and through this loosenes, this good lady
ended her dayes. In tins place put Catherine Davis.

Difficulty of birth may also bee caused through ill position of the
bones, which hath beene observed in such, as have beene crooked in
their bodies. As also in others, which have weake backs, and loynes,
going wadling in their childhood. As also in others, which have had
the infirmity, called the Rickets ; and in such, as have been compelled
to weare iron bodies, to keep them from being crooked.

Through these meanes, their tender bones, in their minorities,
have been so altered, and pressed together, and with time confirmed,
that, losing, in part thus their circular roundness O have become O
ovall, through which the child will never bee produced, but by violent
force of hand, or by some instrument. Medicines, here can do no good.
If it come by the head, the woman will not bee delivered without the
use of the crochet.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

109

If the birth should bee turned to the feet, yet it would prove dif-
ficult to save the child's life.

Also, some women have the os eoccygis so fixt, that it will not go
back at all, to give any enlargement to the departing infant. This causeth
a difficult birth, chiefly, when it is broad at the end, and turned some-
what inward.

I knew a woman of low stature crooked, and not well framed in
the position of her bones. It was her sorrowfull mishap alwayes to have
her children drawn away from her body by a chirurgion, that used to lay
women. They all died in the womb, or, at most, lived but a short time
after the extraction.

March the 23. 1660 I was called to a young woman, who had
beene three dayes in labour, and the midwives knew not how to deliver
her. They said, That the navel-string had been two dayes in the world.
It was cold, and had no pulsation in it, and the child's head came first.

I attended patiently on her, and on her friends desires, and was not
willing hastily, or rashly to proceed. But when no medicines, nor the
midwives endeavours prevailed not with her, then her husband (being
a minister, with her own mother, and others of her friends) desired
mee to make use of any way to save her life, though it were with in-
struments.

After my usuall way, she kneeled on a bolster, I endeavoured to
remove the child, and to return it again into the woman's body, in hopes,
that, afterward, I might draw it forth by the feet. But, through the ill
position of the bones, and greatnes of the child, squeezed in a lump
together, I could not move it, or get my hand to the upper part of the
head.

Mrs. James,
A.

Mrs. Charles
B.

110

Observations in Midwifery, by

Shee was of a low stature, and the birth-place narrow, and, in
those places, ill framed.

Being fully satisfied that the child was dead, I drew forth the head
with the instrument, with some trouble. And, afterward (not easily) the
rest of the body, and then immediately I fetched the afterbirth.

Being laid in her bed, I gave her some oile of charity, and left
her some oile of sweet almonds, to take sometimes, and Balsamum Hys-
tericum to anoint the bruised places, which freed her of her after -paines,
and sufferings.

This woman, in her infancy, was afflicted with the rickets, which
made her go wadling, and cringing in her back, and loines; the os coc-
cygis, and pubis were too nigh, one to the other, ovally formed, and the
point of os coccygis was broad, and bending inward, which hindered the
descent of the child, and kept it from entering through the bones.

At the end of three weekes, a loosnes did weaken her. In my
absence, my wife sent her these directions, which proved succesfull.

Shee first willed her to take a clyster of boiled milk with sugar.
Afterward, to take, every half houre, a spoonful of julep, made of cinna-
mon water three ounces, and diascordium three drachmes. To make
her rice aleberies, and to see the rice in all her broths, and meats, and to
take a thimblefull of the powder of acornes with their husks powdered
together, at lest, thrice a day, with these things shee was recovered, and
cured.

May the fourth 16611 gave her a visit, and found her walking in
her house, well recovered, cheerfull, and hearty. Shee much commend-
ed the clyster. Shee said that the midwives did all afflict her, chiefely

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

Ill

one of them, and that I troubled her not at all, in respect to their
usage.

I prayed God to send her better succes, if that shee should have
more children, and so taking my leave, departed.

About two yeares after, shee had another child, and was again
tormented by midwives. In her sufferings I was sent for, and, finding
that the child had not entered through any part of the bones, I turned
the birth, and drew it away by the feet, but the child was dead. Shee
being ill, and weak, her old enemy, (a loosenes) did the second time as-
sault her body, and brought her to her last end.

I was called into Cheshire to a good woman in December 1650.
Shee had been much afflicted with the rickets in her child-hood. Shee
had severall children drawn from her body by the chirurgions at London,
yet shee escaped, with much hazard of her life. Shee told me, That all
her children were very livery at the beginning of her travaile, but they
were all dead before they could be born. Her words I found true. For,
in her travaile, when the waters flowed, the child was lively, and did
suck my finger ; but, through the ill position of the bones, the child
could not descend. Being desirous to save the child's life, I turned the
child in the womb. Although I have known severall children born with
more trouble,- and greater extremity, and live ; yet this child was dead
before shee was delivered. And shee herself lived but a very short time
after her delivery.

All the time of her going with child, she was heartless, and de-
jected, and conceited, That she should die in the child bed of this child.
And for that cause fitted herself afore hand for her departure, by the
receiving the holy Communion.

112

Observations in Midwifery, by

Mrs. Alestry,
D. f

January the 12 Anno 1669 I was intreated, and, at that time,
engaged by a worthy, good, loving Gentleman, to bee ready to attend
his good wife, and to assist her and her midwife (if need required) in the
time of her travaile, with the best, and utmost of my endeavours.

January the thirtieth, travail came upon her, about eleven o} clock
in the night, and so continued with throwes, and paines all that night,
and the next day, without any descent of the child. ' The paines con-
tinued all the time in her back onely.

At night January the 31 I was sent for, and, upon discourse with
her, and the midwife, I conceived that the labor would be difficult, and
full of danger, and I was much more afraid after that (with her consent)
I had felt her body. I perceived that shee had undergone great strivings,
and the lips of her body were sweFd, and the child far off, and the pas-
sages very narrow, ovally formed, and the bones not far distant the one
from the other.

Whereupon 1 intreated her to take a gentle clyster, to dilate the
wayes, and to supple her body, and to mitigate her paines, willing her to
keep it all night, and to endeavour to sleep, and I stayed all that night
in the house with her.

The next morning Feb. 1, 1 caused a Doctor of Physick to be sent
for, and the Divines were intreated their prayers, to desire God Alsuffi-
cient, that, with his compassion, hee would be pleased to relieve her
sufferings, with much mercy.

I concealed nothing from the Doctor, either of Physick, or of my
operations. I told him of my feares, and her great dangers. I desired
his assistance. Whereupon wee concluded to appoint with externall

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

113

applications, to dilate the passages, and also internall medicines, to pro-
mote labour. But, through the ill position of her body, these wayes
nothing at all availing, I was earnestly intreated by the Doctor, from her
husband, with severall others of her relations, to use the operation of
the hand, to try, if possible, the birth might bee forced. Whereupon I
did attempt it.

The birth was comming by the head. I endeavoured to turn the
birth, and would willingly have laid her by the infant's feet, but could
not possibly effect it, for that I could not slide up any part of my hand
into her body, and there was not room to force the head backwards.

Our intention, and operations failing, I was earnestly moved againe
to make use of instruments, to trie, if, by them, shee might bee delivered.

I was much unwilling to use these wayes, for I feared, by reason
of the narrow passage of her body, that I could not do it. But, by her
husband, and friends, and the Doctor, with severall women, I was much
perswaded, and intreated, by them all, to draw the child with instruments,
and shee was willing to submit, in hopes to be delivered.

But, through the narrow passage of her body, I could not get up
my hand over any part of the head, to fix the instrument, nor, in any
other part of it, to make a breach.

Pier body was so strait, and narrow, that I could not put up my
lingers half an inch on the side of the child's head ; and the bones of
the infant's skull (so far as I could difficultly passe) were so hard, that,
for want of roome to turn my hand, I could not enforce the instrument
to take hold in any part of the child's head, whereby I might draw it
forth, with the rest of the body. I, diverse times, altered the instru-
ment, but all would not do any good.

114

Observations in Midwifery, by

So I was necessitated to desist, without any hopes of delivery,
not knowing which way to relieve her, and shee died.

Nigh forty five yeares I have practiced in the midwife's bed, and,
in it, I humbly thank God for his assistance, and help, I ever delivered
all women, to whom I was called, this worthy good gentlewoman onely
excepted.

And my not delivering her was occasioned by the straitness of the
passages, and the unusuall ill conformation of the bones near adjoining
to the womb, with the hardnes of the child's skull. For her back bone
was much inverted, and stood so pressed inward together with the os coc-
cygis, that no room was left for the infant to passe through by the
strength, and endeavour of nature, nor to admit of handv operation, for
turning the child, or fixing an instrument. And, through these irre-
moveable obstacles, tins virtuous, good woman perished. Of whom I
can say no more, but that shee so lived, that no body had cause to speak
any evil of her.

She had been afflicted, in her infancy, with the rickets. Shee had
very great, sweFd ancle-bones, she went wadling, and her left leg was
shorter then the other, and the middle of her back was much inverted,
from the hips to the shoulders. Shee was of a very low, and of a little
small stature.

Sometimes women, after long travailing, and no hopes of delivery
left, being weake, and wearied with paine, not finding any comfort by
medicine, or the midwife, at last have desired help by the extraction of
the child by the crochet, the which they have chearfully, and well en-
dured. Yet, not long after the fetching of the after-burden, they have

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

115

died; perhaps some, through flouding; others, through weaknes, or
thinnes of blood, or putrefaction in the womb.

Yerba Nicolai Fontani.

Quoedam mulier, ciini sex diebus laborasset, ciimq, ab auxiliis ad-
hibitis, levamen nullum inveniret, intrepido animo extractionem, ad vitam
servandam, adhiberi voluit, quod, in re tarn ardua, non negavere medici.
Quod, vero, mortua sit, ad secundarum extractionem referendum puto.
Cum enim, ab obstetrice erant extractee, secuta est hsernorrhagia resolutis
viribus animam efflavit.

Dubitabis utriim hoc opus tentandum sit in muliere debili. Zacutus
Lusitanus inquit, Inhumanum est, et medico Hippocratico indignum,
corpus et si moribundum, citra remedia relinquere, ciim multi, citra spem,
mirabiliter sanentur.

This very case happened to a woman, that was a LachVs daughter,
after six dayes labour.

Her Doctors said, That shee was scorbuticall, and hydropicall,
and certified mee, That, in her travaile, shee had avoided abundance of
water from the womb, and that shee had bled much at the nose, and that
the blood was very thin. All which I took for evil symptomes. And,
although she was very easily delivered by the crochet, and was chearfull
afterwards, nevertheless, after the fetching of the after-burden, it is sup-
posed, that shee lost blood, and, not long after, died.

And, although this flouding was not violent, nor very much (of
which no notice was given to mee by the midwife, or other women) yet
this unexpected accident did much afflict mee, being the first, and last,
that happened under my hands August the 17, 1667.

0, 2

116

Observations in Midwifery, by

Fontanus yet saith, Quod hsec mortua fuerit, diuinse providentise
ascribendum. And so, I believe, that this misfortune might happen.

For I might have been with her on Wedensday at night, whilest
yet shee had strength of spirit, and body, if that her messenger had per-
formed Iris duty, in comming to mee not far from my house. Tor he
came to Darby Wedensday, early in the morning, and, seeing that I was
not at home, without any delay, hee returned to Ins master.

The next day a second careles messenger was sent forth, with a
letter, to mee. He also came to my house at Darby, but, finding mee
not at home, on friday, as hee returned, hee met the first messenger, who
took the letter, and came to mee on friday at night. And, at his request,
I travailed all that night, and was sorely afflicted with that journey ; and
I was very weak by it. It was Saturday, about ten, or eleven of the
clock, before I came to the house.

The child was great, and much swel'd, and the body of it had a
stinking cadaverous sent with it ; and the skin was much flayed off, in
larg great flakes, in severall places of the body. And I beleeve, That
the mother's 'body was corrupted through the great putrefaction of the
child.

All Auctors affirme, That the after-birth is a thing contrary to
nature, after that the child hath left the womb, which must bee taken
away, and sent forth.

For the quick (which is the womb) will thrust forth the dead
(which is the after-birth) or else the dead will kill the quick.

I have known severall evil accidents, which have followed the re-

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

117

taining of the after -birth, as, floudings, sicknesses, and faintings, and,
sometimes, death.

A Husbandman's wife at Littleore, nigh Darby, was much dis-
quieted with the midwife, whilest that shee searched to find the after-
birth. It was not found, but remained in her body. Shee grew a little
unruly, and altered in her complexion, which turned blackish. And,
although it came away, of itself, three, or foure dayes after her delivery,
yet shee died, about the yeare, 1636.

Thus died a good woman K. G. The after-birth could not bee
found, it remained three, or foure dayes in her body before it came away.
Her understanding decayed, and her countenance much altered before
her death. 1642.

I was desired by Mr of Lockington 1654 to visit his

wife, that was delivered of a son, but the midwife could not produce the
after-birth ; they hoped, that it would come away of it self. Shee was
delivered three, or foure dayes before my comming. The same day, that
I came, an Honourable Lady had sent her the Countesse of Kent's
powder, the winch shee took, and it helped her, and had driven forth the
after-burden before my comming.

I found her altered in her understanding, and her hands coldish ;
I wrapped them in warm napkins, shee would let them lie a little while
in the napkins, and then, forgetting her self, shee would put them forth.
Shee knew not well what she did. H er pulse was weak, and slow in
motion. My opinion was, That shee would hardly live untill the next
morning. Shee died about two of the clock the same night, through
the putrefaction, that the secondine had caused in her body.

There bee some midwives, that will not fetch the after-burden, but

Cotchet's

Wife,

Gilbert
B.

118

Observations in Midwifery, by

leave the expulsion of it to nature, and their women have don well, and
they recovered their former health.

There bee other, that, by their too much searching, and endea-
vouring to get it, do much mischief in their women's bodies. I like not
either of their wayes. Let the after-burden (if conveniently it may) bee
produced by the midwife. Of midwives, if any of them deserve praise,
let them have it, that doth not struggle too much to fetch the after -birth.

Dr Harvey's learned observations about the birth ought to bee
esteemed, for their worth, and goodnes. The oft reading of them, with
a due observing of his method, will bee sufficient to make a midwife to
understand her calling.

Hee sheweth, in the first place, what to observe, and how to deliver
a woman, labouring in a naturall birth.

And, in difficult births, and abortive births, and where the foetus
is dead, hee maketh mention how to perform the work by the child's feet.
In his workes, hee wisheth midwives, not to bee too busy at the first ap-
proaching of labour, by striving to hasten, or promote a sudden, or quick
birth ; but willeth them, patiently to wait on nature, to observe her
wayes, and not to disquiet her, for that it is the sole, and onely work of
nature. And this also was the opinion of that worthy, and learned Gen-
tleman, Dr. Georg Ent, since Knighted.

My assistance was desired by Mrs. Wolaston in Threed-needle
street in London, Anno 1657. Shee was a watchmaker's wife by the
Old Exchang. Erom this woman's body a child was pulled by the mid-
wife. When the midwife perceived that I was sent for, she resolved to
hasten her work. Shee caused severall women perforce to hold her by

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

119

the middle,, whilest that shee, with others, pulled the child by the limbs
one way, and the women, her body, the other way.' Thus, at the last,
the child, by violence, was drawn from her, and made at the separation
(as shee told me) a report, as though a pistoll had been discharged.

A little while, after this tugging, and strugling usage, I came, and
found this woman faint, and weak, but through God's mercy, with cor-
dials shee was restored. Her midwife's enforcements had made such
deep remembrances in her senses, that she resolved to forsake her ; at
which time shee pitched her affections on me, making a request unto me,
if that shee should have any more children, that I would be pleased to
deliver her.

I desired her to spare mee, and rather to engage my daughter, the
which thing shee was contented to do, so that, in her extremity, I would
not be far from her.

Being with child afterward, and my daughter with her, when the
time of her delivery was come, and that the waters issued, a sharp throw
accompanied the birth, and the child speedily followed the waters.

Then she began to griev, and complain (not imagining that the
child was born) and to say, now I shall fall into my old paines, and suf-
ferings, and perceive, that it will be no better with mee. My daughter,
smiling, asked her what shee meant, and whether shee had two children,
for one was born. She scarcely beleeved it, untill that shee heard the
child to cry. The after-birth being fetched, and shee laid in her bed,
shee took my daughter by the hand, and said to her, Surely you have art
in these fingers, otherwise, so quickly, and happily I should not have
been delivered.

I know none, but Dr Harvey's directions, and method, the which I

120

Observations in Midwifery, by

Back.

Arme.

wish all midwives to observe, and follow, and oft to read over, and over
again ; and, in so doing, they will better observe, understand, and re-
member the sayings, and doings of that most worthy, good, and learned
Dr, whose memory onght to bee had for ever in great esteem with mid-
wives, and child-bearing women.

Of Unnaturall Births.

All births, comming by the back, belly, buttock, sides, or knees,
or with head, and neck distorted ; and all unnaturall births whatsoever,
with all difficult births, bee ever the best, easiest, and safest laid by the
feet of the infant. It is impossible to lay any unnatural birth by the
infant's head.

I was desired by my friend J. T. of Osmaston, near Ashburn, to
come unto his house, and to deliver a woman, that sojourned with him.
I found several midwives with this woman. The birth of the child came
by the back, and by the back they hoped to pull it away doubled. They
much tormented the woman, and tired themselves with fruitles labours.
With some trouble I turned the birth, and brought it away by the feet,
and shee recovered. Anno 1647.

In my first practice, when necessity enforced me to turn the child,
comming in an unnaturall birth, I followed Pareus his directions. But
since I have found out one more pleasing to my desires, and I permit all
midwives to follow which way they best like.

I was sent for to Lockington in Leicester-shire in Anno 1660, eight
miles from Darby, to come to a young Gentlewoman, labouring of her
first child. The arme came first out. I placed her kneeling on a bolster,
and put her head down to a pillow, placed in a woman's lap, sitting afore

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

121

her on a truckle-bed ; and, having my hand anointed with Balsainum
Hystericum, and kneeling behind her, I gently slid up my hand into her
body, {not offering to reduce the arm) I presently found a foot, and drew
it down, holding it between my forefingers. I put a soft fillet, with a
sliding noose, over the heel, above the ancle, holding it very gently. T
put up my hand againe along the child's thigh, which brought mee to
the other foot, over which also I put a fillet.

Then, raising the woman's head a little up, I drew, by the fillets,
both legs together, and took, and held them in a soft linen cloth. And,
when I had leasurely drawn the child past the buttocks, by the feet, I
then raised the woman somewhat higher. And then, holding the child
in a soft, linen cloth betweene my hands, I turned the child's face to the
back of the woman. After this, I drew the child to the shoulders.
Then I slid up some part of my hand toward the back of the woman,
and put my middle finger, a little way, into the child's mouth, and placed
my other two fingers on each side of the child's nose, and caused an
assisting woman, with a flat hand, to make a gentle pressure on the
child's head, and to put it off from os pubis, that is, the share-bone.
Whilest that shee made this pressure, I drew leasurely by the child's
feet. And thus, through God's great mercy, and permittance, I quickly
delivered her without having throwes. Immediately, after the child was
born, I fetched the after-birth. And, thanks bee given to the Almighty,
both mother, and child (her daughter) were living in the yeare 1669.

I was sent for the second time again by the said Gentlewoman,
March the 18 166|. Shee was full of paine, and shee had lost
much blood. Her bed, and linens about her were very wet with the same.

The midwife told mee, That shee had felt a foot. I did wonder at
her sayings, for that the womb seemed not to bee open, and it was very

122

Observations in Midivifery, by

full, after the usuall situation. But, putting my hand more upward
towards her back, I found Fabricius Hildanus words true, that the womb
doth not alwayes keep one certain site.

For the mouth of the womb was inverted, and was turned upwards,
somewhat towards the back, where I found the foot.

Foot.

As shee kneeled, I took the foot between my forefingers, and held
it in my griped hand. Afterwards, I laid my thumb, bended, over my
fingers. By this way I held firmly the foot.

I durst not make a rumbling with my hand in her body, for that,
at that time, shee was apt to fioud. I used no band, to fasten about the
heel, neither did I think it necessary to slide up again my hand by the
child's thigh, to seek for the other foot, for that I hoped, with lesse
trouble to the woman, better to perform the work, with gentle drawing
by the foot onely.

I drew the child gently, and leasurely by this foot, untill I brought
it to the twist of the body. Then I found the other foot lying upon the
belly of the child, the which I brought down without strugling, and, by
the feet, I laid her, after the way set forth in the precedent birth.

After that the after-birth was fetched away, shee did fioud- no more.
And all things proceeded well with her, as usually they do with other
women.

This daughter was born weak, and was afterward baptized, and
named Matilda ; the other daughter was named Anna.

The Father and Mother, with the rest of their children, with these
two daughters, were living, and in health August 23. Anno 1669.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

123

Thus have I set forth Parens his way by ribbands. I have also
shewed midwives my way, by the child's foot ; which I hold more facile
and easy, and quicker to bee performed. And I pray God to direct mid-
wives to chuse the best, and easiest wayes, to help afflicted women in tra-
vaile, and to save sweet, harmles infants lives.

I have drawn several children by one foot, untill I could perceive
where the other foot rested ; and I never found that the drawing gently
by the foot did hurt the child in the delivery, or cause afterwards any
deformity or lamenes in the child so born.

Some learned men, in their treatises concerning the delivery of
women, have concluded, that the best way, in all unnatural and difficult
births, is to reduce the birth to the head.

But, as yet, I cannot bee of their opinions. I must beg their
pardons, for not pinning my belief upon their writings. Yet I will not
bee stubborn, in adhering unto my owne practice. I shall leave myself
and sayings to the judicious practicers in midwifery, to bee censured as it
shall please them, for that I have spoken, and written experimentally,
de facto, as it was performed by mee in the travailing woman's chamber,
and not upon imagined thoughts, or phantasies of others, writing what
they never performed.

And, although these writings be not adorned, and beautified with
learned, and rhetorical! expressions, but bee homely, and plainly set
forth, for the understanding of the simple capacities, to direct country
midwives, yet I dare assure them, that they will hold water, and be suf-
ficient to put by all reproaches, that ignorance would cloud them with,
the which shall be made manifest by examples.

I humbly pray, and desire all practicers in midwifery, that know
better wayes, to bee pleased to set forth, not so much their supposed
— -

Not to turn

the birth to

the head

124

Observations in Midwifery, by

thoughts, as their experimented directions of wayes, de facto, to God's
glory, and their countrey's good, for the better easing of women in their
sufferings, and extremities, and for the saving of poor children's lives,
giving no cause why they should bee destroyed in their mother's wombs
by ignorant practice.

Let it bee granted, and consented by all, without any contradic-
tion, that midwives could reduce all unnaturall births to the head (the
which I imagine they can never performe) yet their experience will then
shew them,

That every child, comming by the head, must have sharp, ex-
pulsive throwes, and some convenient time to bring it forth ; the which
they shall not need as it commeth by the feet.

When you put up the arme, and place it by the child's side, your
hand is nigh to the child's feet, and you may bring them down easily,
without torture.

Tlie putting up of the arme is oft fruitles (as midwives have done)
it nothing farthereth the birth, for that it hath oft returned again, and
hath been more grievous to the woman, then to deliver her by the feet.

By the feet a woman may safely, and easily bee delivered. And,
in severall women, where the child's head hath been too great, I have
turned the head back, and have produced the birth by the feet, of which
way I have given you severall examples.

By the feet of the child a woman may be delivered, although shee
have no labour, or throwes. But, when it commeth by the head, shee
will not be delivered without great strivings, and sharp throwes ; and
where the head and body bee too great, shee will not bee delivered, nor

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

125

Great head.

the child saved, unles the birth bee turned from the head to the feet,
and afterward to bee, by the feet, produced.

Grace Beechcraft, the wife of Joseph, in St. Peter's parish in
Darby, being in labour severall dayes, and having suffered much sorrow,
desired my help.

The child came with the head first, but it was great. Her mid-
wife, with herself, desired my assistance, for that shee could not deliver
her.

For her condition Divines were consulted, and in their opinions
they were divided. Severall women frowned upon some of these Divines,
and, upon the women's dislikes, they turned their coats, and changed
their opinions.

I would not use the crochet, for feare the child should bee alive,
but turned away the head, and brought it forth by the feet, after the
way afore mentioned. The child was dead, but the woman's life was
saved, and shee recovered very well after this delivery.

Few yeares after shee conceived again, whilest that I lived at
London, and, at this time, in her labour, the arme came first forth. The
midwife endeavoured, without any good successe, to put it up again.
Afterward, three midwives came to consult, and to shew their skill, and
each of them tormented the poor woman. One of them set her on her
head, and, afterwards, rowed much in her body. After much torturing,
at last, it was concluded, by them, that it must be pulled from her.
Some women held this woman by force about the middle, whilest that
the midwife took hold of the arme, and so, with forcible, and violent
strength, the child was pulled forth of her body. The arme, by their

An arm.

126

Observations in Midwifery, by

Mrs. Oke-

over.

Knees.

Mings, was half pulled off, as I was certified by a good woman, that
was there present.

Shee lived, after this harsh usage, a Week, and then died of a
loosenes.

Shee was buried Sept. 24, 1657. Might not this woman have
been better laid the second time by the feet ? and so the child and mo-
ther might have lived. Two of these midwives did formerly see mee lay
these births by the feet. But midwives will follow their own wayes,
and will have their own wills.

Once in Darby, and never afore, or since, I was called to a gentle-
woman, whose child came by the knees.

This child was very great in head, breast, and body. The mid-
wife had drawn it to the navell before my comming, and farther shee
could not possibly get it. I was then sent for, with some trouble I
brought it to the neck, where it stuck hard ; yet, at last, she was de-
livered of it. ,

Through the greatnes of the child, and the straitnes of her body,
all the skin of the hinder part of the head was stripped off from the
skull, and lay upon the forehead of the child, when it was born. After
that I had well viewed the greatnes of the head, I found that the
bones thereof were firm and hard, and the sutures of the skull of the
head were much closed. I thought it then wonderfull that the head did
abide on the shoulders, and that it was not separated from the body, as
it was drawn from her body by the feet.

After my usuall way, with my finger in the child's mouth, my

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

127

work was finished, and shee recovered, Oct. 28, 1665. Here place
Catherine Davis.

I was called to Elianor Fletcher, Feb. the ninth, 166f , dwelling
in St. Michael's parish in Darby. Shee travailed of a daughter, that
came by the feet, and her midwife had drawn it to the neck, where it
stuck, and shee had strugled above three hours to get it forth.

After that the child was dead, and that with much strugling, the
neck was broken by the midwife, shee feared that the woman would die
under her hands, and then shee intreated that I might bee sent for.
At my comming, finding the child dead, and the neck of it broken, I
put my finger into the child's mouth, and willed the midwife to draw by
the feet, whilest that I guided the head, in hopes to bring it forth.
Also I placed her in various postures to facilitate the birth. But,
through the greatnes of the head, I could do no good. For feare the
head should bee separated from the body, I was compelled to use the
crochet, fixing it on the upper part of the head. By it, and by the
child's feet, with much ado, the head was obtained foil of water, a great
part thereof was shed in the extraction of it.

I opened the head afterward, and I found much water in the ven-
tricles, as also flowing under Dura mater. This watery tumour is
called, hydrocephalos. I have seen it (after birth) in severall children.
Their heads bee great, they always lie on their backs. If they bend
forward, they be in danger to bee stifled, and usually, they live but few
yeares.

After that this woman was laid in bed, the midwife said that shee
fiouded. I steeped hogs dung male, and strained it forth without pres-

A great

head, ful of

water.

128

Observations in Midwifery, by

sure, and put some sugar and nutmeg to it, and gave it her to drink,
and the flux was stopt.

After her delivery, shee oft fainted, but still was recovered by
spirting aqua vitse up into her nostrils. Shee was desirous of much
drink. I gave her afterward, the white, and yolk of an egge mixed in
a caudle, with nutmeg and sugar. Shee complained of great pain in her
back, but was freed of it by laying to it Emplastrum Saponis. Ever
as shee stirred, shee fainted. Therefore I kept her quiet in her cloths all
the first night, not shifting her untill the next day.

This woman, after the birth of her first child, had the meazels,
within three or foure dayes after her delivery.

After the birth of her second child, shee oft fainted, and was sick,
but, with giving her cordials, shee seemed to do well.

Whortle or
Billberries.

Some three dayes after her delivery, there appeared small arisings
like hurtles, all over her body, some as big as ordinary pins heads, others
as great at fitches, the biggest of them were full of white bearing. Upon
cold taking shee would bee ill, but, wrapping her warme, and putting
her into gentle breathing sweats, shee recovered her faintings.

Her husband kept an alehouse, and having but few roomes to
entertain his guests, her chamber was made a place to receive them.

Shee seemed to recover, and, by all, shee was thought to bee past
danger of death, being chearful, and comfortable, for a night and a day.
And, when danger was lest thought of, the ensuing night being dis-
quieted with drinking companions, as also being full of these risings, not
like the small pox, or the meazels, shee died.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

129

I cannot imagine what way these two latter births could have beene
turned from the feet to the head, and I beleeve that it would have
proved an impossible thing to deliver them afterward by the head, with-
out the crochet, or some such instrument.

I have seen the same hurtles, little swelhngs in men. I never
knew any that recovered, that had them, but they all died, as well men
as women.

The birth by the buttocks.

Some women have their children comming to the birth by the
buttocks, and the child, as it were, sitting in the womb, with the legs
lying on the belly stretched upwards.

In this posture the child may be born, but not alwayes easily.

To reduce it to a better birth, let the midwife cause the travailing
woman to kneele on a bolster, and, having put her head down into a
woman's lap, sitting afore her, let the midwife come behind her, and,
sliding up her annointed hand into her body, remove with the flat of her
hand, the child's buttocks, pressing them upwards, into the hollownes of
her body ; and, afterwards, to search for the feet, which shee may easily
find, and so draw forth the infant by the feet, as hath formerly beev di-
rected. Thus the child will easily bee born, and the woman soon delivered.

But where the midwife can have convenient space of place, to put
up her hand without much strugling or pain to the mother, there shee
needeth not to put back the child. Without any trouble shee may find
the child's feet lying on the belly of the child, or stretched upwards.
And, although this birth hath proved successful to some women, yet,
through ignorant midwives, it has happened fatall to others, and the wo-
man, with the child, hath perished.

But-
tocks.

130

Observations in Midwifery, by

Mrs.

Sneap.

Tab's

wife.

Isa-
bel
Carter.
D

A birth, thus comming of itself by the buttocks, requireth a larg,
and spacious passage, and, if the child bee small, and little, the woman
will bee the sooner, and more easier delivered.

One Mrs. Staynes, a chirurgion's wife, in Darby, was delivered of
a child, in such a posture, in the yeare 1630, the child comming double,
sitting with his buttocks in the womb. Shee did very well after her
delivery, and her child lived.

An Inne-keeper's wife in Stafford, desired my daughter's assist-
ance for her delivery. Her labour was quick. The child followed the
flowing of the waters, sitting in the birth with the buttocks. The birth
was so speedy, that it would afford no time to turn the child. The
mother, with the child, lived, and did very well after this birth.

But one swallow, or two doth not make a summer.

I shewed this birth of the buttocks, having the arms stretched
over the head, to a midwife in Darby, 1632. I taught her how to alter
this posture, and, in doing it, shee had drawn down the armes. Then
I was again necessitated to help the midwife. Shee was quickly delivered
of a lusty, spritefull child, by the feet.

This child (a daughter) did thrive, and became great in half a yeare.
The nurse did suckle it at foure a clock in the morning. But having
made her head heavy, by taking her cups of Darby ale largly, and late
at night, shee overlaid the child, and it was found dead under her by six
that morning.

In the yeare 1646 this midwife was called to one Isabel Carter,
whose child came by the buttocks, but shee had forgotten what I
shewed her, with all the directions.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

131

After twelve houres suffering under two midwives, this woman's
friends perswaded her to send for mee, to assist, and help her, and her
inidwives.

After I had seen the birth, I asked the midwife, if that, formerly,
I had not shewed her this birth, and the way how to help it. At last
shee remembered it, and the birth of the child afore named.

The child's cods were pressed forth, and did hang out of the wo-
man's body above an inch and a half, very fiamp and black, and the
doubled body was fixed in the birth.

The woman in distres desired mee to help her. After placing her
kneeling on a bolster, I put her in a bending posture descending. I
removed the child upwards into the hollownes of her body. I fetched
the feet down, and, through God's great mercy, and permission, I
quickly delivered the woman of a living child, by the feet. This wo-
man, and her husband, with their son, were living in Darby, 1660, and
hee is a handsome young youth, yet living in Anno 1670. The black-
nes and bruisings of the cods were cured with oile of egges.

At Sutton Cofield, in Warwickshire, I delivered a woman. The
birth came by the buttocks. Her midwife, with others, had made foule,
and harsh work about the child's breech, by tearing the child's cods,
and in laying the stones bare, and with the woman, by tearing her body
deeply into the fundament.

The child was great, and the skin flayed off in several! places of
the body. It smelt unsavourily. It was brought away with my hand,
by the feet, about May, ]651. I saw her again, and talked with her
several! times after this her harsh usage, and delivery.

132

Observations in Midwifery, by

Dr. Harvy saith, That the water is the cause of the delivery of
the fsetus, which is dead, and putrefied iu the womb. In that, by its
corruption and acrimony, it doth extimulate the uterus to reliev it self.

But, if the waters have all flowed, and the womb be left long dry,
the labour will prove difficult, without the help of the hand, to fetch
the feet, or the use of the crochet to draw forth the head.

Celsus saith, Quod melius sit anceps remedium experiri, quam
nullum, cum multi citra spem mirabiliter sanentur.

I never felt a more carrion stink then this child's body had, and
yet the womb was not infected with the putrefaction of the child, and
shee recovered.

January 14, Anno 1646, I was desired by a good Lady, to come
to Sudbury, to help John Primer's wife, that was in extremity of labour,
and her midwife knew not how to deliver her, and was ignorant in what
posture the child offered it self. The child came by the breech, but her
midwife was ignorant of it, and took the breech for the head, and with
her halings, and struglings, after the issuing of her waters, the womb
became drie, and the child was very hardly removed again into her body.

I placed her kneeling, with some trouble, I put back the buttocks,
and brought down the feet. And, having the assistance of some wo-
men, gently to pull by the feet, whilest I guided the head, I delivered
her.

Immediately after that, the after-birth was fetched. Without any
help shee did arise, and went from that place, no woman offering to
hold her, and went up a pair of staires into her chamber, and so to bed
in a cold roome, where was no fire. Shee made no signe of her suffer-
ings.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

133

Through God's permission shee soone recovered. But some
moneths after, there happened to this woman an impostumation on her
navel, which, afterwards, suppurated, and, after the breaking, did run
much. The women of that town would have it, that this corruption
came from her bowels, and that her guts were rotten, and that they
would come forth at her navel. But this infirmity shee also recovered,
and lived several years after. Pareus saith, That impostumes in the
navel bee dangerous, and that severall perish by them.

July the seventeenth, Anno 1668, Anne Bonsall of Dunnington,
in Leicestershire, had an ignorant torturing midwife. Shee came to her
at foure a clock in the morning. AIL or most part of that day shee
kept this travailing woman kneeling, or sitting on a woman's lap, ever
pulling and bruising her body, oft thrusting up her hand into the wo-
man's body, and her fingers into the child's fundament.

I had formerly rebuked this midwife for her ignorant doings, and
for her unadvised cruelties. Shee was a peevish, conceited, ignorant
midwife, and did not care for my company. Yet I was sent for, and
came to this afflicted woman about eight a clock at night. I found this
labouring woman kneeling, and her midwife working ; and, for that
shee had beene much afflicted, and was weake, and her body swel'd,
and torn, and discoloured by her haling, and pulling, to dilate the parts,
I caused her to bee laid on her bed, to give her some intermitting ease,
for that the birth seemed to bee far off. I gave her spiritus Antidoti
specificse a spoon full. But such had beene her torturing sufferings,
that it did not refresh her, yet it caused the child to descend.

The next morning after that, I placed her kneeling. I put up
my finger, and it passed very easily into a hollow place of the child's
body, and I knew not what to think of it.

134

Observations in Midwifery, by

But, after a while, I perceived that it was the child's fundament.
Then I slid up my hand, and quickly delivered the woman by the
child's feet, observing my usual way of turning the child's face to the
back of the woman, &c.

Afterwards, when I had put the woman into a warm bed, I then
viewed the body of the female infant, and I perceived that this midwife
had oft thrust her finger into the child's fundament, and, with it bended
shee hoped that shee might have drawn the body forth.

The child's fundament was much bruised, discoloured, and dilated,
and, by her ignorant practice, the child was deprived of life.

This woman, through her bruises, swellings, and lacerations in
those parts, fell into a loosness. Some foure or five dayes after shee
died. And her ignorant, torturing midwife lived not many moneths
afterward.

Oft midwives bee much mistaken, supposing the buttocks to bee
the child's head.

But, if they would consider, that the buttocks feele soft, and
have no haires, and that the head is hard, and round in figure, and hath
haire on it ; then they might, with more understanding, better know
how to help their suffering women, distressed in this ill posture, by the
child's feet.

In Staffordshire, nigh to Newcastle, Anno 1656 my daughter
quickly laid this birth, according to the foresaid way, by the feet, where,
otherwise, three old midwives had let the woman perish, taking the but-
tocks for the head.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

135

They knew not how to help her, untill shee shewed them the
way of delivery of this birth, by the child's feet.

Shee laid a barber's wife in Stafford of such a birth, after the
same way. Shee, and her child bee living.

Shee laid the same birth of the buttocks by the feet in Shoe lane,
at London, where an ancient midwife knew not how to do it. I was
sent for to this woman, and, finding the birth to come by the buttocks,
I sent for my daughter, and willed her to go to the woman, and to give
mee an account of the birth, sitting all the while with Mrs. Joanna
Mullins.

She came from the travailing woman to us, and said, that the
birth came by the buttocks, the which the old midwife took for the
head. Before Mrs. Mullins the wife of old Mr. Edward Mullins, the
chirurgion, I asked her, what hopes shee had of laying this woman.
Shee answered, that shee doubted not, but that, through God's assist-
ance, shee could quickly deliver her. So with the former old midwife's
permission, the work was soon performed by the feet.

In Middlesex anno 1658 my daughter, with my assistance, de-
livered Sir Tenebs Evanks Lady of a living daughter.

All the morning my daughter was much troubled, and told mee,
That shee feared that the birth would come by the buttocks, and that
shee foresaw the same by the falling down of her belly.

About seven a clock that night labour approached. At my
daughter's request, unknown to the Lady, I crept into the chamber
upon my hands and knees, and returned, and it was not perceived by
the Lady. My daughter followed mee, and I, being deceived, through

136

Observations in Midwifery, by

hast to go away, said that it was the head, but shee affirmed the con-
trary, however, if it should prove the buttocks, that shee knew how to
deliver her.

Her husband's greatness, and oliverian power, with some rash
expressions, that hee uttered, flowing too unhandsomely from his mouth,
dismayed my daughter. Shee could not be quieted, untill I crept pri-
vately again the second time into the chamber, and then I found her
words true.

I willed her to bring down a foot, the which shee soon did. But
being much disquieted with feare of ensuing danger, shee prayed mee to
carry on the rest of the work.

The Lady was safely laid of a living daughter by the feet. The
child cried strongly, and loudly, and was spriteful, and very lively.

Had this birth come by the head, I beleev, that it would have
proved difficult, and more troublesome to the Lady, not without some
disgracefull reflection upon mee, and my daughter.

For the child's head, with the breast, was great. It would have
slid very difficultly through the bones, and so the midwife could not
have helped more, then by annointing the body, and with patience,
waiting, and expecting, when that nature's force, with the throwes,
would have driven forth the child.

But, when the birth commeth by the feet, the woman may bee laid
without throwes, as hath formerly been said, and shewed by severall
examples.

For six. dayes this child was not suffered to suck, and, in the
meane time, was unfittingly nourished. The seventh day (and not

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

137

afore) a nurse endeavoured to give it the breast, but the child had for-
gotten how to suck, and then it began to bee sick. The eight day the
red gumme appeared, and, for want of better care, died about the tenth
day.

I will never think otherwise, but that, in this Knight's thoughts,
as well as in his actions, and wayes, errours, defects, and mistakes
might apparently bee seen.

It is not impossible to find, in London, or Westminster, honest
women, and healthfull nurses, free from unhandsome diseases. Had the
child had such a nurse, that, in- due time, might have given it the breast,
I beleeve that the child might long have lived. For there was no pro-
bable signe indicating the child's death, or any weatnes perceived in it,
untill the two last dayes.

When I moved him earnestly to get a nurse, hee replied, and
said, That hee scorned, that his child should suck any pocky nurse in,
or about London. Hee well knew many unworthy women in that, and
other places. And was hee free of the Lues venerea when hee died?

Hee loved variety of places, and several! pastures. Hee reported
in Darby (to disgrace me) that I would not come near to help his wife,
before that hee had given mee an hundred pieces. Hee was never so
worthy, as to give, or offer mee the worth of a peny. And, if ever it
bee found out, what his true name was, and where hee lived, and died, let
this postscript affirme, That hee would not let mee see his wife after her
delivery. And, although I came severall times, yet hee did not afford
mee so much civility as to offer mee a cap of ale, or beer, or that ever hee
did give mee the wOrth of a brasse farthing for my oft visiting her afore
her delivery ; or for my being with her in her labour, and helping of
her; or for my severall visits after her delivery.

138

Observations in Midwifery, by

The birth by the knees.

Mrs. Jane Molineux, the wife of Rutland Molineux, Esq., dwelling
in Nottinghain-shire, at Woodcoats, came to Darby, and requested that
I would bee pleased to deliver her, and shee hoped, through God's mercy,
by my assistance, to have a live child born into the world. I received
her into my house, where shee told mee of her sorrowfull sufferings, and
losses.

That first shee had an abortion, a yeare after shee conceived again,
and, going out her full time, and falling into travaile, the child's knees
came first. Her midwife would bring down the armes, that were over
the child's head, and did break an arme in the drawing of it. Afterward
shee suffered the womb to close about the child's neck. So the child
continued hanging by the neck in the womb, and sprauling with the feet,
till it was dead. And, although a Dr. of Physick was with her, and
held her all the time of her travaile by the hand, yet the infant's life was
not saved.

Thus, at severall times, and in severall births by the knees,
through severall midwives, shee lost also the second, and the third, and,
afterward, the fourth child, all hanged by the neck of the womb, and so
died in the birth, not one of them being born alive ; all of them being
goodly children, and comming at their full time of birth by the knees.

Shee continued foure weeks, and odde dayes, in my house, before
shee travailed. During which time, every morning, and evening, shee
annointed herself before a warm fire, with Balsamum Hystericum. And
for three weeks together, I gave her, every morning, a spoonfull, or two
of oile of sweet almonds, in three spoonefulls of posset drink, in which
pelitary of the wall was steeped, to drink.

February the fourteenth, shee suffered some grumbling paines.
The day following (February the fifteenth, being shrove-munday) pangs
of labour came on her. And, although shee had a naturall stoole be-
fore her travaile, yet I gave her a clyster of some six ounces of posset
drink, boiled with seeds, with which was mixed an ounce of venice tur-
pentine, first washed with plantane water, and dissolved with the yolk of
an egge, to which was added one spoonfull of sugar, and some oile of
almonds. But shee kept it not long, for the birth did much approach.

I took great care not to break the waters, and hoped, that the
head had come first. But, when the waters issued, T perceived that the
birth came by the knees doubled, after the way of her old accustomed
births. Yet I was not disquieted with the thoughts of her former
losses, but I trusted on God's mercy, and in his usuall blessings.

I drew the child gently, and leasurely by the feet, a little past
the buttocks, unto the navell. I then turned the face of the child to
the back of the mother, holding the infant's body in a soft, linen cloth,
between my hands, and so brought it to the shoulders. And, after I
had placed some part of my hand over the child's face, and had put my
middle finger a little way into the child's mouth, to presse the chin down
into the throat, I then caused a woman to lay a flat hand on the child's
head, and gave the legs into my daughter's hands, willing her gently to
draw by them, and the woman, with her flat hand, at that instant to
presse her belly from the os pubis, and the child's head, to the birth
place, whilest that I kept the womb from closing about the child's neck,
with my hand. Thus were our desires, through God's mercy, quickly
obtained, and shee soon delivered of a living daughter.

After her delivery, as shee lay on her back upon the pallet-
bed, I could not well come to her body to fetch the after-burden.

t 2 "

140

Observations in Midwifery, by

2
Head.

Head.

Wherefore I caused her to turn, and to kneele, then I easily
fetched it.

Thus, I thank God, with this threefold united force, shee was
speedily delivered, and her daughter was baptized,- and named Mary.

Shee had no throwes to bring the child into the world, nor had
shee any pain, or trouble to complain of, more than usuall, to bring
forth the infant, although the child was larg, and big in body.

Over much joy, the day following, for that shee had a living child,
with her tender care premised for the preserving of the same, ever peep-
ing, and hearkening how it did, put her into some disquiets of the
mother, with paines in her flank.

But shee was soon eased of them, by having a plaister of Galba-
num laid to her navell, and Emplastrum Saponis to her flank; as also,
with giving her a lump of LucateUVs balsam, wrapped in a wafer, to
swallow, and, upon that, a good spoonfull of syrup of maidenhaire, with
as much oile of sweet almonds, and mixed with four spoonfulls of thin
broth, with these applications, and medicine shee was eased, and cured
from all the dangers of her child-bed. Shee returned with her daughter
to her house, in April twenty seventh, 1661.

I laid her the second time of a living daughter Apr. 24, 1665.
This birth came by the head, and shee named her Dorothy.

After the death of Mr. Rutland Molineux, Mrs. Jane Molineux
was married to Mr. Thomas Wildbore, and, by him, had a son July the
twentieth day 1667. Shee named him Thomas. This child scrabled
with his fingers at the mouth of the womb, before it opened. But, be-
fore the flowing of the waters, it turned, and pitched on the head, when
the moistures issued ; and shee was soon, afterward, delivered.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

141

Mrs. Jane Wildbore came again the fourth time November the
tenth 1669 to Darby for her delivery. Shee sent a messenger to mee
to Newbrough, where I was engaged to a worthy good Lady, who per-
mitted mee the favour to go, and speak with her, and so, if shee had
not present need, to return again.

I advised her the best I could, and stayed with her foure dayes.
I desired her, in my absence, to have a midwife with her, but not to
suffer the midwife to meddle with her, but to keep her bed ; and, if the
child came of itself, to cause the midwife to take it from her.

I desired her, when shee had any signes of labour, immediately to
send for mee. Shee promised, for that occasion, to have a good horse
ready in the stable, and to send such a messenger as did well know the
way over the Forrest ofNeedwood. And shee said, that shee should go
a fortnight longer. But shee kept not her promise either in horse
or man.

Three dayes after (Saturday Nov. the twenty sixt in the night)
shee fell into labour. Her messenger came to mee on Sunday morning,
about half an houre past nine. My good Lady gave mee leave to go
unto her. I speedily went with him. Hee was ignorant of the way.
In the forrest wee were both lost, and separated. I wandered alone
nigh two houres, and came nigh again to Newbrough, and was necessi-
tated to procure a guide. Afterward, nigh to the forrest- gate, her
messenger, and I did casually meet againe. Her messenger's horse
tired after an houre's riding together. 1 was forced to go alone.

I put on, and rid very fast • About three miles and an half I espied
two men, riding, with speed, from Darby. They proved to bee her mes-
sengers, and, from her, they intreated mee to make hast, for that shee

142

Observations in Midwifery, by

Feet.

was in great extremity. I willed them to put on, and so, with them, I
came a galloping pace to Darby. So soon as these messengers were
horsed, and gone, this midwife would not stay my coming ; but got her
out of her bed, and, having put her to her knees, shee laid her coats on
her hips, and shee never covered her birth-place, buttocks, or her
thighes ; and, with her rude, foolish doings, starved her body with cold,
which made the delivery most difficult. And shee hoped to have gotten
much credit by delivering before I came.

The birth was by the feet. Shee took hold by a foot, and vio-
lently endeavoured to pull away the infant by the foot.

Mrs. Wildbore, feeling her harsh doings, wished her to desist,
and told her, That I willed that the midwife should not meddle with
her, untill that I should come in unto her.

And shee assured her, that shee could better endure her paines,
than her tortures, that shee put her to.

The women intreated the midwife to desist, and assured her that
it was my command, That no midwife should trouble her at all in my
absence, more than to receive the child, if that it came naturally of
itself.

Yet, for all their sayings and perswasions, this self-conceited,
unworthy, ignorant midwife (for whom I had done several! kindnesses)
would not desist, but, by the feet, with violence, drew the child unto
the navell, where it stuck, and farther shee could no wayes get it for a
long time.

And, had not one of the company given the midwife good advice,
shee might well have broken the child's neck, and separated the child's

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

143

head from the infant's shoulders, by keeping the child's face towards the
woman's navell, and belly.

The midwife continued this forcible pulling the infant, by the
feet, three quarters of an houre, or longer. And, finding her strength
not sufficient to remove it, shee desired another woman to help her to
pull it by one leg, whilest that shee haled by the other. But both their
strengths could not remove it, to bring it forwards.

At length, this assisting woman desisted, and shee told the mid-
wife, that shee durst pull no more, for that shee feared the child would
bee torne in pieces by them.

Mrs. Wildbore intreated the midwife to desist, for that shee was
not able to endure her violent struglings, saying, would shee teare her,
and her child to pieces ? And this midwife's halings were continued
with such violence, that the sweat ran down her face in great drops.

Nevertheles the midwife continued on her violent struglings, and,
being a strong woman, at last, perforce, shee pulled the child away, and
laid it carelesly aside, supposing the child (as shee had cause) to bee
dead.

But, by others, the child was found to bee alive, and, by good
hap, the infant had one arme stretched out over its head, which preser-
ved its life, and the not separating the head from the body.

The child was not quite swadled, when I came into the chamber.
Mrs. Wildbore told mee how shee had been used by the midwife ; that
shee had made her very sore, and, for any thing shee knew to the con-
trary, had torn her. And that shee much wondered, that her child's
head was not pulled off, and left behind, remaining in her body.

144

Observations in Midwifery, by

The weak child was forthwith baptized, and named Baptista.
After this, I went to my house, and said little to the mother, or mid-
wife that night.

But the next morning I told Mrs. Wildbore, that shee had
suffered through her own follies.

Shee said, that shee could not help it, for the midwife would do it,
contrary to her desire.

To the midwife I said, that her harsh, and unhandsome usage of
this woman, and her child, would empair her credit. And that her
ignorance had wronged both mother, and child ; and shewed her how
shee had made deep prints all about the breast, shoulders, and neck of
the child, by the scratchings with her nailes, and that it was a wonder
that the child was born alive with such usage, and that it would bee a
greater, if that it lived.

Had Mrs Wildbore observed my command, and this midwife
desisted from her ignorant doings, when shee was desired to forbeare, I
then might have been there soon enough to have delivered her, as may
bee observed in these writings.

I have come to several! women, after a whole daye's labour, or
more dayes, and have found some of the members of the child to have
been long in the world, yet I have safely delivered the woman. And,
where the midwife had not been too busy, there I have preserved the
child, with the Mother.

A week, or more, after her delivery, shee had a swelling, with a
numnes in her right leg, from her gartering place, to her ankle. And
the child was swel'd in the right arme, and was weake in the wrist ■

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

145

and could not hold up thejiand, but that it hung flagging
downe.

I came to them again the third time, and, T thank God, I cured
them of their infirmities, staying with them five dayes.

The child could not suck at the first, but made pityfull faces,
when it endeavoured to suck, and cried weakly. I eased it, by giving it
oile of sweet almonds fresh drawn, and mixed with syrup of maiden-
hair.

To the child's back I applied emplastrum de smegmate spread
thin on leather.

After this the child did suck much better, yet weakly. It was
found, afterward, to bee tongue tied. When it was cut, it drew the
breast much better, and gathered some small strength.

The child after three weeks, had a dayly purging, issuing from the
nose, of bloud with corruption. It cried much. It may long live, but
I feare the contrary.

This midwife was but of few years practice, and, being told, after-
ward, of her doings by Mrs. Wildbore, shee foolishly replied, That if
shee and the child had been torn in pieces, they two had not been the
first, that had been so used. Her answer shewed her disposition.

I leave her to the censure of all women. But this midwife shall
never see more of my practice, or bee in place, where I have ought to do.

But Mrs. Wildbore's opinion, and saying of this midwife, with
foure others, that shee had made use of, with the losse of her children

was

146

Observations in Midwifery, by

By both

hands and

feet.

That they were all ignorant creatures, and that they knew not
what to do in any difficult, and unnaturall birth, more than to hale and
pull the woman's body, and the child by the limbs. And that shee,
with her children, through their ignorances, had wofolly, and sorowfully
suffered.

Shee her self went well from Darby, carrying her weak child
with her.

God blesse them both, and, for some causes, I pray, that I may
never bee troubled more with her, or, rather, with her husband, fitly
named Wildbore. Finis.

And this is a true relation of this savage narration.

In November 1671 I heard, by a messenger, that was at her
home, that shee is well, and that her child hath perfectly recovered her
infirmities, and that it is hearty, and health full.

The birth comming by both hands and feet.

Sometimes the child thrusts forth both hands and feet together.

This birth happened to one goodwife Picraft in Darby, 1660.
After that the midwife had tortured her severall nights and dayes, at
the last I was sent for. And the midwife said that shee had done what
shee could for keeping up the hands and feet. I wished her more un-
derstanding in her practice, and, before her, I laid this woman, by
joining both feet together, and then drawing leasurely by them, (and
the hands returned to the sides) observing the order, and way by the
birth of the feet, &c.

Shee was quickly delivered without any torture, or violence, in a

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

147

short time. As the legs came downwards : so the shoulders with the
armes, went upwards, and reduced themselves. In May 1660.

The same midwife was sent for to Spoondon, about two yeares
after this delivery, by Edward Holerentius his wife. The birth came by
one hand, and one foot.

This midwife, at her comming, vaunted much of her fenowledg,
and abilities in the practice of midwifery, and what shee could do. But
her words proved windy, and her deeds, nothing worth.

After her much afflicting the woman, her friends were displeased
with her ignorance, and they sent for mee. I came to her, and, as afore
in PicrafVs wife, with little ado, I laid this poore woman, and I suffered
this foolish prating midwife to stand by mee the same time, and to see
what way I did take the second time.

This woman conceived again about two yeares after this time. I
was desired again by her midwife, and neighbours, with her consent to
come unto her.

Her midwife, and friends assured mee, that, long since, her waters
had issued, yet no child followed.

But it proved otherwise. That night I provoked a stoole by a
suppositer, and willed her to rest quiet, and to keep her self warm, and
to endeavour to sleep.

In the morning I returned home to my house, and sent her a
clyster, which freed the passages of excrements. And, not long after
the discharg of it, paines, with throwes, came upon her. Then the
waters gathered, and flowed, and the child followed the waters, putting her
to no more affliction, than such, as usually accompany the woman's bed.
_^ _

One hand
and foot.

148

Observations in Midwifery, by

I was again with her at the tliird birth, and then shee Was easily
delivered by the child's head.

The

birth un-
fortunate
by the feet.

The birth by the feet may prove unfortunate, if not prudently
handled.

There was an ancient midwife, that I respected, and wished well.
For several! causes, I did her all the courtesies that I could. I shewed
her much, and helped her several! times, yet could I never prevaile with
her to leave her haling, and stretching those tender parts. But shee
would ever put on too forcibly, not much regarding the woman, or
child, to finish her work.

Shee was midwife to a good Gentlewoman, about 1652. The
child came by the feet. For want of judgment, how to order the birth,
shee drew forcibly by the feet. So shee brake the child's neck in the
birth, and pulled away the body, but left the head remaining in the
woman's body, which, afterwards, came away. And this good woman
recovered, and is now living Anno 1671.

But her poor, old midwife, that had oft, formerly, laid her of
severall children, was sorely dismayed with this sad unexpected accident,
which never had afore happened under her hands. So that shee was
alwayes condoling her misfortune, and never again was chearfull to reco-
ver her spirits. Her frequent sad remembrance of it, in few succedent
moneths, finished her dayes.

The same accident happened to a poor, wandring woman at
Bisly. I was sent to her by the Lady Willughby, dwelling at that
place. The child's head was not easily fetcht forth.

This wandering woman lived severall yeares after. But her

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

149

companion, and wandering midwife hasted away, unwilling to own her
work, and I could never heare what became of her.

The same misfortune happened in Wocestershire to a good
woman Apr. 12, 1651.

I shall use Pareus his words, and leave you his directions, how to
help this affliction.

But if, by any meanes, it happeneth, and that the child's head
onely remaineth behind in the womb, which I have sometimes (against
my will, and with great sorrow) seen. Then the left hand being anointed
with oile of lillies, or fresh butter, must bee put into the womb, where-
with the chirurgion must find out the child's mouth, putting his finger
into it. Then, with his right hand, hee must lift up the hook (according
to the directions of the left hand) gently, and by little, and little, and so
fasten it. He must therewith draw out the head by little, and little, for
feare of losing, or breaking the part, whereon hee hath hold, either in
the mouth, eye, or chin. But, if possible, it is better to fix the crochet
in the hinder part of the head.

Also, in stead of the hook, hee commendeth the use of the Grif-
fon's talen.

Of these two, I better like, and had rather use the crochet, and
more better than either of these, the use of the hand.

Pareus saith, That it is not an easy thing to take hold on the
head, when it remaineth alone in the womb, by reason of the roundnes
thereof. Por it will slip, and slide up, and down, unles the belly bee
pressed down on both sides, thereby to hold it unto the instrument, that
it may, with facility, take hold thereon.

150

Observations in Midwifery, by

To pre-
vent the
pulling
off the
head.

Crochet.

And I hold this note of Pareus excellent, for the pressing down
the belly on both sides, to hold it down the better, whilest that the
instrument is in fixing. And, if any chirurgion should bee called to
such a sad occasion, I would hee could remember this note, and use it,
as directed.

To prevent the separating of the head from the child's shoulders,
I co aid wish midwives to try first what might bee done, by turning the
child's face to the back of the woman ; and, afterward, by putting the
middle finger into the child's mouth, to presse down the chin into the
throat, with their other fingers, placed on the child's face, before they
offer to draw by the feet ; and to cause some other assisting woman to
make a pressure on the child's head, to drive it forth.

But, when the child is dead, and that the chirurgion perceiveth the
child's neck to bee cracked, or broken, and that it will, in probability, sepa-
rate from the shoulders with drawing, whilest that the child's head is fixed
to the shoulders, I would have him slide up his left hand anointed, and
to place it over the child's head, and, in the hollow of Ins hand, to con-
vey up the crochet, and to fix it on the child's head as high, as may bee.
And, having then taken forth the left hand, to put up the right hand
against the point of the instrument, when it is fixed, and then to draw
with the hook, whilest that some other assisting woman draweth lea-
surely by the feet. And thus, I beleeve that a great head may bee drawn
forth, and not separated from the body, with much more ease to the
woman and chirurgion, then it can bee, if once it bee separated from the
body. See Elianor Fletcher.

Although I know the crochet to bee usefull, for the releeving of a
weake woman in travaile, and for the drawing forth of a dead, and

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

151

corrupted child, yet I would not use it, if sudden danger doth not enforce
mee to reliev the woman.

For, as I have said, where too great straitnes, and narrownes of
the woman's body, or the evil positions of the bones have not hindered,
or withstood my endeavours, for the turning away the head, and pro-
ducing the birth by the feet, that there, oft, with lesser trouble to the
women, and to myself, I have happily delivered several women by the
child's feet.

But, if high, and lofty conceited midwives, that will leave nothing
unattempted, to save their credits, and to cloak their ignorances, let mee
advice such women to learn how to make use of the crochet, rather than
pothooks, packneedles, silver spoones, thatcher's hooks, and knives, to
shew their imagined skils. I have known the midwives, and the places,
where they have used these follies to their women.

And I intreat all midwives, to put of such operations to the very
last refuge, untill it is very manifest, that the child is dead, and not to
make too sudden hast to use the crochet.

Or rather, to put this work to expert chirurgions, or others (if
they may bee had) which have used, and practiced such operations, to
deliver women by the crochet.

For Fabritius Hildanus saith, That alwayes some new thing hap-
peneth in the extraction of a dead foetus, either in the posture of the
child in the womb, or in the genitall parts of the mother.

This operation will bee better learned, and understood, by seing
it performed by a rational! practicer, than by discourse, or reading
books.

152

Observations in Midwifery, by

But, if midwives, or any other never afore used to practice in
these waves, will take upon them a conceited boldnes, to try their sup-
posed skill;

Let them first place the woman kneeling on a bed-side, or, rather,
on a bolster. And, afterward, with much care, and gentlenes, slide up
the left hand, well anointed, as high as may bee, over the dead child's
head.

Afterward, in the hollownes of the hand, to convey up the cro-
chet, keeping the point toward the palm of the hand in putting it up,
laying the instrument flattish in the hand.

This being done (holding her hand over the head) to turn the
point of the instrument toward the child's head under her hand. Then
to fix it, as high as may bee, towards the hinder part, or on the side of
the head.

The instrument being fixed, to take out her left hand, and to slide
up her right hand, opposite to the point of the crochet. Then, after-
ward, to raise the woman to a leaning posture. So, with the hand, on
one side, holding the child's head steady, and with the instrument, on
the other side, to draw gently.

If the skull teare, and the hold faile to bring forth the head, let
her receiv the point of the instrument with easy and leasurely drawing,
upon the palm of her hand. Thus doing, shee neither hurteth the
mother, or her hand, with the receiving of the instrument.

Then let her fix it again on the other side, first putting up her
right hand at the second fixing of the instrument. And, in fixing, alwayes
remember to bee carefull, that when or wheresoever shee fixeth the

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

153

instrument, that shee keepeth her open hand hollowish, between the
woman's body, and the child's head, whilest that shee fixeth the crochet.

Thus doing, the midwife will not hurt the woman's body, or her
own hand, neither will shee bee deprived of her expectation.

January the 12 1661 I was called to Ticknall in Darbyshire, to
one Kisedaile's wife. Finding that the child did stink, and was much
swelled, I placed her kneeling on a hard bolster, and, putting down
her head to a pillow, that was laid on a woman's lap, sitting afore her,
and causing her to straddle as wide as shee could conveniently, I
placed my self behind the woman, and put up my hand over the child's
head, and, in the hollownes of my hand, I slipped up the crochet,
laying it flat to my hand.

Afterward I turned the point of it to the child's head, and
fixed it. Then I drew forth my left hand, and put up my right hand
on the other side, between the child's head, and the woman's body, just
against the point of the instrument, and on the other side, with my
instrument, 1 drew leasurely. And, thanks bee to God, I quickly
brought forth the dead, stinking child. I immediately fetched away
the after-birth, and so put her to bed. And this woman lived, and
recovered her health, and hard sufferings, and had children afterwards.

The midwife had kept this woman foure dayes in extremity, and
and had oft endeavoured to pull it forth with packneedles, thrust through
the skin of the child's head, in hopes to draw the child forth by these
packthreeds, but the skin was rotten, and quickly torn, and her hopes
frustrated to help her, and to save tins woman's life. At the last I was
sent for.

The labouring woman may bee placed sitting on a woman's lap,

A dead

head
drawn
by the

crochet.

154

Observations in Midwifery, by

when the child is much descended. Or you may cause her to kneele on
a bedside, leaning on the neck of other women. I have used all these
wayes with good successe.

But, I suppose, that shee may bee more easily delivered kneeling
on a bolster, for the better fixing of the instrument, or, if you would, for
the getting of the feet.

The use of the bolster is great to facilitate this work. Tor,
through the woman's high kneeling, and the low placing of her head,
much advantage will bee procured to reenforce the child to return, in
part, back into the hollownes of the woman's body.

So you may have the larger roome to turn, and to move your
hand, to fetch the feet, or to fix the instrument. The which will not bee
so conveniently done, whilest that her body is placed above your hand,
as shee lyeth crosse the bed, the which will keep you at a distance, and
remote from your work.

In a difficult birth, when that you have drawn forth the head, if
that the rest of the body will not bee brought forth easily, slide up your
finger under the child's armpit, and give it a nudge toward tlie other
side from you, drawing with your finger. But, if it will not bee so per-
formed, then fix your instrument under the child's armpit, in the
hollownes of the breast, and so you may draw forth the shoulders with
the rest of the body. Or, you may draw by the head, wrapped in a linen
cloth. Or, you may put a strong fillet, with a sliding noose, about the
neck, and get some woman to help you to draw by it, as you do by the
head of the child.

The extraction of a dead child is the best, and safest way. to save
a weak woman in extremity, and to preserve her life. For Guillimeau

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

155

saith, That, whensoever the child's head is much entered within the os
pubis, it is impossible to thrust him upward to turn him, without much
endangering the mother, and causing great contusion in the womb, from
whence proceed diverse accidents, and sometimes death with them.

This my Ticknall midwife, some two yeares after, endeavoured, in
the same towne, to deliver a potter's wife by quartering the skull with a
knife, and taking forth the braines, yet shee could not bring forth the
child. But shee much hurted the woman. Her ignorance, with the
woman's afflictions, stopt her for proceeding any farther. So her hus-
band came to mee. I went to her with him. I sent for the midwife,
and drew the child with the crochet, as shee stood by mee.

The child was great, and smelt, and did stink; the skin, in severall
places, much flayed off. I modestly rebuked the midwife's doings, and
so I lost the good will of this midwife, and, as much as might bee, her
future practice.

This poore woman died the next day, I beleeve, through the hurts,
that shee received from her midwife's knife.

The woman's body smelt unsavoury in the time of her delivery.

-• .ft
At Spoondon in Darbyshire another midwife used the same prac-
tice, for cutting the child's head, and pulling out the braines.

In her sufferings I was sent for, but this midwife had finished her
work before I came.

And her woman died the next day after her delivery.

My Ticknall midwife Apr. 17 1666 kept Catherine, the wife of
Joseph Clark, six dayes in labour. Shee was a great haler, and stretcher

v~2 ~

156

Observations in Midwifery, by

of women's bodies, and, through her ignorance, much injured all her
women, to whom shee came. But since, shee is dead.

When shee heard that her husband was gone to fetch mee to his
wife, whether shee feared a second rebuke I know not ; but then shee
bestirred her self, and, with the help of another woman, the work was
done, whilest that I was comming ; and shee sent speedily another mes-
senger to stop my journey, and to turn me back.

And, although I offered to have gone through the journey to see
his wife, yet it was thought needles. I then desired her husband to see
his dead child, and to let mee have the true report, how, by the midwife,
it was used. But the midwife told him, Hee could not see it, for that it
was wound up, and stuck with rosemary, and baies. His wife died that
night.

I leave the reader to think what hee, or shee pleaseth of this
woman, and how the child was used.

I could heartily wish, That all midwives would bee friendly, and
courteous to their afflicted women, that they would not bee drawn aside
with vain conceits, nor too much adhere to their own opinions, nor to
shew themselves stubborn against such, as should direct them better
waves to follow. For my own part, I was ever willing to learn of any
one, and ever was thankfull to any one, that did shew mee any thing of
practice.

IVot far from Ashburn there was a poor creature, that was willing
to suffer any affliction to bee delivered. After much pulling, and stretch-
ing her body, her conceited midwife's last refuge was, not to roll her on
the bed, but to tosse her in a blanket, as some have served dogs, hoping

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

157

that this violent motion would force the child out of her body. But her
conceits failing, I was sent for, and the midwife, and women told mee,
That they had tossed her in a blanket, but that it did no good.

But I beleeved, that all their strengths, and forces were not able
to do it, but rather, That they moved her body violently, by shaking, and
rolling her in the blanket. And I durst not rind fault with any thing,
that this waspish company had done, in thus using this poor distressed
woman.

I found that the child came by the head. I endeavoured to force
the birth by medicines. But, when nothing prevailed, as shee kneeled, I
drew away the dead child with the crochet.

Shee recovered ; it was much to bee wondered, that this tossing
affliction had not set her body in a loosnes.

It may so happen, That the chirurgion cannot alwayes draw forth
the child's head with the crochet, when that the skull is separated, and
the skin very rotten, and so it cannot keep any hold.

In this case lay aside the instrument, and, with your fingers, put
into the wound made by the crochet, and your thumb placed outwardly
over the skin, and the bones of the head joined together, draw leasurely.
It so may follow by this way, that you may draw forth the rotten body,
holding the bones, and skin together between your thumb, and fingers.
But, if this way also faileth, then again fix your instrument in some part
of the neck towards the head, or about the upper part of the shoulder,
or breast.

Sever all honest women, chiefly in the time of their first bringing
forth of children, have sadly suffered by ignorant, robustious midwives,
in putting them to kneele, or to sit on their stooles, or woman's laps,

Head.

Danger

occasi-
oned

through
hasty

proceed-
ings.

158

Observations in Midwifery, by

before the womb hath beene opened, or any waters have gathered, with
their hinder parts naked, and starved with cold, and, by their halings,
npon every sleight pain stretching those tender places, have made their
women sore, and swel'd which ignorant usage of theirs hath done much
hurt, not onely by hindering the' birth, but also endangering the life of
the mother and child. And in severall places, unto which I have beene
sent for, I have found the mother undelivered, and shee and the child
dead before I could come unto them, through the ignorance of such
midwives.

I travailed all night to Chesterfield, and was greatly pelted (after
some three houres riding) with Hashes of fire, dreadful thunderclaps, and
stormes of rain. I came to the place about foure in the morning, and
there I found both mother, and child dead, and shee not delivered.
This woman might have been easily helped, had I been there in con-
venient time Anno 1631 by drawing the child with the crochet, if that
she could not otherwayes have been relieved.

I was sent for from Stafford, to come to a lady beyond Congerton.
Her midwife had kept her severall dayes in labour. I took my daughter
with mee. Wee travailed all night, and wee were wetted with much rain
to our skins. Wee came, by break of day, to the place. But this
Lady was dead, undelivered, before our coming. I much desired to see
her corps, but the midwife would not permit it. I knew this midwife
not to bee very judicious in her profession, and I beleeve, That shee was
ashamed that her work should be seen Anno 1655. . This midwife was
gentile in habit of cloths, but ignorant in the wayes of practice of
midwifery.

I was brought to Cossall, in Nottinghamshire, to a woman, whose
mother was a midwife, and in the house with her. So soone as paines

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

159

came upon her, before the opening of the womb, or the gathering of the
waters, shee endeavoured to deliver her daughter. After much suffering
I was desired to help her. Perceiving her mother ignorant, I put her to
bed, willing her to lie quiet, and, if shee could, to sleep. Being thus
strengthened, and refreshed, when true labour approached, nature
opened the womb, and shee was soon after delivered of a living daughter.

A kinswoman, being with child, and having a good opinion of a
lusty, strong bodied midwife, brought her many miles with her, and
kept her in her house, for that shee should bee at hand to assist her in
her travaile.

When this woman's labour approached, the midwife, placing her-
self behind her, mightily bestirred her, with haling, to stretch the birth
place, as shee kneeled. And, thrusting her fingers into her body, by
main strength, shee oft lifted her from her knees, whereby shee made a
great breach from the birth, into the fundament, before shee was de-
livered.

After that shee was recovered of her weaknes, I was sent for.
And, finding that this rift on each side was cicatrized, and healed, I
perswaded her not to meddle with it, but to bee contented to suffer the
breach> for that it would bee troublesome, and difficult to cure, and also,
for that, if shee should have more children, they would bee more easily
born/ through the spaciousnes of the place, made more open and pass-
able.

Pareus saith chap. 27..Hb. ,^ de generatione hominis, That this
breach is a most unfortunate mischance for the mother afterwards. For
when shee should travaile again (if that it could bee healed) shee cannot
have her genitall parts to extend, and to, draw themselves in again by

A breach
made in
the funda-
ment by
haling
Mrs.
Crum-
pton.

160

Observations in Midwifery, by

Cold
aire
hin-
dering
the birth.

reason of the scar. So that, then, it should bee needful that the chiru'r-
gion should again open the place, that was cicatrized. Tor otherwise, sh ee
shall never bee delivered, although shee strive, or contend never so much.

The cold aire, with the cold keeping of women in travaile, doth
straiten, and make stiffe the genitall passages, that they cannot bee easily
relaxed, and so, by accident, oft is made a slow and painful labour.

At Nottingham in Anno 1642 one Good wife More, dwelling on
the long row, was foure dayes in labour. At last 1 was called, and,
finding that the child came right, and that the birth was much retarded
through cold, that shee had suffered, and taken, by keeping the birth-
place, with thethighes, and hips, naked, in long kneeling ; I caused her
to bee put into a warm bed, and to bee kept quiet. After a while, I
gave her some medicines, to move throwes, and willed her to endeavour
to sleep. About three houres after that shee had taken some rest, and
had been kept warm in bed, strong labour came upon her ; and, on a
sudden, as shee lay in her bed, shee was delivered by mee (of which the
company knew nothing) of a living son, untill I called the midwife to
mee, and willed her to take up the child. The mother, and her son were
living April 6, 1661.

At Wolerton Hall, nigh Nottingham Anno 1647 the Bailiff's
wife, Good wife Percy, having lien long in labour, and wearied with
kneeling (which is the country mode) and as good as naked over all her
hinder parts, having her cloths laid as high as her hips, which way
retarded the birth, and starved her body ■ Shee sent for mee. I came
better than eight miles unto her, and found her kneeling in that uncomely,
and unfitting manner, and having no throwes on her. And, finding the
child to come in a right posture, I thought it the best way to give the
simple midwife good words, to get her from under her hands, and

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

161

desired her to permit her woman to rest, and to ease her self on her
bed, on which I placed her, and wrapped her warme. Afterwards, s I
gave her medicines to move labonr. So I willed her to rest quiet,
and to sleep, if that shee could. Some two, or three houres after that
shee had thus been kept warm, finding her throwes increasing, I came
unto her, and, as shee lay on the bed, shee was speedily delivered.
Severall women, with the midwife, would not beleeve it, untill they
heard the child to cry, the mother, and daughter now living in Notting-
ham 1667, and this daughter is married, and hath a child.

To these unhandsome, absurd, and foolish wayes, through igno-
rance, some midwives have added cruelties, in pulling, and cutting off
the armes of infants ; and have proceeded farther, through their grosse
mistakes, and have wished some to cut off lumps, lying before the birth-
place, affirming, That, otherwise, the woman could not bee delivered.

A good friend, and an honest, good woman gave mee this report
of her mother's sufferings.

Her mother had a lusty, young woman for her midwife. And, in
the time of her travaile, the infant came by the arme.

Shee pulled long by the arme, so hoping to deliver her. But, at
the last, with her pulling shee tore the shoulder from the child's body;
then, wrapping it privately in cloths, shee conveyed it into her pocket,
and fained an excuse, That shee must needs go home, saying that shee
would come again. But, her mother continuing in extremity, another
midwife was sent for, and shee was delivered before the first midwife
returned. The child, being viewed, was seen to want an arme. Much
search was made to find it, but it was not to bee found. At last, the
first midwife returned. Shee was asked what shee had done with the

Pulling
of arms.

162

Observations in Midwifery, by

child's arme. Then, with shame, shee took it forth of her pocket, and
gave it to the company.

I have cause to beleev the former report, for that, in the yeare
1 643, there came into the house of a worthy, good friend, a woman with
a little basket, having a child's arme, and shoulder in it, which was pulled
off by the midwife, and her assistance. And my help was desired, to
save the woman's life, that had the rest of the child remaining in her
body. I went with the woman, and took the Gentlewoman's midwife
with mee, for that I would not have the Gentlewoman discouraged, that
was, then, great with child, at so sad an object, as shee had seen.

I laid tins woman of the remaining part of the child's body, hav-
ing this Gentlewoman's midwife by mee, and shee recovered her strength,
and lived many years afterwards.

Shee was Thomas Hofe's wife, hee, and shee lived at Willington
in Darbyshire.

Seek for the relation of Hampton Eidway Elizabeth Twomly.

An aim
cut off.

I was called to Lichfield July 30 1670 to Mary, the wife of
Edmund Hector, a barber-chirurgion. This woman was formerly
laid by her midwife with good successe. But now shee had a birth, in
which the child came by the arme. At my comming to her, I found
with her three midwives. They had greatly tortured her body, by en-
deavouring to reduce the child's arme, and, when it would not abide up,
they would have pulled it away by the arme. But, at last, it was
thought the best way to cut off the child's arme close to the shoulder.
The infant was a boy.

I found her much spent, and weak, and full of paine, and I had

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

163

no great encouragement to meddle with her, for that shee had been much
abused, and, through ignorant midwives, her body much bruised.

Shee intreated, and much desired to bee released, and eased of
her tortures. I placed her kneeling on the side of a bed, and, finding
the birth-place filled with the rest of the shoulder, I put it back, and
endeavoured to draw forth the dead child with the crochet, but I could
not, any way, conveniently fix it on the head, for that the neck was
much distorted, and the head, on one side, lay deep in her body, and
would not be removed.

Therefore I laid aside the instrument, and made use of my hand
onely.

And, having my hand anointed with fresh butter, I easily slid it
up, and quickly found the other hand, and feet lying close together. I
took hold of the foot, and brought it forth, without afflicting the woman,
ever drawing leasurely, untill I had obtained the other foot. When it
came to the hips; I turned the child, for that it came with the face to
the mother's belly. Then I drew it to the neck, and, having put my
middle finger into the child's mouth, to presse down the chin into the
child's throat, I drew again easily, and the work was soon finished, in
lesse space then half a quarter of an houre.

Unless the head be fixed in the bones, the which is seldome found,
after that the midwives have endeavoured to pull the child forth by the
arme (for by their pullings the neck commeth greatly distorted, and
crooked) I would not have the chirurgion to offer to. draw it by the
crochet ; but, by his hand, to fetch it away. So will his worke bee
easier, and better bee performed by the foot, then by the crochet.

If hand and foot lie close together, you may easily distinguish

w~2 ~ '

A distor-
ted
head.

164

Observations in Midwifery, by

between them. The thigh is much thicker then the arm, and the foot is
grosse, and thick, and hath no bendings, but with short toes. The hand
is small, and long, and full of bending fingers.

And I know assuredly, That, where there is room to put up the
hand, that a woman may easier, and better bee delivered by the hand,
and more sooner, then shee can bee by the crochet. See the scheme.

And it will bee more pleasing to the woman to bee laid by the
hand. For instruments bee dreadfull to them.

Some three, or foure houres after that this woman was delivered,
upon some discourse, I desired to see this child again. The midwife,
that cut off the arme, brought it to mee. The child was very hand-
somely put into a shirt, and the arme was put up into the sleeve unto
the shoulder, and the hand tied at the wrist, and decently laid by the
child's side.

It was so well done, and shrouded, that to one, that knew
nothing, and had onely looked on the child's body, thus shrouded, that
this ill work, at a distance, could not have been perceived, that the arme
was cut off at the shoulder.

In probability, the other midwife would have used this sleight,
to cover her rude handling, and doings, had not they been casually dis-
covered.

This woman lived some four, or five dayes after her delivery, and
then shee departed, as I feared.

A great
mistake
about a
child's
head.

Anno 1648, or thereabouts, I was desired, by an eminent midwife,
joined with two other midwives, to come to a labouring woman in much
distresse.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

165

Before I saw the woman, these midwives assured mee, That there
lay a great lump of flesh before the womb, and that shee could not bee
delivered before that lump was removed, and they all desired mee to cut
it forth.

After that I had placed the woman kneeling, and had considered
of the matter, I found this lump of flesh (so called by them) to bee the
child's head, enfolded in the womb, as yet not opened, and that some
part of the neck of the womb was descended with it into the vagina
uteri.

These midwives would not beleeve it, but told mee severall strange
stories, to induce mee to cut it forth. I desired them to bee patient,
for that I hoped that all would go well with the woman, without cutting,
or taking away of the lump.

I put her to bed, I gave her first a clyster, and willed her to keep
it as long as shee could, and to give her self to sleep. Not long, after-
wards, I gave her medicines to prepare, and make way for a birth, for
that shee had slight throws.

The womb ascended, this lump returned again into her body, and
was no more felt.

Between two, and three of the clock in the ensuing morning, the
waters issued, and, about an hour after, shee was delivered by mee of a
dead child. Shee recovered well again her strength, and health, and
hath, since that time, been the mother of severall living children.

Had I beleeved these midwives, and had been overcome with their
stories, and perswasions, then should I have caused great effusion of
blood, by cutting away part of the womb with the child's head in it.

166

Observations in Midwifery, by

Hector.

Mrs

White
halgh.

And, in so doing, I should have destroyed the woman, and have filled
the eares of all, that should have heard of it, with various, and ugly
reports of my harsh, ignorant cruelty, and bloody practice.

Distorted head, or neck.

Guillimeau 144.

When the child commeth, in an unnaturall birth, with a distorted
neck, the head lying in the flank, or on the back, or breast, after con-
venient placing the woman, draw the birth forth by the feet. See the
scheme.

When any one shall endeavour to try this way of Guillimeau, I
beleev that hee will not find it facile, or easy to bee done, but that hee
will rather approve the way, by drawing by the feet, much more easy,
and better, then after this way to produce the infant by the head.

See p. 162 the Lichfield woman with the distorted neck.

Strang Afterbirths.

In the yeare 1648 I was called to a worthy, civill, good condi-
tioned woman, being with child, and, full of feares, and having passed
the better part of her going with child, yet her belly was not great,
which troubled her thoughts, mistrusting, that somewhat would fall
amisse to her, or her child, if not to both ; For that shee felt it some-
times weakly to link, and dully to move in her body, and, at that instant
time, the child having the same motion, shee prayed mee to feel, if that
I could perceive the same.

Her body was so fallen down, that I could easily reach it with my
finger, without any trouble, or enforcement.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

167

I assured her, that I did perceive the dull motion, with the link-
ing, that shee had mentioned.

Shee intreated mee (when occasion should bee) to come unto her,
for that shee was resolved to have mee with her in the time of her
travaile.

Shee sent for mee, and I came speedily with her messenger, but
shee was delivered of a small embryon before my comming, not much
longer than my little finger.

But the secondine was more then two inches thick, resembling a
griped hand, and fashioned like a round turnep, having a small, flattish,
round hollowness in the bottom of it, like a broad saucer, and covered
with the membrane annexed to it, in winch this Embryon was enfolded.
I never saw the like afore, or since, and beleeve that I shall never see
the like againe, for the roundnes and great thicknes. Shee had
severall children after this abortion.

In the yeare 1634, or thereabouts, in June, I was sent for by a
Gentlewoman. Sheliad flouded, and it was stayed, by letting her bloud
in the arme, and giving her astringent cordials, and Juleps. But it oft
returned again, and againe. At last, shee had great abundance of blood
flowing by pashes, with them came a roundish lump of hard flesh, of a
gristly substance, bigger than a goose egge, which was thick, and hard
to cut. It was, in the middle, hollowish, the breadth, and space of a
little nutmeg, in which was a small body, no bigger then a barley corn,
hanging by a navel-string, and noting in water.

After the comming of this after-burden, shee had no more floud-
ing, or pashes of blood, but soon recovered again her former health, and
strength.

Mrs
Price.

168

Observations in Midwifery, by

If the flux of blood be caused by the after-birth, comming afore
the birth of the child, or in the time of travaile,

When the after-birth offereth it self before the child bee born,
lying either in the mouth of the womb, or appearing in the outward
parts, Guillimeau, the French King's chirurgion, in his book of the
happy delivery of women, fol. 132, saith, That the most sure, and ready
way to help the woman, is to deliver her speedily, because, most com-
monly, there followeth a continual flux of blood ; for that the orifices of
the venes are opened, which are spread in the sides of the womb, and
there meet with the vessels of the after-burden, and then the ma-
trix doth straine, and force it self to put forth the child. Then doth
it thrust out both the bloud, that is contained therein, and that, which
is drawn thither, either by any heat, or paine.

Besides, when the child is inclosed in the womb, and the orifice
thereof stopt with the after-birth, then the child cannot breathe any
longer by his mother's arteries, and so, for want of help, hee will bee
quickly choaked, and even swallowed up in the blood, which is contained
in the womb, ,and which issueth from the venes, that are open therein.

But, before you attempt any thing, these two points must bee
observed.

First, whether the after-burden bee come forth but a little, or, else
very much. If it bee but a little (when the mother is well placed) it
must bee thrust, and put back again with as much care, as may pos-
sible bee. And, if the head of the child come first, let it bee placed
right in the passage, thereby to help the natural! delivery. But, if you
find any difficulty, or, if you perceive, That the child's head cannot
easily bee brought forward, or, that the child, or his mother, or both

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

169

together bee weak, foreseing that the travaile will bee long, then, with-
out doubt, the best and surest way is, to search for the feet (as wee
have said) and to pluck him forth gently by them.

The other point, to bee observed, is, That, if the said after -birth
bee much come forth, and that it cannot bee put back again, (as well
by reason of the bignes of it, as also, of the flux of blood, that com-
monly companies it,) and likewise, if the child follow it close, staying
onely to come into the world, then must the after-burden bee pulled away
quite, and, when it is come forth, it must bee laid aside, without cutting
the string, that cleaves unto it.

For, by the guiding of the same string, you may easily find the
child ; who, whether hee bee alive, or dead, must bee drawn forth by the
legs, with as much dexterity as may bee.

And this must bee done onely in great necessity, that the child
may bee quickly drawn forth, as it may easily bee judged by the sentence
of Hippocrates, who saith : That the after-burden should come forth
after the child, for, if it come first, the child cannot live, because hee
takes his life from it, as a plant doth from the earth.

Sometimes, it chanceth, That a part of the after-birth, as also
the membrane, that contains the waters, doth offer itself, like a skin, and
comes forth, sometimes, the length of half a foot, which happens to
such women, as have the skin, wherein the waters are contained, swelling
out, to the bignes of one's fist, or more, which, breaking forth of them-
selves, leave the skin hanging forth, and yet the child not following it.
Which happening, it must not bee violently puTd away, because the after-
burden, oftentimes, is not wholly loosened from the sides of the womb.
So that, in drawing that, you shall likewise draw the said after-burden,

170

Observations in Midwifery, by

Mrs.
Harpur.

and so, consequently, the womb, or else part thereof; which, commonly,
brings the woman into extreme paines, and faintings, yea and, often-
times, to death.

Which Guillimeau said happened (to his great grief) unto a
Gentlewoman, that died so soon, as shee was delivered, who putting her-
self into her nurse's hands, who took upon her to bee a midwife, and
was so venturous, as to pluck, and draw forth the said membrane, and
part of the after-burden, which came to light by meanes of her chamber-
maid, who had kept it, and shewed it us, after her decease, wee being
very inquisitive to know the cause of her death.

But, when this happens, it must not bee pulled away ; but, rather,
gently bee thrust in again ; or, else, you must put in your hand between
that, and the neck of the womb, to find the child's feet, and so to draw
him forth, as wee have shewed before. Guillimeau chap. 12. lib. 2.

The comming forth of such membranes happened to Mrs. Jane
Molineux, at the birth of her daughter Mary, which was drawn forth by
the feet.

It happened again to her, after that shee was married to a second
husband, Wildbore, by name, and nature, when shee was delivered of her
son Thomas, who followed the waters.

A good woman was delivered of a daughter., with such usuall
afflictions, as bee incident to other women, November the second being
Tuesday 1669.

Her midwife made much strugling in her body, to fetch away the
after-burden.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

Ill

Sometimes shee said that shee had hold of it, but that it was
again overslipped her hand. Thus was this woman tortured by her mid-
wife for the space of an houre, or longer. But at last (as it was said)
shee got it. But I can hardly beleeve, that she had it whole, for that
the after-burden was lacerated, and, as supposed, part left in her body,
where it did stick ; for that shee had great pashes of bloud afterwards,
which came with a lump of spongious flesh.

Her Physician was noc of this opinion, but thought that this
lump of flesh was part of the womb rotted forth, and that the womb
was torn by the midwife.

Her husband's mother came to see her some five dayes after her
delivery. Shee told her mother, sitting by her, that then shee flouded.

Her mother caused the wet closier to bee taken from her, and to
bee carried away into the next roome, for that it sented very strongly ;
where this cloth was opened, and seen filled with an odious, stinking
moisture, in colour blackish, resembling pudled ditch water.

Her friends, apprehending then much danger, desired that I might
bee sent for, to come unto her the Saturday following. But, by reason
of a former engagement, I could not then bee permitted to go. Yet, in
my letter, I desired, That they would make use of Dr Dakins, that was
nearly related to her. Unknown to mee, hee was in the house with her.

Her husband, in his letter, did not mention any thing of her
sufferings. And, for that shee was delivered, I was not too urgent to
procure my liberty, but was willing to refer it to a more able man for
physick.

Yet, as the busines fell out, I wished afterwards, That I had

Anne Brad-
ford at
Walton
midwife

172

Observations in Midwifery, by

gon; so that after her death, I might have had the liberty to have
opened her body, to have seen the true cause of her ruine, which thing
was desired by the physician, and some of her relations, after her de-
parture.

The fifth day, the issuing humours were so stinking, having a
cadaverous, suffocating sent, that the room was not well endured by the
incommers, for that it caused in some of them a heaving at the stomach.

Shee slept well at Saturday at night,
before shee was well awaked, she talked idly,
and towards night shee died.

But on Sunday morning,
Shee was ill all that day,

Her midwife was very free uttering her opprobrious words against
physicians, saying, That they alwayes made work, wheresoever they came.
But it had been more for her credit, if that shee had not made such
ignorant struglings in the womb of this good woman, that was ruinated
by her doings.

The Doctour, and his wife, being her Husband's mother, related
these usages of her midwife's doings to mee, and of their daughter's
death. And I suppose, That this old, ignorant midwife, in stead of
the after-burden, took hold of some part of the neck of the womb, or
of some other part thereabouts, and, mistaking her work, shee endea-
voured to pull that away, which shee had hold of. And that shee had
made excoriations, and bruises in the womb with her fingers, and nailes,
from whence issued these noisome fluxes, shewing that the womb was
mortified. Of this opinion was her Father in law the Dr. and that the
after-burden was not drawn away by her skill, but rather, in part, ex-
pelled by nature's enforcement.

After the child is borne, the after-birth is a useles, dead piece of

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

173

flesh. It cannot slip away, if that the midwife gather it in her hand, or
take hold of it with her fingers.

Strong blasts from the month, or bokenings, caused by the finger
put into the throat, or coughing, or, most of all, sneezing hath oft driven
forth the after-burden, without the midwife's essaies to fetch it.

And, without all doubt, when the midwife hath hold on the after-
burden, and draweth gently, upon the enforcements of coughings,
sneezing &c it will come away easily.

Mercatus lib. 4. cap. 4. fol. 521 inquit, Primb considerandum est,
an incuria obstetricis, vel aha occasione, secunda intrb se receperit, et, an
ab utero separata sit, aut alicui parti affixa Turn, quidem, ante aliud
auxilium, sinistram manum oleo lilior. albor., aut dialthsese illitam in pro-
fundum uteri obstetrix hnmittat, et captam secundinam leniter alliciat.
Quod si in ejus extractione, plurimum sanguinis fluat, laudatur karabe
pulverizati 3J in vino, quod urinas moveat, secundas pellat, et sanguinem
fluentem sistat. Prseterea de numero eorum auxiliorum, quse ad
secundar. propulsionem plurimum valere comperimus, unum porro ster-
nutatio est, ut millies, experimento facillimo, confirmari potest. Dr.
Harvey saith fol. 520, That the secondine being torn off from the womb,
the greater part of the blood, which flowes afterwards, doth issue, not
from the conception, but from the uterus it self.

I received this letter July the 17. 1670.

On Munday last was moneth, about nine of the clock in the
morning, my wife had a miscarriage, I being then gone to London a
day, or two before. And shee tells mee, That, about a fortnight after

174

Observations in Midwifery, by

her miscarriage, shee being very weak, and not very well at stomach,
had some cordiall, and also purgative things prescribed, and, amongst
other things, a certain quantity of Axon root, of which shee had not
taken above twice, or thrice, before shee begun to bee seized with a
violent flux of blood, which hath ever since come in great quantities ;
once, at lest, but, for the most part, twice in 24 houres, with many
lumps, as it were, of clottered blood. Her distemper, as to the flux of
blood, is not altogether so violent, as it hath been. But shee is very
weak, sick at stomach, troubled with pain, sometimes in her armes, and,
at other times, in her breast, and head. Shee takes very little sleep,
and is much troubled with something, that seemes to arise from her
stomach into her throat, and almost takes away her breath. Shee was
never troubled with any fits of the mother, and shee tells mee, shee is
certain that all came cleare away after the miscarriage. All which makes
mee more doubtfull of the cause of her distemper, and very desirous of
your advice in the busines. I would, therefore, earnestly intreat you,
if, by any meanes, you can, to do mee the kindnes, as to come over
hither, which I shall take as a great obligation. But, if any unavoidable
occasions will not permit you to come at present, yet bee pleased to
send mee such directions, and prescriptions, as you shall judge conveni-
ent. But, if, by any meanes, you can come, you can no way more obliege

Your affectionate friend
W. S.

I was not, at that time, permitted to go unto her. Before the
Apothecary had prepared my prescripts, directed for her recovery, shee
became well, and the flux of blood stayed a fortnight. After this time
shee againe flouded violently.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

175

Through my son's comming to supply my place, I was permitted
to visit this worthy good woman. The day before I came the flux of
blood stayed. Shee willed the women to keep, and to shew mee what
came from her, the day afore, with the blood. They brought me a bason
of water, in which severall skins, and lumps of flesh were swimming in
the water. After this shee had no more issues of bloud.

Many good medicines bee blamed without any just cause. The
cordiall, to which the Aron roots were added, was to comfort, and
to strengthen the stomach, and to cleanse the womb.

And, had not these fleshy lumps, and skins come away, and so
the womb purged of the remaining part of the secondine, in probability,
shee would have fallen into severall distemperatures, and, at the last,
some ulcer, or cancer, or mortification would have seized on the womb,
and have ruinated her body. I caused a larg plaister of crude Galba-
num to bee laid upon her navel, to suppresse the vapours.

I gave her, in the morning, the powder of prepared amber, mixt
with the yolk of an egge, and a little nutmeg, to cleanse the womb.

To keep her body open, sometimes at night shee took a few
graines of pil. cephalica magistralis, as graines three, to which (if more
need required) a scruple of rhubarb powdered was added. This gave
her two, or three stools the next morning, without any offence, not, any
way, disquieting her body.

When shee could not sleep, shee took, sometimes, two, or three
graines of pil. pacifica hora somni.

This pil is a great cordial, it quieteth the raging humours, and

176

Observations in Midwifery, by

Remem-
ber the
Countess
of Che-
sterfield

Fluxes

of blood.

stoppeth violent flaxes of blood, without hindering the cleansing of the
womb.

Thus, through God's permission, and mercy, shee was soon re-
covered.

Though a great part of the after-burden was taken away by the
midwife's hand, yet some part remained in her body, as was made mani-
fest by the lumps of flesh, and the bloud, which came, and issued from
her after so long a time.

It also comforteth a weake, consumptive body, and keepeth the
woman from miscarrying; but when labour approacheth, it then doth
not hinder, or put off labour, but helpeth the woman to bee more easily
delivered.

Goodwife Menil.

Fluxes of blood, before, in, and after delivery, bee dangerous, and
hazard the lives of severall women ; and, as some live, so many perish
of this infirmity.

Alice, the wife of Edmund Fern, of upper Bonsall, after two
moneths going with child, had the reds appearing on her, after the
usuall manner of monethly courses, for foure moneths together, but
they ever stopt at night.

Then, after this time, every three weeks, and that in abundance,
yet they stopt alwayes at night.

About a fortnight before her labour, shee had the reds, flowing
for three dayes together very many, every morning, but they alwayes
stopt at night.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

177

Shee had some grumbling pains Sep. the 24 1661. Her waters
gathered, and flowed Sep. 27, breaking without enforcement. After
this shee continued in paine.

I came to her September the 30th, about foure in the afternoon,
and found her weeping, and walking in her house. All these passages
shee related to mee, despairing much of her life, and still continuing in
pain.

I desired her to lie down upon her truckle-bed, and covered her
with a blanket. I anointed her back with oile of charity, and laid em-
plastrum de smegmate on it. I anointed the anus, and the birth-place
with Balsamum Hystericum, and found, that, with straining, shee had
much thrust forth the piles.

I conveyed a spoonfull of Balsamum Hystericum to the mouth of
the matrix. I gave her a clyster of milk, made with sugar, turpentine,
and the yolk of an egge, in respect that the birth of the child seemed
to bee far off.

But shee could not keep it. Her paines increasing, I conveyed
more of the Balsamum Hystericum into the passages of the womb.

Quickly, after this, shee was delivered, and was troubled no more
with any flux of blood.

Being put into her bed I gave her a spoonfull of oile of charity.
By it's virtue, shee was freed of all the sufferings of the after paines.

The child was weak when it was born, and some of the women
would have it dead before shee was delivered.

I dissolved hard white sugar in small cinamon water, and, after-

Balsa-
mum
Hyste-

Oileof
Charity.

178

Observations in Midwifery, by

wards, put some Balsamum Hystericum to it. I gave it a spoonfull of
this mixture. The child recovered, aud that night was christened, and
was named Mary.

I heard from tins woman three moneths afterwards, and, then,
both mother, and child were living, and in good health. Such a vari-
able, and continuing flux of blood I never heard of afore, and that both
lived.

Saturday Feb. the first 1667, Mary, the wife of Roger Earing,
of S. Albnan's parish in Darby, being great with child, flouded, and
complained of great pain, that girded her under her stomach, which was
removed by an ordinary clyster.

I gave her filipendula roots poudered, with white amber prepared,
and a few graines of an unripe gall in a caudle, with nutmeg, and sugar.
But the medicine did little good.

Shee flouded, with intermissions, five dayes ; and, the sixth day in
the afternoon, violently, in great quantity, with clots of blood. It gave
over for foure houres. At night, about ten of the clock, shee was sud-
denly delivered with little paine, and then shee lost more blood ; but it
stopt of it self.

Her midwife endeavoured to bring away the after-burden, and had
much lacerated it. But, fearing her life, left off farther proceedings.

I was again sent for. I fetched away a great part of it, and durst
not struggle, or search any more for the rest. And, to prevent farther
flouding, I gave her the white and yolk of an egge beaten together, and
mixt with a caudle, to drink.

Shee oft fainted, but, by spirting aqua vitas into her nostrils, shee

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

179

still revived. Shee looked very pale, and was thirsty, and weake,
desiring drink. I gave her again the caudle with the egge. Shee con-
tinued all that night sickish, and fainting ; but was still preserved by
spirting aqua vitse into her nostrils.

About two houres after my comming, I gave her pulvis Castorei
compositus with mithridate, and more caudle to drink. Shee was, in a
manner, senseles, but revived much at the taking of the medicine. Shee
slept well the latter part of the night. The next morning, the other
part of the after-burden came away, when shee made water. After the
taking of the egge shee nouded no more.

Her child was weak, yet it did suck, and seemed to gather
strength. It lived two dayes, and then died.

Though these children may seeme lively, yet they hardly live after
flouding. But, for the most part, usually, they bee all still-born.

There was a young Gentlewoman after her delivery, that, all the
time of her moneth, and, afterwards, lost much blood, with clottered
lumps, which pashed from her, and this infirmity continued some seven
weeks. I gave her the prepared powder of white amber, with the yolk
of an egge. This medicine did little good. I added to it the powder
of filipendula roots. It did not prevaile. At last I put to it the powder
of an unripe gall, and, in thrice taking, it quite stopt the flux, and the
medicine was thus composed.

ft pul. succini 3j pul. rad. fihpend. 3s pul. gal. immatur. gr. yj np
Shee took this in a caudle.

If need require, augment the powder of the gall. Remember
Lucy Yaughan, abundance of great clotted lumps of blood.

El
Hu.

180

Observations in Midwifery, by

Hatton.

Audly was

the other

Dr.

Hatton.

In the yeare 1637

I was sent for by a right Honorable Countess, that had gone with
child some twelve or fourteen weekes. Shee had suffered a flux of
blood.

To prevent miscarrying I let her blood, and gave her astringent
cordials, and juleps, intreating her Honour to stirre little, and to lie, or
rest much on her pallet-bed. By tins course the flux was stopt for a
fortnight, and then it began again.

Her Honour was too squeamish, to her great prejudice. There-
fore I desired my Lord to grant mee some assistance. So two Doctors
of Physic were sent for. One of them conceived that the Countesse
was not with child. But I imagined the contrary, and the event proved
him deceived m his opinion.

After some seven, or eight dayes they left her (as was supposed)
indifferent well. But that afternoon, shee grew ill, and was all over her
body very cold, and shivered.

I desired her Honour to be pleased to go into bed, and I put severall
stone bottles, filled with hot water, about her, wrapped in napkins.
These caused a great sweat, and, in it, came from her, ab utero, very
noisome purgings, and a sharp feaver seized on her. I desired my Lord
to send for her physicians again.

One of them came, and, after his comming, shee suffered a great
flux of blood, and then hee would have her let blood again. At which
my Lord was troubled. Tor this Dr. had formerly (but in private) in-
formed my Lord, That I had don ill to let her blood, and that now
(forgetting liimself) hee would have let her blood againe. My Lord

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

181

would have had mee to have called him knave, for his private wronging
mee, with his backbiting words. But I was silent, and did not obey
my Lord's command, although he deserved ill at my hands.

At this Doctor's command, her arm was bound, and I ready to
open the vene. But her Honour willed us to forbeare, and to retire.
So I loosed the ligature.

Shee used her close-stoole, and filled nigh a fourth part of it with
blood, the which the Dr. seing, he desisted from letting her blood.

This Dr. gave her, sometimes, purges, at other times, cordials.
And, I think, hee was puzled in his judgment, for that shee continued
flouding, but not in so violent a manner.

And shee oft avoided some small lumps of flesh, with severall
substances, like the stalkes of raisins, hard, and blackish, the which I
shewed to him, and desired to know what these might signifie. But hee
would give mee no answer, not knowing what to say, or think. After
this followed much griping pain in her belly, whereupon it was anointed
with the oile of mace, and sweet almonds, and the oile of nutmegs.
And, afterwards, was applied a pancake, by his directions, made of twice
so many yolks of egges, with half their whites, in which, by beating,
was mixt some caroway seeds bruised, and turpentine, and so fried in a
pan with butter, and oile, without stirring, which, between two thin linen
cloths, was applied warme to the belly. And that day came from her
an abortion, putrefied, having the armes and legs rotted off. Afterward
came severall lumps of the after-birth with blood. Shee suffered severall
relapses, but, at last, her Honour was recovered, and, afterwards, shee
conceived again, and, in due time, had a son, now living, Anno 1669.

182

Observations in Midwifery, by

A brother in law, a very loving friend, and a well-wisher to his
wife's sister, came behind his sister in law, and, in a sporting way, put-
ting his hands under her armes, and breasts, lifted her from the ground,
and gave her two or three jogs, or shakes. Shee, being then with child,
within few weeks afterwards, shee fiouded, and, so miscarried. And
this affliction did adhere unto her body, and nigh the time of her de-
livery, shee alwayes miscarried of severall children.

So it is made manifest, That any violent motion is hurtfull, and
dangerous to women with child.

Being great with child, and having not long to go, shee came to
mee, in hopes, to prevent this miscarrying. I was not willing then to
trouble her with medicines, but promised her to use my best endeavours
for her delivery.

Not long after, shee sent unto mee, to let mee know, That her
waters were broken ; but, for that Shee was in no pain, shee permitted
mee the favour to keep my bed.

Some foure houres after I went unto her, about nine in the morn-
ing, and, finding her to rest quietly, and void of pain, I was not willing
to trouble her, but I onely desired to see some of her wet closiers. Shee
brought forth one full of blood from her body, (the which shee supposed
had been but wetted with her water) and her bed, and linens were filled
with much blood. Whereupon I removed her into a dry bed, and the
flux was stopped.

Two, or three dayes after I delivered her, but the child was borne
dead January the eighteenth, 1665, the winch, I conceive, perished in
the flux of blood, that shee last suffered.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

183

I sent her case unto a worthy Gentleman,, being a learned, and ex-
pert Doctor in Physick, and hee returned answer, That there would bee
but small hopes of better succes, and that shee was ever likely to mis-
carry.

It was my good hap to read a story in this kind, and I resolved to
make use of it.

And, contrary to hope, after that shee was again quick with child,
according to my Auctor's prescript, I gave her twice a week a strength-
ening trochise, that was, withall, a little purging, which gave her two,
or three stooles those dayes, that shee took it, purging gently, not at all
disquieting her body; and a drying diet drink, which shee drank of
every day.

Shee went forth her full time, and was freed of flouding, and of
the danger of miscarrying, and was happily delivered, by her midwife, of
a living daughter, that, at this instant, is strong, and spritefull, and, in
probability, likely long to live 167^.

Since that time, shee conceived again. I would have had her to
have used the same medicines the second time, but shee was not willing
to follow my requests, yet shee went forth her full time without any
issue of blood, and was delivered of another daughter, that was born
alive, but the child, being weake, it lived about eleven dayes, and then
died.

I beleeve that this weak child might have lived, if that shee had
taken the same course the second time, as was desired.

My Auctor mentioneth the same passage in his report, Hee would
have had his patient to have taken the same course againe the fifth time,

184

Observations in Midwifery, by

5
Win-
stand-

ly.

Midwife
Heywood.

but shee hearkened not. So when her time came, shee was brought to
bed of a dead child.

February the 12 1668 I came to a Gentlewoman, that was gone
some twelve weeks with child. Shee had suffered a great pash, or flow-
ing of the reds, but it stopt of itself that night. I stayed with her six
dayes, and, in all that time, shee was no way disquieted in her body, and
so I returned to my house.

Some weeks after this, shee had some small driblings of the waters,
and was perswaded, by the midwife, that tins watery flux was no more,
but what was familiarly incident to women with child, and that shee
would do well with it. Upon her assurance, neglecting her owne safety,
shee took a journey, riding in her coach, and went to visit her friends,
and kindred in the April following. Upon this journey, the waters
issued in a larger quantity, and so increasing by the space of seven
weeks. After her journey shee miscarried.

June 22, 1669.

A worthy, good woman, having gone six moneths, or longer, with
child, whether upon a fright, or otherwise, had on her a dribling of the
waters for severall weeks continuance. Shee acquainted nobody, but
her midwife, of this her infirmity, for which her midwife gave her
drinks, assuring her, That this flux was nothing else, but the whites.

But this flux continuing, and daily increasing, did cause an abor-
tion. Her midwife made a great bustle to fetch away the after-birth,
and, with her strivings, shee caused a flux of blood.

The midwife's doings put this Gentlewoman to much pain, where-

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

185

upon this good woman, with others of the company, desired that I
should bee sent for.

At my comming, the midwife told mee, That shee had brought
part of the after-burden away, and that shee feared that the other part
was left in her body.

Some of the women thought that I would have made a new
searching for it. But I did not offer any such thing, or doings.

I desired her to keep her bed, and to He warm, and quiet, and,
when shee could, to sleep. I also willed her, if that shee felt any pain
in her belly, at that time to hold her breath, and gently to force her self,
as though shee would endeavour to breake wind, and, at those times, to
stroke down her belly.

In the morning, after this night's rest, shee was desirous to make
water, at winch time the other part of the after-burden came away, and
dropped into the chamber-pot, and shee since is well recovered.

When waters issue, and dribble long, bee assured that the mem-
branes bee thin, or are cracked, through which the waters leake ; and,
if it will not bee stopped, abortion will assuredly follow. Shee hath
beene since delivered of a living son.

Dr. Harvey saith fol. 521

I have often seen waters burst forth in the midst of the going
with child, without abortion, the child remaining safe, and strong, even
to the birth.

But hee maketh no mention, what the event may prove, if it con-
tinue any time.

186

Observations in Midwifery, by

May the twenty third 1669 Mrs Mary Mercer had a flux of the
reds. Shee sent unto rnee, and desired my directions. But, afore her
messenger returned, the flux stayed, so shee took nothing at that time.

Shee flouded again June 22 violently, from ten in the morning,
untill foure in the afternoon, at which time came from her a lump of flesh,
resembling a chicken's liver, and then the flux ceased. I came to her
about twelve that night, and her mother shewed mee this lump of flesh.

But her paines continued, and would not suffer her to sleep, or to
take any rest. The next morning shee cried out of the pain in her belly,
and back.

I thought that shee might bee in strong labour. After searching,
I found the womb open, and the child unbedded. Within a little space,
afterwards, shee was delivered, by her own strength, through nature's
enforcements, of a very little child, which was living, and forthwith
baptized. It was wrapt in clouts, not otherwise dressed, and laid aside,
supposed to bee dead, presently after that it was baptized.

But an houre after it was heard to cry. Then more care was
taken to put it into warmer cloths.

This child was very small, and about some thirteen, or fourteene
inches long, of which shee miscarried about the sixth moneth.

The child would suck milk, and water, mixed together, from a
spoon, and died between seven and eight the next morning, about the
same houre, in which it was born.

I beleeve, That, in these fluxes of blood, and driblets of water,

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

187

that the womb is alwayes open ; If water issue onely, then the mem-
branes to bee cracked, or grown very thin, and so, leasurely, the water
leakes forth.

If blood onely, then some part of the after-birth to bee loosed,
and separated from adhering to the sides of the womb.

When blood issueth forth in a larg quantity, it is good to deliver
the woman speedily. Otherwise, through the long continuance of the
losse of much blood, the woman is likely to perish.

I conceive that the circulation of the blood, passing through the
venes of the secondine, (called the placenta uterina) being separated
from some part of the womb, and having their orifices laid open, do cause
tins flouding ; for that the flux ceaseth, when that the placenta uterina
is totally separated, and drawn forth of the body.

Eluxes of blood too frequently prove fatal!.

I knew three good women, the first flouded 1665, the second
flouded 1666; The third flouded 1667. And this flux of blood con-
tinued, with some intermissions, for three, or foare weekes. These women
hoped, that the flux would have ceased of it self. But, through the oft
returning, with the losse of much blood, they all (seeking for no help)
died undelivered, none mistrusting any danger of death.

If the flouding come from the outward part (or the vagina uteri)
the womb is closed, and the woman hath no throwes, or likelyhood of
delivery, having no paines.

In this case, it is not needfull to meddle with the woman, by
using forcible wayes to cause delivery.

Mrs.

Benbrick

Gilbert

Okeover

7: 8: 9:

188

Observations in Midwifery, by

But you must proceed to medicines, internally, and externally
used, or applied, to eoole the body, and stay the flux of blood ; in which,
before the evil hath had too long a continuance, take the counsell of a
learned Physician.

I knew a learned physician, that used such prescripts, as followeth.

R aq. plantag. liss. syr. de symph. de corallis aa 3j SJ*- de
papav. et portul. aa 5s 1f9? fiat julap. capiat ^iij pro vice, hora qualibet
tertia.

Emplastrum ad herniam q. s. cujus circuitus obducatur galbano.
Apphcetur umbilici regioni statim.

I£ mosch. gr. ij cons. flor. consolid. q. s. fiant pil. et deaurentur
statim.

B bol. Armen. et lap. Hoematit. subtilissime pulv. aa 3s. sang,
draconis, succi alb. coral, rub. pp. aa 3j s. a. fiat pulvis subtilissimus,
add. sacch. rosati ad pondus omnium, pro vice capiat 9j. statim a
sanguinis missione, et repetatur hora somni, et sic postea mane, et serb
superbibat haustum posset, decoct, fol. plantag. et symph.

Hora somni sumat Diacod. 3s m haustu posset, prescript, assu-
mendo prius dosin pulver. prescript.

Hee alwayes caused to bee in a readines thin cinamon water 3iij-
Also sp. castor. 3s.

The juice of mints, boiled in water, and sweetened with fine
sugar, and drunk three dayes together, cureth the pain in the belly, and
colick, and stoppeth the inordinate issue of menstruous blood.

By the counsell of three Doctors in physic this prescript following

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

189

was prescribed for an Honourable good Lady, that was troubled
with great weaknes, and too abundant over-flowing of the menstruous
courses.

ft coral, rub. et margar. prepar. aa 3rj lapid. Hsemat. ter. sigill.
croci Martis aa, 3ij oculor. cancr. 3j spodii eboris aa 3js ol. nuc. mos-
chatse per expressionem gut. iiij sacchar. ^iiij aq. rosar. q. s. fiant
tabellse.

The juice of bursa pastoris, given to drink, is much commended
by women to stay this flux.

Purvis Stegnoticus Dni Caspari Guttuarii descript. a Philippo
Hectistetetero fol. 2.

ft succin. alb. pp. corn. cerv. usti aa 3i lapid. setit. nuclei in-
terioris 3J lapid. hsemat. pp. corallor. rubror. solutor. terr. sigillat. verse
aa 5J Corneoli pp. 3j omnia in pulverem tenuissimum redacta 19?
Dabit adultis in magno fluore, maxime post partuin, drachmam unam,
in aliis tantundem. In dysenteriis, etiam diarrhseis, et aliis fluxibus, aut
hsernorrhagiis, junioribus drachmam semis, aut pro setate, eum conveni-
enti.

R pulveris stegnotici 3J aq. plantag. utrivsq, burs, pastoris, tor-
mentil. aa 5J tabel. manus cbristi perlatse %s iy> fiat haustus. Terri-
bilem sanguinis fluxum a quovis loco sistit. penis 12.

Quidam felicissime usus est syr. de plantag. simpl. in penis
hsemorrhagia sine febre et calculo, ubi, ob dilatat. colatorimn, sanguis
fluxit. Est omnis hsemorrhagia in tali casu maligna calamitosa imb
ssepissime lethalis.

190

Observations in Midwifery, by

Laudauit olim inagnus ille Pharmacopeeus Sigarhes junior syrupum
de plantagine compositum in hsemorrhagiis, cujus heec est descriptio.

I£ succ. plantag. ^viij aq. rosar. li. ij spodii, nucis cupressi, balau
stior. sumach, sang. drac. gum. arab. mastiches, olib. gallar. hypocestid.
eboris, lapid. hsemat. aa 5§ sacchar. q. s. fiat artis lege syrupus. Philip-
pus Heckstetterus in casu tertio in nimia hsemorrhagia narium, et penis
lethalis fol. 10.

Dr Wilham Sermon fol. 150 of the English midwife saith

R. of the distilled water of hog's dung 4 spoonfull at a time, iij or
iiij times. Or give to the woman foure or five graines of the ashes of
a toad in the water aforesaid, and it prevaileth, when no other medicine
will take place, and will stop any other flux of blood, taken, as aforesaid.
With this very medicine, hee saith, I have cured many, by giving it in-
wardly, and by bloAving it up into the nostrils of such, as have been, as it
were, dead by bleeding at the nose. And it is as safe as new milk, if it
bee well prepared.

And fol. 152. You may, with a syring, inject the juices of
comfry, and plantane into the womb. Or, dissolve a small quantity of
gum Dragon, and gum arabick in plantane water, and inject it into the
womb. Or, take amber, dragons blood, sealed earth, pomegranate pils,
fine bole, galls, red roses, frankincense, comfry roots of each a like
quantity, make them into fine powder, and, with the juice of comphry,
make it into a past, mixing therewith a little cotton, and make a pessary
thereof, about the length of a woman's finger, and put it up into the
womb. This doth not onely stop the violent flax of blood, but also
contracts the secret parts to the same narrownes, as they were before the
bringing forth of the children.

[Traga-
canth]

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

191

[These bee the sayings of Dr Wm Sermon, in whose English mid-
wife, or Ladie's Companion, bee severall good notes, worthy to bee
taken notice of, and followed by such, as know how to make use of good
medicines.]

Mrs. Jane Sharpe commendeth a strong decoction of the roots,
and leaves of plantane, after that it is clarified with whites of egges,
and made into a syrup. Dosis, a spoonful, or two, in violet water, or
water of lillies. Pol. 206 : her 6 book.

" Ex libris nemo evasit artifex no man becomes a workman by book.
So that unles they have had some insight in the art, and bee, in some
sort, acquainted both with the termes of art, as also with the knowledg and
use of the instrument thereto belonging, if, by reading this, or any other
book of the like nature, they become chirurgions, I must needs liken them
(as Galen doth another sort of men) to pilots by book onely ; to whose care,
I think, none of us would commit his safety at sea ; nor any, if wise,
will commit themselves to these at land, or sea either, unles wholly
destitute of others.'"

At all times, the losse of much blood, or flouding is dangerous
in women with child, and in severall of them, both mother and child
have perished.

In the year 1632 I was sent for to a worthy good woman, being
great with child. Shee had an issue of blood, not continually, but oft
flowing from her. In probability, it came from the venes in vagina uteri.
Shee had a good, fresh countenance, and was the mother of many
children.

That night, in which I came unto her, I intreated her to bee

192

Observations in Midwifery, by

pleased to take a mollifying clyster, to facilitate her birth, and to coole
her body. For, at that time, shee had the issue of blood on her.

But shee was unwilling, and desired to bee quiet that night.
Before morning, shee had lost much blood, and, in the morning, the
waters flowed, and, then, the issue of blood stayed. Shee was very
faint, yet, in her weaknes, the child had entered through a great part of
the bones, and would come no farther by nature's enforcement, nor was
shee any more releeved by her midwife.

Being much moved by the Knight that brought mee thither, as
also by her good, and loving Husband, being unwilling to use any
violence, I objected, what if the child should bee alive ? Her husband
prayed mee to use any meanes to save his wife's life, and a Priest, stand-
ing by him, willed mee, whether the child should bee living, or dead,
to proceed, not valuing the child's life, saying, That, without all doubt,
the child already was, or shortly would bee a Saint in heaven. Where-
upon I went unto the Gentlewoman, and with her desire, and consent,
I drew the child with the crochet, and shee was quickly delivered. So
soon as shee, was delivered, shee desired Dr. Mountford's water, and
drank a draught of it. Shee did not floud afterwards, yet fainted away
by degrees, and died some five houres after in the night, through the
losse of much blood, which, formerly, shee had suffered.

The child was dead before I drew it. The child was faire, and
great, and it had no ill savour, and it was not, in any part, flayed, or the
skin gon off the body.

Goodwife Oldam, a fisherman's wife in Darby, 1634, for severall
days together, nigh the time of her travailing, lost great store of blood,
having no throws, or pain, to move delivery.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

193

Towards her ending, I was called to her, and, seing her fainting,
and her spirits spent, and finding no pulse, or one very weake, I gave
her a cordiall, but I told the women, for all that shee was very sensible,
that, through the losse of her blood, shee would quickly die. The wo-
men did not beleeve my words, the which they found true within the
space of three houres following.

After her death shee was opened. In the small bowel ileon was
found a double convolvulus, which made her oft to vomit. It troubled
mee much afterwards, that I had forgotten to search whether the orifice
of the womb was open.

I suppose that it was not opened, for that shee had not any pain,
or signe of labour. A great child was found in the womb, inclosed in
the membranes, and swimming in the waters ; which (too late) caused
mee to doubt, whether this issue of blood came per uteri vaginam, ex-
ternally ; or internally, ab utero.

If the flux of blood come from the vagina uteri, I suppose the
aforegoing cordials may do some good.

But, if the flux of blood come from the inner part of the womb,
the midwife, or chirurgion, sliding up his anointed hand into the first
entrance of the naturall parts, must take out all the clots of blood, (if
there bee any to bee found) before hee endeavoureth to deliver the
woman.

Afterwards, if that the inward neck of the womb bee not suffici-
ently dilated, then shall hee, as gently as hee possible can, and without
violence, anoint those parts with fresh butter, or rather use Balsamum
Hystericum, and then, with his fingers, to stretch the os uteri by little,
and little, untill hee can put in his hand into the womb.

194

Observations in Midwifery, by

Anson.
3

If the waters bee not broken, hee needs not to bee afraid to let
them forth. Then, presently, if the child commeth with his head for-
niost, hee shall turn him (in the woman's weaknes) to find his feet, and
so deliver the woman speedily by the child's feet, as hath, in severall
places, been directed.

I was sent for into Staffordshire, to visit a woman, that had some-
times flouded, but it was stayed October the eight 1668.

The ninth of October shee had a pash of blood in the morning,
and another about foure in the afternoone ; but, with astringent, cooling
medicines, the flux was quickly stopt.

The rest of the day, and night following, all things succeeded

well.

October the eleventh I was sent for by an Honourable Lady, big
with child, to whom I had been formerly engaged. This sudden newes
did much trouble her, and all that day, afterwards, shee had moisture
comming from her, but no blood.

Shee thought, that shee should have gone two, or three moneths
longer ; and, upon my assurance, That I would not stay much from her,
and that I would not forsake her, but that I speedily would return again,
shee was chearfull, and took good rest, and slept well all that night, and
the issue was stopt, and her linens about her were very dry the next
morning, and shee, fearing no sudden danger, permitted mee my liberty
to go to this Lady.

So I came to Darby October the twelfth. But, about foure a
clock that afternoon, shee again flouded, and so continued all that night,
and the next day, losing much blood.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

195

That night I was sent for again, and came to her about foure in
the afternoon, October the thirteenth.

I found all the women lamenting, and, with her, two Doctors of
Physick, giving her cordials to support her spirits, and three midwives
to assist her.

Shee was very cold ; and her pulse was gone, yet very sensible,
rejoycing to see mee, and desirous of help.

I certified the Physicians, and midwives, with the rest of the com-
pany, privately, That I beleeved, That shee would not recover, being
thus weakened, through the losse of much blood.

Yet, in this extremity, I told the Physicians, and the midwives,
that it was the best way (if possible) speedily to deliver her; and that
it was the onely, and last refuge left to save her life. To my opinion
the midwives and physicians forthwith consented.

Wliilest that shee kneeled, I placed my self behind her, I slid up
my anointed hand, I found the womb a little open, yet so narrow, that I
could not well put up my finger. But, with my fingers closed together,
I supplied the use of a speculum matricis, and easily dilated the orifice
of the womb ; which, without any strugling, in a trice, (to my great
wonder) sufficiently opened. I forced open the bed, in which the child
was involved, by tearing the coats with my fingers, and the waters issued.
I quickly brought forth the dead child by the feet, without strugling,
or trouble. And the after-burden was as easily drawn away, and shee
flouded no more. The child was' not at perfect growth.

Nevertheles the cordials proved too weak to reinforce heat, or
strength into her body, or to restore her pulse. Shee fainted more, and

aa 2

196

Observations in Midwifery, by

more, by degrees, and, about an houre after her delivery, shee fell into
her last sleep.

Flouding doth most endanger the mother's life ; the driblings, or
issue of the waters, the infant, and either, or both may bring (if not
helped) a ruine to the mother, and the child.

After her death, I was much troubled, and grieved, That I was so
unfortunate to leave this woman for so short a space.

I, therefore, intreat, and advice all midwives, not to leave their
women, if they find them apt to floud, and not to suppose the danger
past, although it seemeth to bee quite stopped; but to consult with
physicians, what is best to bee done, and to remember,

That the oftener the flouding return eth, that the more danger it
threateneth, and that the sooner it will come againe.

And that, whensoever their women have fluxes of waterish
humours, mixed with these intermitting pashes of blood, to suppose,
That they will not stay long before that they fall into travaile, or some
other danger, -if not delivered.

And, whensoever the blood issueth in great abundance, to endea-
vour without any farther delay, or consultation, speedily to deliver the
woman by the child's legs, otherwise, both mother, and child will perish
together.

As I have said, so still I conceive, that the cause of flouding is
the separating of some part of the after-birth from the sides of the womb,
and when these venes bee emptied, that then the flux stayeth, untill,
upon repast, they bee againe filled, and then these venes, having their
mouths open, do floud, and so will continue flouding, by intermissions,

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

197

untill the foetus bee produced, or the woman, through losse of bloud,
bee deprived of her life.

Therefore, in this sudden, sad, and deadly condition, the best way
to save life will bee, speedily to open the womb ; afterwards, to break the
membranes, or coats, in which the infant is inclosed, and, by the child's
feet, quickly to deliver the woman, and then to fetch the after-birth.

Otherwise, the mother, with the child, will perish, through the
continuall losse of blood ; and it is not possible, in this case, otherwise
to releeve the woman. Cordials will afford small comfort. It is delivery,
and only delivery, that must do the deed. See Guillimeau.

After delivery, these issues of blond ab utero stop of themselves.

There was a Gentlewoman in Darbyshire Anno 1667, that, about
the thirtieth week of her going with child, began to floud, with several!
intermissions, stopping oft for a week, or longer time. Thus shee con-
tinued for the space of five weeks, or longer. All which time shee sought
for no help, but trusted to her midwife's ignorant skill. At last, through
continuance, these fluxes came the oftener together.

January the twenty ninth day shee violently fiouded. It stayed
January the thirtieth, and, in the one and thirtieth day, shee avoided
severall stinking clots of blood, and fainted.

I was from home, and too late, a physician was sent for.
her cordials, but they nothing availed.

Hee gave

February the first, about eight in the morning, the flux stayed, but
her spirits being ruinated, through the losse of blood, shee died that
day (undelivered) about twelve of the clock.

Mrs.
Ok.

198

Observations in Midwifery, by

I was called to Sarah Cordine a vintner's wife in Darby 1663.
Shee having flouded a week, or longer time, when I came to her, some
of her kindred thought that shee was in no danger, and desired mee to
direct them some cordials, to give her.

I told them, That they had deferred time too long, and that I
much feared her weaknes. Shee was weak, and much spent with her
sufferings, which made mee unwilling to lay her.

But, at last, being much intreated by her self, and her friends, to
help her, I thought it not my part to forsake her dejected, and languish-
ing, and to leave her with uncomfortable prognosticks. After that I
had placed her kneeling, being behind her, I put up my hand, well
anointed, and I found the womb open. I presently brake the membranes,
containing the waters, in which the child was bedded, and drew the dead
child forth immediately by the feet. The dead child was of no great
bignes, and it was not, in any part, altered or corrupted.

After the delivery, shee spake chearfully to mee, and to her friends,
and seemed to bee much releeved. To comfort her spirits, and to re-
store her weaknes, I was prescribing some directions. But a sudden,
unexpected faintnes, comming upon her, stopt the use of my prescrip-
tions, and terminated her dayes.

And thus experience maketh apparent, how necessary it is, speedily
to deliver a woman with child, when a flux of bloud, or convulsions do
go afore the birth, or that they accompany the woman's body in time
of her travaile, and when shee will not bee saved by ordinary medicines.
These fluxes of blood, and convulsions usually cease after the woman is
delivered.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

199

After delivery, sometimes, though seldome, fluxes of blood happen
to women ; immediately, or not long after, following the birth. I have
known a few, that have recovered these fluxes ; but I have heard of
many, from midwives, and other women, that they have died of them.

I hold the flux of blood deadly after delivery, if it bee great, I
never heard of any woman, that escaped, but that they all perished.

I was sent for June the fourth 1662 ; to come to a woman, dwell-
ing at Wavertoffe, nigh Castle-Dunnington. Her midwife could not
deliver her.

The arme came first. I turned the birth, and shee was soon de-
livered of a living child, by the child's feet. That night shee had a
great pash of the reds, and so every night, or other night.

They hoped, that shee would have amended, and, not taking many
medicines, nor so carefully attended, as might have been, within a fort-
night shee died of this infirmity.

After a troublesome labour about 1638 1 was sent for to a woman
to Kyrk-Halam. I delivered her, and, to my thinking, shee was safely
laid in her bed, and so I went from her. How it happened, I know not,
but, afore the next morning, shee flouded, and so died.

By a good woman I had this report related to mee. A kinswo-
man of her's, a minister's wife, after delivery, had a draught of burnt
muscadine given her. It set her a coughing, and that brought a flouding
on her, of which, within two houres, shee died.

To releeve, and help the danger of flouding, the complete mid-
wife's practice ordereth to give her the yolk of an egge. For that
recalls the naturall heat to the stomach, which was dispersed through

The

Arm.

200

Observations in Midwifery, by

the whole body. Also, to dip a napkin in Oxycrate, or vinegar and
water, and to lay it all along the renes of the woman's back. Or to lay
upon each groine a skene of raw silk, moistened in water.

Mercatus de immodico sanguinis flnxu post partum lib. 4. cap. ix
fol. 527. hsec habet verba.

Verum si immodicissima fuerit sanguinis profusio, ad queeq. auxilia,
quantumvis gravia, deveniendum; ac satius quidem existimo, malum
aliquod utero, aut toti corpori infere, sanguine suppresso, quam, in vita?
desperatione, dubium periculum vereri ; prsesenti, et graviori, posthabito.
Quamobrem scito, nil hujusmodi profusionibus citius subvenire, quam
viriliter comedere, ut et calor revocetur, et natura distrahatur, alliciaturq.
ad confectionem alimenti.

Sine respectu, aut uteri, aut totius corporis, in vitse desperatione,
cseteris omnibus posthabitis, ad extrema confugiendum, praesertim, cum
subsequentia mala cui'ari postea possiut. Eonchiuus fol. 195.

Reynold, the Physician, layeth linen cloths, dipped in vinegar, on
the belly, between the navell, and the secrets, and giveth of the electuary
Athanasia Micletse 3ij in plantane water.

Hartmanus Corbeias adviceth to pulverize the root filipendulee ^ij,
and to give every day a drachm of it in the yolk of an egge.

Also hee commendeth Rad. mori with red wine.

De radice filipendulae, inquit, dabo, quod sunguinem, ubicunq.
fluentem, preecipue ex utero, efficaciter sistit. Every morning a drachm
must bee given with the yolk of an egge.

Mercatus commendeth the taking of a drachm of the powder of

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

201

white amber ; for that it moveth urine, and expelleth the secondine, and
stoppeth the flowing of blood.

One Mrs Mower assured mee, that amber powdered, half a
drachm, and mixed with a little nutmeg, and given with the yolk of an
egge, and so supped up, and, after it, to drink a little glass-full of mus-
cadine, stoppeth the reds too much flowing, and that shee had cured
severall women with this medicine.

With Mrs Mower's medicine I helped a woman in Meet-street,
at London, giving it in a caudle made strong with yolkes of egges, and
a little mace. It was made with ale.

But, I beleeve, in all these, there was no violent flux of blood,
where these medicines prevailed.

But, where flouding issueth with a streame, I shall not easily bee
persAvaded, That filipendula roots, or succinum with yolkes of egges, or
such like, will at all availe.

I shall give more credence to the dung of asses, or stone horses,
or of hogs, internally taken, and outwardly used in pessaries; or
cataplasmes of these, mixed with vineger, and so, in cloths, applied to
the region of the belly. Vide Sermon p. 260.

Many have perished through this sad accident, and usually it
proves fatall to all women.

If possible, I heartily could wish, that some worthy practicer
would bee pleased to direct some powerfull wayes, or medicines, to bridle
this raging, destroying evil. Women would have cause to acknowledg
his worth, and all succeeding ages would give him thanks.

bb '

202

Observations in Midwifery, by

Beau-
mont.

This evil is never thought on, but when casually it happeneth, so
that then convenient medicines bee to seek, and ever wanting. Some
practicers say, That it commeth through putrefaction of the membranes,
or through the breach of a great vene, adhering to the secondine. I
feare, That, through the narrownes, and depth of the place, in which the
breach is, that astringent medicines cannot well bee applied in pessaries,
to reach the place. I confesse my ignorance, and I beleeve, That there
is no other, but God alone, that can do this work, to help the woman.
I suppose that astringent injections may bee somewhat available.

Eiverius pro fluxu immodico post Abortum cent. 1. obs. 96.

Qutedam mulier, post Abortum, a sanguinis fiuxu immodico
summam virium dejectionem patiebatur. Illi prsescribo frictiones, et
ligaturas superiorum, cucurbitulas sub mammis, epithemata, et pullos
columbinos, fotus manuum cum vino calente, in quo confectio Alkermes
dissoluta sit, et sequentem potionem.

H aquar. plantag. naphse, et rosar. aa $i syrup, corallor. %i salis
prunellse ^i sanguinis draconis 3s misce, fiat potio; quae statim fuit
exhibita, et inter horae quadrantem dolores ventris, et lumborum quie-
verunt, et fluxus imminutus est, ut aliis remediis non indiguerit.

Dr. William Sermon in his English midwife fol. 150. Vide 260.

Convulsions.

Convulsions bee dangerous to women with child, and, in these fits,
some women perish.

I was desired to visit a Gentlewoman, not nigh her time of de-
livery, that some times was afflicted with convulsions.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

203

Of a sudden, they seized on her, and then shee lay, for a small
time, senseles, and without motion. Presently, afterwards, her face,
mouth, and jawes would bee fearfully moved, and pulled awry, and her
eyes turned upwards.

Sometimes, for a little space, these convulsions were not so violent ;
yet, during the time of her suffering, shee was senseles ; but, after her
comming again unto her self, when her fits left her, shee could not say
that shee had felt any pain. All, that shee complained of, was, That
shee felt a wearines all over her body.

This Gentlewoman was young, and passionate, and was alwayes
feeding on good meat, or broths, or restorative cullices, gellies, or such
like; and ever carried bisket bread, with dried suckets, and cakes,
almonds, and raisins of the sun, in great store, in her pockets, with
which, both walking, and sitting, or playing at cards, shee liberally filled
her mouth, and kept her chaps in moving.

Shee went forth her full time, and recovered, and I never heard of
any miscarriage, either in her, or in her child. But I beleeve her un-
satiable appetite did much occasion these her convulsions.

I knew another woman, that was delivered by a chirurgion, having
the convulsive fits on her, her child perished. Being delivered, shee
againe recovered her senses, and lived many years after, and was a
mother of living children.

December the third 1671 Susan, the wife of Nathaniel Doughty,
being in labour, had a clyster given her by her midwife Hey wood.

An houre after, shee fell into convulsion fits. After this affliction,
__ _

Susan
Dough-

204

Observations in Midwifery, by

I was called, and the convulsion fits were upon her at my comming unto
her, and continued all the time of her delivery.

I placed her on a bed, and would have put her body into a bend-
ing posture on her knees ; yet, by reason of her convulsions, I could
not bring her body to it.

Yet I obtained a foot, but, through the straitnes of her body, and
the slipperines of the foot, and heele, I could not hold the foot, it still
slipt out of my hand. The child being dead, I endeavoured to bring
the head forth by the crochet, but it would not be thrust backwards, or
drawn forwards by the crochet, but it remained fixt in the place. So
that I could do no good by the head, in reference to the delivery. I was
much amazed at it, and was full of doubtfull feares what to do.

I fixed the crochet a little above the ancle, and by it, with my hand,
the foot was drawn forth so far, that I could well fix a ligature on it.
By the ligature it was drawn forth to the buttocks, and I found the other
foot stretched forth on the belly, the which was brought down by my
finger. Afterwards, when it was brought to the neck, I put my finger
into the child's mouth, and, by the help of a woman, drawing by the
child's feet, the head was brought forth, and the after-burden was easily
obtained ; and her convulsion fits never left her, all the time of her de-
livery, nor severall houres after.

Being put into bed, at last her fits left her, and shee became a
little sensible, but did not obtaine her perfect understanding, and thought
that shee was not delivered ; and shee continued stupid, and sottish, not
recovering her understanding, and, two dayes after, died.

In her infancy, shee was afflicted with the rickets, through which
infirmity, shee had an ill conformation of the bones. Shee suffered

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

205

several! abortions, but brought no birth to maturity, this onely excepted.
The genitall passages were very narrow, and strait.

Through the convulsions shee was weakened, and so perished in her
child -bed.

I was sent for to Boylston in Darbyshire by Ambrose Bayly, the
husband of Dorothy Bayly. I was promised to bee paid largly, and
thankfully for my going, in case that I would come unto him.

* His wife was a young woman, supposed to bee in labour of her
first child. In her childhood, and youth shee was much troubled with
convulsion fits, and they had left her for eleven yeares January the 30
1671.

January the 29 at eight a clock at night shee fell into convulsion
fits, and, without any intermission, continued in them untill past one the
next day, and senseles died in them. Within half an houre after her
departure I came to the place, and found a company of Rooks about the
house, and some at the Parsonage ; in both places making an unhand-
some (not dolefull, but) cheating cawing. Their voices, and doings were
not pleasing to mee. Not liking their company, I went away that bitter,
cold, frosty night. I found no civility in any of them, but in her
mother onely, who was afterwards Mrs. .

Thomas Raynold the Physician saith in his treatise of midwifery,
That an assess hoof, or dung, put on coales, and the fume received under
the labouring woman's cloths, will draw forth the child.

I have heard others affirme, That they have taken polypody roots,
and, being bruised, and laid to the soles of the feet, they will do the
same ; and that they have tried this medicine of polypody roots.

Doro-
thy
Bayly.

206

Observations in Midwifery, by

Mrs Sharpe saith, That agrimony roots and leaves, bruised, and
laid to the secrets, doth the same.

But, if any such thing hath, or can bee done, bee sure first to set
the birth in a right posture. Otherwise the birth will bee the more ob-
structed, and so the woman will be the more tormented, and not at all
releeved.

Observing Hippocrates first Aphorisme.

Vita brevis, ars longa, occasio praeceps, judicium difficile, experi-
entia fallax, neq. verb satis est, ea, quae facto opus sunt, praestb esse, sed
et segrum, et eos, qui praesentes sunt, et res externas, ad id probe com-
paratas esse oportet.

Knowing his words to bee true, and that this Aphorisme may bee
most usefull in the woman's bed, and the midwife's practice, I mention it.

For that I know women bee not born midwives, and that long
time, with much practice, helpeth them to understand their callings ;
and, although they may bee expert in their wayes, yet their women may
bee lost through negligent attendance, with want of necessaries.

I have heard some midwives greatly to boast of their abilities.
But, in their practice, they have shewed much ignorant simplicity, and,
when, by their violent halings, and stretching their women's bodies,
they could do no good to promote delivery, then I have been sent for.

Their doings affirme, Dulce bellum inexpertis ; and, when occasion
wanteth, that then wee think, that wee could performe wonders.

Whensoever I was called to women in distresse, I found it a
dreadfull thing unto my thoughts, humano ludere corio, and I would

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

207

willingly have desisted from this practice, had not Johannes Bohinus
victoriam damans, et inquiens, satis commode pedem unum reperio,
altered my resolution.

Although severall women, with their living children, can testify,
and have oft affirmed, That the delivery by the feet is nothing so pain-
full, as when the birth commeth by the head.

What I have said, and have oft approved most true, that eminent
person Dr Harvey fol. 491 in his discourse of the birth, hath confirmed
in these following words.

Yet, notwithstanding, in abortment, and where the fcetus is dead,
and that there should bee an hard delivery any other way, so that there
is necessity of handy work in the busines, the more convenient way, of
comming forth, is with the feet formost ; for, by that meanes, the straits
of the uterus are opened, as it were, by a wedg.

Wherefore, when the hopes of delivery relyeth chiefly upon the
fcetus, as being strong, and lively, wee must endeavour to farther his
comming out with the head formost.

But, in case the task is like to depend upon the uterus, wee must
procure his comming out with his feet formost.

By his sayings, I may well affirme, That the comming down of
the arme, and all difficult births, whatsoever, will bee better laid by the
feet, then by the head.

And, by this way, all over grown children may bee produced,
where the passages bee straight, and narrow, and the womb left dry.

Being called July the eight 1667 to Church-Broughton, to deliver

\Bau-
hinus.~]

208

Observations in Midwifery, by

Arme.

Anne.

Elianor Kniveton, the wife of Gilbert Kniveton I found three midwives
with her, and one of them had reduced the arme, with much torture to
the woman. Their skill could go no farther, they caused mee to bee
sent for. The child was dead, and the expulsive faculty of the womb
was extinct. I placed her kneeling on a bolster ; I quickly obtained
the feet, and so, without throws, 1 quickly laid her, and shee soon re-
covered.

These midwives saw mee do it, and since, shee, with her husband,
have thankfully acknowledged this my courtesy, at my house in Darby.
And shee hath had another child since that time, now living. Anno
1669.

The same birth happened to Mrs Mary Mercer of Church Ma-
field, a minister's wife in Staffordshire September the seventh 1667.

Severall midwives were with her, and one of them, with much
trouble, had reduced the arme, but could proceed no farther to help her.
I was sent for.

I soon delivered her, by the child's feet, of a dead child, con-
trary to all her midwives expectations, and her friends, there present,
without any tbrowes, or expulsion from the womb.

After delivery, shee assured her midwives, that, in respect of her
former sufferings, I had put her to no pain, but such as shee could well
endure, and, with a chearfull, smiling countenance, shee gave first God
thanks, afterwards shee thanked mee ; and we all thanked God for her
good delivery, and his mercy towards her, and shee quickly recovered.
This was the first time, that I was with her.

I have frequently seen harsh, and unhandsome proceedings, used

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

209

by young midwives ; and, sometimes, the older sort of midwives have
not been excusable of their ignorances. I have known them both
greatly to afflict their women, through their too much officious doings,
which hath oft made mee much to pity their labouring womens sorrow-
full sufferings.

Therefore, to instruct the former, and better to help the other, I
have taken these notes, and observations, desiring to do good, and to
help all women in distresse ; returning my thankfull acknowledgements
to God Almighty, for his severall exceeding great mercies to mee, and
to severall afflicted women, that I have happily delivered, with the
preservation of their children, by the feet.

I should rejoyce to see my work set forth more plainer, and easier,
by the way of practice, for the delivery of women, for the helping and
preventing a danger so great, ever dubious, alwayes attended with sorrow,
and feare, and never free from danger.

I am fully satisfied, in my own thoughts, concerning these ob-
servations, and wayes; for that they bee approved by worthy men's
opinions ; and for that, they bee also confirmed through the confessions
of severall women, that I have delivered, as yet living in health, and
enjoying themselves, and their children.

And, to conclude, it is my opinion, That, in all difficult, and
crosse births, The onely way, and the ultimum refugium to save the
mother, and the child, is, not to reduce the birth to the head, but to
draw it forth by the feet, winch may quickly, and easily, with safety, bee
performed.

And severall women, that I have delivered of unnaturall, and
difficult births, have, and will aver the same ; shewing their living

210

Observations in Midwifery, by

Mrs

Smith.

children to confirme my deeds ; and both mother and child, by this way,
preserved, and snatched from the jaws of death.

I know no cause, why their testimonies may not bee accepted, and
bee beleeved, seing they only feel and undergo the sufferings, and dangers
unnaturall births, and difficult labours.

Let reason, and experience plead for the truth, against self-con-
ceited opinions. I have not fained anything in this my practice, or
framed any plausible, dissembling untruths, in any of these observations
and reports.

I onely testifie, de facto, what I have really performed, and there
bee many living, that can, and will witness these my facts to have beene
truly performed. And therefore I say, Veritas non queerit angulos.

When fainting fits, in delivery, or after delivery, or in both, hap-
pen, they shew the woman to bee in danger. And, although these
women bee succoured with great cordials, if, after releeving, these fits
return again, oppressing the spirits, for the most part they end in death.

Jane, the wife of William Blood in S. Peter's parish in Darby,
about 1641, being in labour, had fainting fits. Dr Andrew Morton did
much comfort, and releeve her with cordials, and other medicines to
cause labour, which was slow, or very little. Shee was delivered of two
children. Shee had these fainting fits before, and after delivery, and,
at last, in child bed, shee died in them.

A Gentlewoman, at Quinborrow in Leicester-shire, had fainting
fits in her labour. Shee was delivered of a dead child. Shee much
fainted, when the after-birth by her ignorant, fumbling midwife was
endeavoured to bee fetched. I was compelled to help her, for feare

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

211

shee should have died under her hands. These fainting fits much
weakened her spirits. Shee daily decayed by them, and, within the
moneth of her lying in child-bed, shee died.

Through the motion of my honoured, good friend, Dr Georgius
Bate, now deceased, I was sent for, to visit one Mrs Skink, dwelling in
the Strand in London, Apr. the third, 1658. At my comming, I found
with her Dr. Greaves. These worthy, good Doctors supposed, That some
part of the uterine cake might bee left, or that somewhat was amisse in
vagina vel ore uteri after her delivery. Upon searching, I found not any
thing. But her body, in feeling, seemed coldish. They prescribed good
hystericall Juleps, and cordiall electuaries, (fitting for her infirmity) to
strengthen the vitall spirits, and for suppressing uterine vapours, and
keeping the womb open with them.

At the first taking of them, shee was much revived, and refreshed,
but, within a day or two, her fainting fits returned, and would not give
place to medicines. Within few dayes after shee died with a loosenes.

I was with a very worthy woman, pious, and of courteous disposi-
tion, well given, and charitable May the 13, 1667.

Shee was well delivered by her midwife, and her sufferings, in her
travaile, were not extreme, and the after-birth was, handsomely, without
lacerations, fetched away.

This young woman, from her infancy, was sometimes troubled
with fainting fits, inclining to the epilepsy, and had some grumblings of
them in her labour. Shee was indifferent well for three dayes.

The fourth day, after her delivery, at her up-sitting, towards night,
cclT"

212

Observations in Midwifery, by

shee began to bee ill, and, after midnight, fainting fits did much
oppresse her.

I did much releeve her with an hystericall cordiall, composed of
castoreum, gum galbanum, assa fcetida, and mithridate, to which was
added ol. succim, and composed into pils with syrup of mugwort.

Then came, afterwards, her Dr to whose care I commited her
safety, but, whatsoever was the cause, hee would prescribe nothing with-
out my order, and directions.

These fainting fits did much oppresse her. They continued,
without any intermission, sixteen houres, and every hour shee grew
weaker, and worser. Her Physician gave her severall Hystericall Julapes,
and cordials.

But death was too powerful to bee opposed. Shee fell into her
last sleep the night following, being over-powered bv her fainting fits
May the 17. 1667.

I cannot imagine what might induce these fainting fits, shee being
well delivered by her midwife, as she lay in her bed, and the womb freed
afterwards of the after-birth, and shee having fitting purgations.

But the women have a custome to make an upsitting at the 4th
day, and to repel the milk by outward applications. But, whether her
arising at the fourth day, or the repercussion of the milk might help to
induce these fainting fits, I leave to the more judicious thoughts of the
learned physicians. But I like not such wayes, which little ease the
paines in the repelling of the milk.

It is much better to draw the breasts, a small quantity at a time,
now and then, when they swell, and begin to be painfull ; and, after-

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

213

wards, to use Diachylon simplex for an emplaister.
be eased, and they freed of their milk.

So will the paine

Or, if the pain bee great, and the breasts much sweFd, and hard,
then to take five parts fresh butter, and one part wine vinegar, and to
melt them leasurely together, and to dip linen cloths into this warme
mixture, and so to applie them to the breast, squeezing, somewhat, the
moisture from the cloths. Thus they may bee freed of the paine, and
trouble of the milke, without any danger.

I knew a Lady, that constantly did keep her bed a fortnight
after her delivery.

And James Wolveridge M.D. a late writer in midwifery, in his
book, speculum matricis, adviceth women to keep their bed five days, at
the lest, after delivery. For hee saith, I know 'tis usuall for them to
rise at three dayes end ; but this to bee sure, the longer women contain
themselves in their bed, the more secure they are from danger fol. 124.
And I know, by experience, that his sayings, in this case, bee found
very true.

The piles, caused by great straining in a hard labour, cause faint-
ings, burnings, and shootings in Ano, and have disquieted severall
women, depriving them of their naturall rest, and have driven them
to sad complaints.

When anodyne medicines would give no ease, I have cured by
bleeding with leeches, and so have instantly freed them of their tortures,
and have brought great easement, and refreshing, by this way, unto
their spirits, and bodies.

214

Observations in Midwifery, by

Sleepy.

Some women, within an houre's space after delivery, will begin to
complain that they bee not well.

If this paine continue, and their countenances alter, growing wan,
and dusky, and that they, every day, grow worser, and fainter, and that
they seem mopish, and altered in their understandings, their recovery is
to bee feared.

This affliction followeth many women after hard labour, and
chiefly those, which have received bruises, or hurts in utero, vel vagina
uteri, and they live not past a week, and usually they die about that
time.

In Holborn, nigh the bars, at London, a Gentlewoman was bruised
in vagina uteri, suffering a harsh, and long labour for several! dayes.
And, although the after-burden was wholly, without any laceration,
drawn away, yet, by degrees, shee fainted, and, within a week, died.
Anno 1663.

It is not good to have the vagina uteri softish, like puffe-past, or
dough. If, casually, at unawares, the midwife's fingers make any im-
pression in it, either in the woman's labour, or whilest that shee
endeavoureth to fetch the after-birth, it suddenly bringeth an alteration,
arid decay in the woman's body, and, oft, it endeth in death.

Thus have I known some women to perish; and the woman,
without much paine, or complaining, will strangely fade away.

Goodwife Jackson, of Nun-greene at Darby, being in labour ; her
midwife, after much striving, finding, That it was past her skill to deliver
her, desired, with other women, that I might bee sent for.

Within an houre after her delivery, a heavy, deep sleep seized on

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

215

her, and shee continued so sleeping, not at all awakening, and so died,
as the woman told mee.

What might bee the cause of this continuance of sleeping, I
could not learne. Whether a lethargy, or vapours ascending from the
womb to the braine, or anything of blood, clotting in the womb.

Anno 1633 I was at Bunny in Nottinghamshire, with a woman
in the time of her travaile. After each labour, shee immediately fell into
a deep sleep so soon as shee was delivered, and so continued sleeping for
twelve houres, or longer, without any motion.

And, by degrees, afterwards shee awaked, and came to herself,
bat had long, afterwards, a dulnes, with mopishment seizing on her
understanding, which happened, as was thought, upon severall, inward,
concealed discontents.

Vomiting in labour, and continuing after delivery, is not to bee liked.

The wife of Mr. Eobert Ring, Apothecary in Darby, did vomit
much in the time of her labour, and it continued after the time of her
delivery. Being called, by her husband, unto her, medicines were used,
which stayed it for an houre. But it returned again, and would .bee no
more checked. Shee died, of this vomiting, within few houres after
her delivery.

In my thoughts, I supposed, That, through this long continued
vomiting, there happened a convulvulus in the gut ileon, as it did to
Goodwife Oldam.

Mrs Elizabeth Parker begun to bee in labour January the twentieth,
being Thursday 1669. Shee suffered much affliction, under the mid-
wife's hands, untill Sunday morning, and then shee was delivered. Shee

Mrs
Per-
kins.

216

Observations in Midwifery, by

lost much blood that day, oft flowing by pashes, and fainted. Tuesday,
the twenty fifth, sliee vomited, and scoured. Thursday, the twenty
seventh day, being the eighth day from the beginning of her travaile,
shee died in the afternoone. All these passages were related to mee
by her Mother.

Not, upon the account of women labouring of child, yet, upon a
suspicion of a convolvulus in a woman, not with child, nor in child-bed,
this following prescript was used with good successe ;

B: Mercurii vivi ^m] ol. amygd. %\s maim. $i cum posseto fact,
ex alias ^iiij vel q. s. 1$, fiat haustus.

Some of this Mercury came away twelve houres after, the rest at
other times.

I beleeve that this may prove an excellent, good medicine in this
extreme disease, without any danger; if purging bee feared, then to
leave forth the manna.

Enema contra Iliacam passionem.

R vini albi lbj butyri recentis sine sale 3uij ol. olivar. ^ij sem.
anisi, carui, dauci, ammeos, carthami aa ^ii Coquantur s. a. et colentur.
Adde mellis rosar. 3U sacchar. rubr. ^ij salis 31 vitel. ovor. n°i, fiat en-
ema S. A.

Pareus fol. 291 inquit. Preestat enim, in morbis desperatis,
anceps remedium experiri, quam nullum.

Melius est anceps remedium experiri, quam nullum, cum multi,
citra spem, mirabiliter sanentur. Celsus lib. 2. cap. 10.

And, when other medicines prevaile not, why may not such meanes

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

217

bee used ? when that other medicines afford no relief, to save the woman's
life.

Scouring for the most part proves fatall, if that it happen in the
first seven dayes. And it is much to bee feared, although it come twelve,
or fourteen dayes after delivery. I have known it fatall to severall
women, yet some few have recovered.

Mrs. Hoden, of Aston, being in a consumption, and short-winded,
through weaknes, had her neck, and body distorted. Shee desired that
I would bee with her in the time of her labour.

Shee was well laid by her midwife, and her child liveth.

But, to her weaknes, after her delivery, a scouring was added,
which took her from her relations within ten dayes following Jul. 31.
1668.

A very good woman, a Physician's wife, lying in child-bed, was
taken with a loosenes, about the fourth day after her delivery. And
suddenly, in a strang manner, her breasts fell, within an houre after
this loosenes began, being, before, much swel'd, and full of milk.

Her husband was a learned Gentleman, and had good successe in
his undertakings. No endeavours, waves, or means, that art could
afford for her recovery, were left unattempted.

But shee dayly weakened, and, being brought low, and much spent
with scouring, after some twelve dayes affliction, shee died at the begin-
ning of September 1664, having her senses perfect, when that shee
could not speake, knowing every particular person, and shaking mee by
the hand a small time before her departure.

218

Observations in Midwifery, by

Joane Smith, the wife of Thomas Smith, a currier in Darby,
dwelling in S. Peter's Parish, was delivered, by mee, of a dead child,
and the arme came first. I turned the birth, and delivered her by the
child's feet July the 18. 1662 die Yenis ante meridiem.

Arme.

Her midwife had much haled, and pulled, and torne her body, on
one side, into the fundament.

Some three, or foure dayes, after her delivery, her belly rumbled,
and pained her. Her Husband's mother gave her a posset, in which
shee had mixed some common treacle. After the drinking of it, shee
had a great losenes, with much paine in her belly, and I much feared
her recovery. Shee took cinamon water with Diascordium, and the
powder of acornes with their husks ; also white pepper boiled with milk.
Also shee had tins medicine ;

Of the inward green bark of an oake a handfull ; cinamon two
penyworth ; almonds blanched an handfull beaten ;

All these were boiled in three pints of new milk to half, and
sweetened with hard sugar, or boile the sugar with the milk ; of which
shee tooke half a pint at a time, warmed ; which medicine was given to
her by her friends, and the women about her.

But none of these stayed it.
following medicine, a little warmed ;

At last was given to her this

Take Spanish white half an ounce ; fine wheat flower an ounce ;
good cinamon in the stick, broken, and bruised, two drachmes; new
milk, a pint, and a half; hard loaf sugar as much, as will sweeten it to
the patient's tast, or desire. Or, in a pint of milk you may boile the
sugar, and cinamon to one half. In the other half pint of milk blend

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

219

the Spanish white, and the wheat floure, and, being well mixt, put it
into the milk as it stands on the fire, and so boile it leasurely, ever
stirring it, untill it come to bee as thick as a custard.

Of this shee took a good mess, or porringer-full at pleasure.
Shee said, that it was good, and did much comfort her. It stayed her
loosenes at the first taking, and freed her of her paines. Shee had
it made without sugar.

We anointed her belly with oile of charity to her groine ; where
the paine was fixt was laid emplastrum Saponis spread on leather ; and
to the fissure, or rift of the fundament was used Balsamum Lucatellse.

Thus, with God's mercifull permission, shee was again recovered.

This poor woman could not sleep. There were prepared two
good red nutmegs, full of sap. They were grated, and, afterwards, mixed
with the yolke of two new laid egges, well beaten, to which mixture was
added half a spoonfull of salt, and so made into a salve. This was
spread betweene two thin linen cloths, and so laid all over her forehead,
and downe to her temples. . And this, applied warme, caused her to
sleep quietly, and was a great help to her recovery.

After all these afflictions, upon a bruise, which shee received,
within a moneth, shee suffered much paine on the left side of her belly,
and had there an impostume, which came to suppuration, and was
afterwards cured. Shee recovered all her sufferings, and is now living,
and in good health June 6. 1671.

Yet all do not recover. For I had a kinswoman, lying in child-
bed, who had an impostume in her groin, that came to suppuration.
Out of it issued some corruption, with some excrements of her bowels.

dd %

220

Observations in Midwifery, by

Severall applications were used for her recovery, but they did not
prevaile, for a while shee languished, and so died.

A poor Collier's wife in Cosall March, in Nottinghamshire in Sep-
tember 1666, was taken with a loosen es in her lying in child-bed. It
was stayed with Spanish white, and wheat floure, made, as afore
directed. Shee could not sleep. I gave her a nights (as occasion re-
quired) pil. pacifica, upon which shee took good rest, and so recovered.

Afterwards, shee had an impostume, which brake in her ham, the
which, with fit applications, was cured, and shee recovered.

December the twelfth 1670 Jane, the wife of Ralph Spencer, a
weaver, having a quartane ague, was delivered by her midwife, of a
female infant, that lived some six, or seven weeks, and then died.

Foure dayes after her delivery a scouring came upon her, and
continued three dayes, before any body came to mee, to desire my help.

I caused a pint of milk to bee divided into two equall parts. In
one part I mixed a spoon-full and an half of fine wheat floure, and a
spoon-full of shaven chalk.

The other part I did set on a gentle fire, to seeth. When it
boiled up, I put into it that part of milk, which had the floure and
chalk, Avell mixed with it, and stirred together well as they boiled, untill
it came to bee thick. Then was some butter, and a little nutmeg grated
added to it, of which shee took as oft as shee pleased.

I gave her the chalk pap, of which shee took as shee pleased.
And for that shee was thirsty, and coveted drink, shee had black

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

221

pepper boiled whole in milk, of which shee took severall times warmed,
with some whole corns of the pepper first and last.

By these two medicines, within two dayes, her loosenes was
stopped, and her thirst was taken away.

After her loseues was stayed, the next day her left leg began to
swell, and, the swelling did increase to a very great bignes. It became
very painfull, and cold. It was like a blowen bladder, and glistened.
I was afraid of a mortification. I caused a mild lee of wood ashes to bee
made. In the cleare of it, three pints, was boiled a handfull of dried
wormwood, with as much of elder bark ; and, in the boiling, was added
to it a lump of alum, the quantity of a hen's egge, and a spoonfull of
salt.

With this liquour, very hot made, her leg was fomented, with
thick stuphs dipped in it, and wrung hard forth, and applied to her leg.

And, when they began to bee cold, they were taken away, and hot
ones again applied. Thus was it fomented for half an houre. Then
was a hot stuph, (after the moisture was squeezed forth) applied round
her leg, and rouled on, and so was shee dressed every foure, or six
houres. Shee did find much ease, and comfort by the fomentation, and
the swelling abated.

When the swelling was nigh half abated, a great blister, or two
did arise between the calf of her leg, and her ancle, the which did break,
and out of her legs did run much clear water, which also was cured by
the fomentation.

Shee lay in a moist, cold house, and the walls were full of great

holes.

222

Observations in Midwifery, by

And that night, these blisters did arise, her leg was very cold, and
full of ach. Shee was anointed with blast salve, and an ordinary em-
plaister was laid over the sores.

Shee was long afflicted with a quartane ague, before shee was
delivered, and, it continued severall moneths, after her delivery, and her
leg not quite fallen, and the sore did run a little, but it no way troubled
her. In the morning the swelling was fallen, but, at night, the swelling
did somewhat return. Yet, at the last, shee was perfectly recovered of
her swellings, and of her quartane ague.

Concerning excoriations, and retention of the part of the after-
birth, with the danger of it, and of the false conception, or mole, see
Dr Harvey in these words of the birth.

It often befalls women (especially the more tender sort) that the
after purgings, being corrupted, and grown noisome within, do call in
fevers, and other grievous symptomes.

For the womb being excoriated by the separation of the after-
burden (especially if the separation was violent) like a larg, inward
ulcer, is cleansed, and mundified by the liberall emanations of the after-
purgings.

And, hereupon, we conclude of the welfare, or danger of a woman
in childbed, according to her excretions.

If any part of the after-burden bee left sticking to the uterusAthe
after -purgings will flow forth evil sented, greene, and as if they pro-
ceeded from a dead body, and, sometimes, the courage, and strength of
the womb being quite vanquished, a sudden gangrene doth induce a
certain death.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

223

Or, if it bee rent from the sides of the womb, corruption of
blood may follow, and so may come inflammation, an abscesse, or a
mortall gangrene.

As I have had experience in a woman, which, lying very sick of
a malignant fever, and being very weake, did suffer an abortion ; who,
after the exclusion of the foetus, which was incorrupt, and entire, yet
lay exceeding weak, with a disorderly pulse, in a cold sweat, as if shee
were a dying.

I perceived the orifice of the womb was lax, soft, and very open,
and her after purgings something noisome. Whereupon I suspected,
That something did lurk in her womb, which did putrefy. And, putting
in my hand, I extracted a false conception, as big as a goose egge}
which was made of a most thick, nervous, and, almost, gristly substance,
having some perforations in it, whereout did issue a viscid, putrefied
matter, and immediately, upon this, shee was discharged of those griev-
ous symptoms, and suddenly, after, did perfectly recover.

Dr Primrose saith fol. 307 Mulierem, tamen, novi, quee, post
partum unius fcetus, per duos menses, gravissimis conflictata est symp-
tomatis, nee ulla spes vitas adesset. Exclusit alterius foetus cadaver, in
saniem tetram, et virulentam conversum, cum, tamen, nihil tale medici
suspicarentur, et convaluit, atq. ter, postea, feliciter peperit. fol. 307.

For bruises aud excoriations.

Goodwife Bayly, about the year 1633, had a perverse, peevish,
ignorant midwife. Shee violently pulled, and haled her body a long
time. Being sent for, tins midwife much disliked of my comming, and
still shee proceeded her own wayes. But, at last, finding her expecta-

224

Observations in Midwifery, by

tion to faile, shee was contented, That I should take her in hand. But
I then refused, untill I had the opinions of two divines, Mr. Eyre, and
Mr. Wyarsdale, ministers in Darby. And, although I beleeved that,
through the midwife's usage, the infant was destroyed ; yet I would not
draw it with the crochet, before I had their opinions ; whether, in case
of necessity, and danger, to save the woman's life, I might, with a safe
conscience, do it, and not bee guilty of the child's death. They viewed
the distressed woman, and, after some conference with her, without any
debate it was concluded by these Divines in the affirmative part, That I
might lawfully do it, although the child should bee alive, to save the
woman's life.

It being so concluded, I placed the woman, for her own ease,
sitting in a woman's lap before her

Then came her midwife, and desired to bee placed next unto mee,
in hopes, to have seen what I did. Shee had her desire, but saw nothing
of the work, by reason that her coates covered my armes, and the
woman's body, all the time of the operation ; for that I was willing to
keep her in ' sufficient ignorance ; first, to qualifie her lofty pride ;
secondly not to encourage her in her evil wayes of using pothooks, or
pot ladles, with which shee, formerly, had made ill work ; together with
her nailes, having set deep scratches on the faces, and bodies of severall
infants. I quickly drew the infant, that was dead.

Afterwards, this woman seemed to recover. But, after a week's
time, severall corrupted skins, hanging at the labia vulvas, separated
from her body, and came away. After tins, shee altered in her, counten-
ance, and, sitting, or lying in a mopish condition, not minding, or
regarding any thing, nor taking notice of any person, or what was said,

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

225

or done unto her ; with daily fading insensibly, after a moneth's linger-
ing, shee died.

John Besecht's daughter, dwelling in the Morlage in Darby, being
hardly used, by her midwife, in labour, through haling, stretching the
birthplace, had severall large skins, very stinking, comming, and
separating from the vagina uteri.

I oft injected with new milk, boiled, and cooled againe, and
tinctured with saffron lightly, and sweetened with honey of roses, a little
warmed, when it was used. And it pleased God shee recovered, beyond
expectation. Shee was ever sensible, and nothing, otherwise, altered in
mind, or body.

Goodwife Rag, after her sufferings, was long weak, and much
enfeebled in the retentive power of holding her water, and could not
retain it, but it came dribling from her, both day, and night. Also,
severall skins, enfolding much gravel, and sandy, small stones shee
voided, yet, at last, shee recovered.

I have observed, where skins, and such like filth, in childbed,
come away, that all such women bee in danger of death, and that
severall perish through such sufferings, though some, with difncultnes,
bee cured.

But I never knew any woman, where the livery colour of their
faces altered, and became swarthy, especially where the woman did be-
come mopish, little regarding any person, or-what was said, or done to
her, but that all such perished.

I was desired, and sent for by a Lady, Anno 1640, that, in her

226

Griffin.
4

Small
stones.

Observations in Midwifery, by

The Lady travaile, was disquieted with some unusuall, and inward paines in the
birth-place, and would not endure to put down her throwes.

The head came first. But the ignorant midwife, not knowing
how to assist her, let the child stick at the neck, and shoulders, after
that the head was in the world.

The Ladie's paines were augmented. Shee called mee to help her,
but the midwife would have had mee put by, and said, That my Lady
must stay God's time, and pleasure. I put the midwife aside, and find-
ing the child's head in the world, I assured her, that shee was but
ignorant in midwifery.

I slid my finger under the child's arme-pit, and, nudging the
child on one side, and drawing withall, the Lady was immediately de-
livered.

Shee was well for three, or foure dayes. Then shee began to bee
sorely pained, and to have an ill, and unsavoury smell iu her privy parts,
and could not hold her water.

Small, ' greety stones, in the time of her travailing, were fallen
downe into the neck of her bladder, before the child had entered the
bones. These stones were the cause of the augmenting of her sufferings.
And the child's head and body, as it passed, pressed on these stones.
The vagina uteri was hurt, and bruised. Sorenes followed in the flesh,
and a large piece rotted, and separated in the neck of the bladder, and
the stones came away wrapped in the flesh, and skins.

Shee recovered, in part, after long time, with some sufferings ;
and had many children after tins mishap, but never, afterwards, could
hold her water. I was all the time with her, during her cure, and I

greatly pitied her good Husband &c.
chirurgion lib. 2. ch. 9. fol. 115.

See Guillhneau the French

I was desired to visit a woman at long Eaton Anno 1634, about
a quarter of a yeare after her lying in child-bed. Shee was troubled
with much pain m her back, and flanks. Shee found ease by what was
administered for the present, but, after a little intermission of time, her
disquiets returned again, and shee became worser.

And for that her closiers were stained with such humour, as mid-
wives call oake-water, and for that it had a stinking, suffocating sent, I
imagined, that some evil might lurke about those places, in, or nigh the
womb.

Upon searching, I found severall tumours in vagina uteri, as great
as small beanes, following one another, as though they had been beads
stringed for a bracelet. These cancerous tumours tormented her. I
intended to have used a decoction of china, with sarsaperilla &c. with
some injections. But shee grew a weary of mee, and committed her
self to a new runnagate Dr, that greatly boasted of his cures, and
abilities. Hee was found, at last, to bee a fugitive, broken butcher, that
could neither read, or write, and, under his cure, uncured, Shee died
cancerous in her body.

There came a Gentlewoman unto mee, complaining of great paine,
and distemperatures of the womb. I gave her the best counsell that I
could, but shee had no ease by the prescriptions. Shee intreated mee to
search her body, whether, in it, might bee perceived any thing to bee
amisse. Anno 1668.

By my finger, I found a great, larg tumour, spreading over a great

Mrs
Crafts

Cancerous
Tumours.

Mrs

Lilly.

228

Observations in Midwifery, by

Mrs
Nabbs
of Staf-
ford.

part of the outside of the womb, and I feared, that it might, at last,
prove cancerous, for that it was hard, and scirrhous, and had frequent
shootings, and stinges in it.

I told her then, That I was doubtfull what, in time, might happen ;
yet, to allay her feares, and to mitigate her present sufferings, I would
use my best endeavours ; and, withall, desired her, in this doubtfull case,
to see, if that shee could get, from any other, better hopes of cure.

It was her good hap to bee a patient to a learned, and most
judicious Doctor in physic. And hee, with his golden turpeth, did ease
her. But shee would not bee ruled to follow his directions. After her
delivery, the tumours, and paines increased again, and hindered her
going to the stoole, and the making of water, through the greatnes of
the inward swellings, and so, with much affliction, shee died.

The womb is a principall part, which doth draw the whole body
into consent with it.

I was sent for to visit a good woman, that had miscarried, after
that shee was gone two moneths with child.

Shee was troubled with some unusual! paines in the womb, and
had, there, sores, and swellings, from whence ill sented humours issued.

Her Physician, in my judgement, had taken the onely way to cure
her, and such a way, as I should have adviced her, and all other women,
in her condition, to follow ; and, by it, from the part afflicted, had made
a diversion of the violent force of humours, and had asswaged the
raging tortures of her paines.

But the evil, being fixed in the womb, would not be wholly re-
moved, but recalled again the humours of the place affected, and, by

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

229

degrees, the cancerous ulcer grew violent, and, with shooting, and sting-
ing pains, accompanied with noisome emanations, her dayes, at last,
were terminated; and, after her miscarriage some 6 months, shee died.

I was with an Honorable Lady 1632, and a learned Dr of
Physick did attend her Honour. Shee, oft, violently flouded, and was
let blood, to turne the streame. Shee had pessaries made of hog's dung,
with bole Armeniack, and alume, and mixed together with whites of
egges. For better help, shee went to London, in hopes, to have the
best relief, that art could afford.

The womb proved cancerous. At last, without any helpe, more
then some mitigation of her paines, of this infirmity shee died.

A woman in Darby, upon a fright, did fall into flouding per
uterum. Shee did not, for severall moneths, regard this flux. But, at
last, shee sent for mee, and desired my help. I found a hard scirrhous
tumour, occasioned by this flux, seized on the one side of the womb,
and on some part of the vagina uteri, which hindered the free passage
of the water.

Her case was sent unto the learned Doctours at London, and to
the most expert chirurgions of that place.

Some appointed traumatical! decoctions, and mercurius dulcis to
bee given.

But this scirrhous tumour dayly increased, very much stopping
her water, and her going to stoole, by straitening the passages ; and, of
this affliction, at last, shee died.

This affliction frequently happeneth, when the women bee past

230

Observations in Midwifery, by

forty jrears aged, growing towards fifty, and this fiouding, being neglected
i7i the beginning, oft breedeth an nncnrable cancer.

Hippocr. Aphor. lib. 6. ap. 40.

Cancros occultos melius est omnes non curare ; curati enim citb
pereunt, non curati autem longius tempus perdurant.

There came to mee to Darby a woman, dwelling nigh Lichfield in
Staffordshire, that had a cancerous ulcer in her womb.

Shee told mee many good morrows, and stories of women, that
had such infirmities, and how severall of them were eased by salivation.

For her cure, I desired a Dr in physic, my good friend, to let mee
have his counsell. Hee put mee in mind of the Aphorisme, and willed
mee to use traumaticall decoctions, and, sometimes, to divert the humour
by salivation with mercurius dulcis, giving it once, or twice a weeke.

I gave it, mixed with conserve of roses in a spoonfull of posset
drink. The mercury spotted the silver spoone, and so shee found what
it was. It vomited, and purged her, and, I beleeve, would have raised
a flux, if that shee would have continued the taking of it.

But shee was discontented with the working of it. So shee left
mee, and took one, that had been lately a Divine, and was now become
a practicer in physic.

And hee gloried much, that, by his medicines, hee had driven
forth two cancers out of her body. It should seem to mee, by the re-
lation of those, from whom I had the information, That shee twice
flouded, and, at each time, avoided clotters of blood, which his ignorance
falsely conceived to bee the cancers.

Percivall Wiliughby, Gentleman.

231

JBut, at last, shee went away from Darby, and made use of the
utmost of her strength, to make some beleeve, That shee was cured.

In the conclusion, shee, and her physician disagreed ; and hee was
so vexed, that, in his passion, hee threatened to send her a letter that
should twist her ears together.

What hee did, I know not ; but I am sure, that shee was made
in a worser condition by him. Shee became ill, and weak, her paines
every day increased, and her body smelt unsavourily, and her linens
were stained with the humours, and did so loathsomely smell, that those,
which were attending about her, did very unwillingly wash them. Yet
this ignorant, confident upstart was not ashamed to report, That this
woman was cured by hiin.

In her extremity, shee put herself under a third Physician. Ex-
tremity of paine made her willing to bee fluxed. Hee salivated her,
and, in the salivation, shee died.

A worthy, good "Lady, having been formerly troubled with a flux
of blood, which came by pashes in her child-bed, desired mee to come to
her. I made no delay to go, but shee was delivered before my comming.
Her infirmity did adhere to her body, yet not in a violent way. So,
after a week's staying with her, perceiving some amendment, I returned,
leaving her to follow the directions of her former physicians, but they
did not cure her.

Shee went to London, and returned not cured, and brought with
her this direction from a woman, that had been formerly, so afflicted, as
this Lady was.

R red wine, good Alicant, and plantane water, of each half a

Atherly.

232

Observations in Midwifery, by

pint, two or three ounces of double refined sugar. Boile all these to-
gether very well. Of which shee took every morning fasting, and at
foure in the afternoone, and at night going into bed, two, or three
spoonfulls blood warme.

After shee had taken these things, if that the whites should
trouble her, then to take tins following.

B new milk a quart, of comfry, and yarrow, and shepheard's
pouch, of each an handfull, of clary six handfulls. Boile these herbs in
the milk, unti'll it come to a pint ; then drink every morning before shee
did rise, and at night, after shee was in bed, half a pottinger full thereof,
blood-warme, or warmer, if shee pleased.

Dr Wea-
therborn.

Shee was visited, a yeare, or two afterwards, by one of her London
physicians, a man of excellent parts, and full of much practice. Hee
adviced her to take the inward bark of an oake, and to bruise it, and to
distill it three times. And, in a wine glassfull of this water, to put as
much of the powder of lapis hoematites, as would lie on a groat, and
the like quantity of terra sigillata. Yet shee was not helped by these
medicines, but had a perpetuall dropping, or mensium fluor issuing from
her body.

I came, casually, to her house, and shee intreated mee to stay
with her. I gave her this drink of Lodovicus Septalius.

Ii aquae lib. vii in qua, coque cortices trium aurantiorum acidorum,
aliquantulum subviridium; colaturse 5vuj Pro dosi. The rinds were
cut in small pieces, and, at the end of the boiling, I added of mouseare
a handfull. It stopt the flux for a week ; and, in all her broths, I boiled
the same herb.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman. *

233

After a while, the flux returned again, and, after three, or foure
yeares continuance, it terminated her dayes.

A London chirurgion was sent to her ; it was his opinion, That
shee had a cancer in the inner part of the womb. I cannot contradict
his sayings, (yet shee had no evil-senting fluxes, or tumours to be felt)
for that I beleeve, and have known long, dribling, uterine fluxes, very
oft, to have ended in cancerous tumours.

I would I could bring all midwives to observe nature's wayes, not
onely in some creatures, but also in vegetable plants, and trees, how shee
proceedeth in her works, and how shee ripeneth all vegetables, and pro-
duceth all creatures, with far greater ease, and speed, then art can do,
which is but nature's handmaid, and servant.

Prom Shiston, in Warwickshire, a woman, great with child, after
some jouruey, came to Tamworth market, about the middle of December,
Anno 1667. After her markets were ended, as shee did ride homewards,
by a Park pale, in the highway, Dame nature willed her to alight, and
to tie her horse to the pale. Shee went into the park at Middleton, in
which place shee was speedily delivered of a living child.

The woman took up the child, and laid the after-burden on the
child's head, and, getting again on her horse back, shee went unto a
friend's house, and carried her child in her lap, about a mile distant from
that place, and there, some say, that shee stayed all that night ; And
that, the next morning, her husband came unto her, and brought her,
and her child home safely, to his house. Shee, and the child bee living,
and in health Anno 1671.

Dorothy Launt of Newbrough in Stafford-shire, being great
with child, adventured to go from her own house, on foot, three miles,

234

Observations in Midwifery, by

to a market town called Uttoxeter, by some Utceter, about the latter end
of September 1666.

Returning home with her husband, and with a woman, that un-
derstood nothing in midwifery, being nigh two miles from her house,
shee was suddenly surprized with pangs of labour.

Dame nature was at hand, and, in a lane, nigh Uttoxeter wood,
shee was there delivered of a lusty living son, as shee kneeled on a bank
by the side of a ditch, and there the after-burden came well from her.

This assisting woman, afterwards setting her on her horse, brought
her to her husband's house, where shee well recovered her strength.
Her child lived, and was baptized, and named Walter, and is now about
foure yeares old Anno 1669.

Shee conceived again, and was, in due time, delivered of another
son by her midwife, October the sixteenth, 1670, being in her owne
house.

So soon as shee was delivered, shee swooned, (so that the midwife
durst not adventure to fetch away the after-birth) and continued fainting,
and swooning the space of an houre, although the woman burnt feathers
under her nose.

After this time, shee came, a very little space, unto her self, and
immediately fell into a deep sleep.

With much shaking, now and then, shee would speak a word or
two, ever desiring them to let her bee quiet, and to suffer her to sleep.

Shee continued sleeping foure houres, after this time shee awaked,
and, seing two of her acquaintance standing by the bed-side, said, Ah

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

235

Mary ! Ah Anne ! and, laying down her head, as though shee would
sleep againe, shee departed, having still the after-birth in her body.

Her sister, Goodwife Wetton, came to mee to know what might
bee done, to cause the after-burden to come away. I gave her the best
counsell I could, but the woman was dead before shee could come again
unto her.

Her sister told mee, That shee avoided much moisture, with blood,
in her swooning, and sleeping ; so did another, that, afterwards, washed
the cloths. Shee died October the sixteenth, her son was baptized the
seventeenth day, and named Robert, and, that day, shee was buried.

Margery Philips of Newbrough in Staffordshire December 29 die
Mercurii 1669.

After delivery, a fattish piece of flesh, as long, and thick, as the
midwife's hand, comming from the womb, the which the midwife said,
that shee put up againe, so shee told mee, but I did not see it.

Shee flouded, and that made the midwife desist from farther stri-
ving, to get away the after-birth, and the midwife said, That the after-
birth did stick to the side of the woman.

So shee put her to bed, without shifting her cloths. The midwife
came to mee, about half an houre past two in the afternoone. I went
with her, and offered my service to this woman. But shee desired not
to bee stirred, for that, upon any motion, shee fainted. And I thought,
standing by her, that shee had been dying, and I was glad that shee did
not make use of my help, for fear shee should have died, under my
hands, in this weaknes.

The midwife shifted her cloths about five that night, and shee did

fp 2

236

Observations in Midwifery, by

eat, then, some bread and cheese, but continued losing blood, as the
midwife reported. Shee was delivered by the cocks first crowing in the
morning. Shee died about eight that night. But the after-burden
never came from her. The child lived about half a year, and then died.

But, upon a second discourse, I found this midwife to bee an ig-
norant, simple woman, and I suspected, That shee was cause of this
woman's flouding, as also of her death, through much strugling in her
body.

In morbis desperatis, sedulam diligentiani, extremumque remedium
adibendum esse, vulgi calumnia relicta, medicique famap ost posita.
Medicus, si mortis prsedixerit pericula, culpa vacabit.

This was the second woman, that died at Newbrough, whilest
that I waited on the Lady Grisell Egerton, not having the after-birth
drawn away. They both went to their graves, with their after-burdens
in their bodies.

Have not some women been laid, and the after-burden fetched
away, whilest that they had convulsion on them, and that they have re-
covered ?

It is, in my thoughts, much better to fetch away the after-birth,
so soon as the woman is delivered (let the woman bee in what condition
shee will) then to leave it in the woman's body. So may flouding, and
issues of moisture cease. But, where the after-birth is retained, these
fluxes never cease.

I never had any woman under my hand thus afflicted.

But I have heard, That the after-birth hath been fetched away,
although the woman did floud before, or in the operation. And so their

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

237

lives have been saved. But, where it came not away, through the flux,
or flouding, they all perished.

A kinswoman having miscarried, the midwife could not get away
the after-burden, which was the cause, that shee oft flouded in a larg
quantity ; my assistance was desired.

By reason of the closing of her body, and the lying on her back,
I could not well come to the after-burden, to get it away ; some part
remained in her body. Yet shee flouded no more, and, after a good
night's sleep, the other part of the after-burden came away, when that
shee made water, and dropped into the chamber-pot, and shee well
recovered her strength.

The after-birth is more easier, and better fetched away, as the
woman kneeleth, then it can bee as shee lyeth on her back.

Therefore I would have the midwives to cause their women to
kneele, when that they fetch the after-burden.

Francis Hallowes, the usher of Ashburn Schole; Margaret his
wife, being aged about 30 years, having had nine children, a fortnight
before shee travailed, having a tertian ague, shee miscarried of the tenth
child, about the thirteenth week of her being with child, in the morning,
about five of the clock.

Some foure houres after her miscarrying (being a fat woman) shee
fell into a loosenes, and died the next morning, about the houre, in
which shee was delivered.

After her death, the scouring immediately ceased, and shee then
did swell so much in her belly, and breasts, as they, that stood at her
feet, as shee lay on the table, could not see her face ; and shee bled

238

Observations in Midwifery, by

much at the mouth, and nose, and, withall, flouded all that day. And
the flouding continued with her in the grave, at nine that night. Apr.
28. 1671.

Thus Mrs. Mary Mercer, that was her kinswoman, related, of a
truth, unto mee, who was with her in her labour all the time, continued
with her both in life, and death, and at her buriall.

I left Stafford, and went to London, there to live, for the better
education of my children, in May 1656.

And, by reason of an Apothecary, that, formerly, had lived in
Stafford, I quickly had some practice in midwifery, among the meaner
sort of women ;

And, through his meanes, was called to a woman, that had three
children at a birth, and the midwife had brought away all the after-
burdens. The midwife feared, afterwards, that there was still a fourth
child remaining in the womb, for that shee felt a great hard lump in the
woman's belly, and this was the cause, why I was sent for.

The tumour was as big as a penny loaf. Finding the woman apt
to faint, I caused a large emplaister of crude Galbanum to bee laid upon
her navell. Her paines were eased, her swelling was discussed, shee
soon recovered again her strength.

The children lived but a small time, they all died that day.

It is not good to draw away the after-burdens, before all the
children bee born, for feare of a flux of blood, that might follow in the
ensuing birth. Yet I have known severall women to have escaped this
danger.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

239

Not long after, I was called into "White Friars, to a poor woman,
that was in travaile, to assist Mrs Wharton, a good midwife. Shee was
understanding in her calling, and was of a friendly, and courteous
disposition.

This woman had been long in labour. The child's head, and
body were larg, and the child's head was somewhat entered into the
bones.

Finding that the child was dead, I drew it with the crochet, and
the woman soon recovered,

A great person in Ireland, having the bones of the genital parts
ovally, by infirmity, pressed together, after the losse of severaU children,
drawn from her body by the chirurgions, was put in hopes to have
better success, if that shee could obtain a London midwife to come unto
her.

There was a midwife procured, that went unto her. This mid-
wife had long practiced midwifery, and, to my knowledg, had a good
understanding in her calling, and her practice had been oft crowned with
happy success. This Lady procured this midwife to come unto her,
into Ireland.

After that shee had been some time with her, labour came upon
the Lady. ISTo conveniences to facilitate the birth were omitted, and
the midwife used all her endeavours to bring forth a living child, with-
out any violence offered unto it, or to the mother.

But it pleased God, not to permit this Lady to have her desires,
nor to give his blessing to this midwife's hands, as to let this Lady bee
delivered by her.

240

Observations in Midwifery, by

Mrs
laneu-
ring.

A chirurgion was sent for, who, as formerly, with the crochet
drew away a living child from this Lathe's body, to save her life.

Had I been in his place, I would have seen what, first, might
have been done with the hand, before I would have used the instrument.

At this midwife's return, I went to visit her at her house, and
there shee related all these passages to mee. And, as I was sorrowfull
for this Ladie's ill hap : so I was joyfull to see this midwife safely
returned again to London.

I was sent for to a Gentlewoman, that had formerly suffered hard
labour. Shee was delivered of a small abortive, before I came unto
her, by the midwife ; and the child, being very small, the midwife had
drawn it away by the arme.

As I was sitting, and talking with one of her servants, that
attended her eldest child, then a little one, as it played before us, I
espied in the child's forhead a long dawk, deeply dented, even to her
nose. I asked the servant maid how the child came by it. Shee replied,
that it was so borne; whereupon I conjectured that, through this
woman's hard, long labour, as also by the dawk in the child's forehead,
that the ill conformation of the bones was, or might bee the cause of
her sufferings, before shee, usually, was delivered.

There goeth a report of two ingenious persons, the man and his
wife ; Hee, taking notice of the midwife's violent halings, and stretch-
ings of his wife's body, as also of the great torments, that, thereupon,
did arise ; and his wife, being terrified with the feeling of them, and
fearing to suffer the like again; and also, hearing, how some, that would
not owne their great bellies, how easily, and speedilj they were delivered,
without the help of midwives ; They concluded, to make trial! of their

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

241

way, and having found it good, and prosperous, they resolved never more
to make use of the midwife's assistance.

And, ever since, the woman, so soon as shee perceiveth her labour
approaching, shee causeth a fire to bee made in her chamber, and, her
bed being prepared, her husband bringeth her into the chamber, and,
after the taking of their leaves one of the other, hee, with her desire,
and consent, locketh her in the roome, and commeth no more unto her,
untill shee knocketh, which is the signe of her delivery to him, and to
such women, as bee in the house, and this report is affirmed for a truth.

Such a story hath been told mee of Mr. Jennings (so I take the
great Apothecary in Newark to bee called) and his wife.

And I am perswaded, in my thoughts, that, if all women would
follow the same course, that they would bee more easily delivered, and
more children born alive.

All, that ever I would have the midwife to do, is but to receive
the child, when it commeth into the world, or to alter an unnaturall
birth.

A weaver's wife at Wossall, in Staffordshire, about the yeare 1654,
came unto mee, complaining of much pain in her back, and heat about
the outward parts of her body.

Shee said, That this happened after a hard labour, and that many
skins, and lumps of flesh came from her body, after her delivery.

The outward passages of her body were, all along, closed up;
there was onely a little small orifice left open, by which her urine passed.

Shee said that her womb did rot, and fall forth out of her body.

gg ~ ~

242

Observations in Midwifery, by

I gave her a decoction of persly, Germander, and pennyroyall,
with such like herbs, and shee had a flowing of the menses, upon the
taking of it.

Whereupon, I beleeve that the womb was not rotted forth, but
that the labia vulvae were joined together, after the cicatrizing of the
ulcer. Shee was troubled- with much inflammation, and had a whitish,
sordid matter, which continually issued from her ; and it did much in-
flame, and moisten those parts ; and the humour had a raw, faintish
savour. Shee was eased with refrigerating applications, as ung. alb.
camphoratum, and what became of her, after that I went to London
1656, I know not.

Guillimeau giveth this report, That hee was sent for by Mad.
Searon, to help a farmer's wife, that was great with child, and ready to
lie down, who had the outward orifice of her womb, for the space of
foure or five yeares, so perfectly closed, glued, and joined together, that
it was impossible to put a little probe therein ; the which had happened
to her by being ill delivered ; by meanes whereof, the entrance of the
outward neck of the womb had been ulcerated, and the ulcers cicatrized,
and the sides of the vagina joined together, and yet, for all this, shee
proved with child.

At the time of her delivery, by the advice and counsell of Mr.
Riolan and Charles, the Kings Professors in Physiclc, and Regent Doctor
in the faculty of Physiclc at Paris, Brunei, Paradis Riolan, Fremin,
Rabigois, and Serre (Queen Marguerite's chirurgion) Mitton, and Chaf-
priet, Mr Barber chirurgions at Paris, Honore the King's chirurgion,
and my self, I say, by the advice of all these several! physicians, and
chirurgions, there was an incision made. Then, presently, the speculum

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

243

dilatorium was so well applied, that all tlie cicatrices were enlarged,
which succeeded so prosperously, that, within three houres after, shee
was delivered with much ease.

Dr. Harvey knew a woman, who had all the interiour part of the
neck of her womb excoriated, and torne by a difficult, and painfull de-
livery, so that, her time of lying in being over, though shee proved with
child again afterwards ; yet, not onely the sides of the orifice of the
neck of the womb, near the nymphse, did close together, but also all the
whole cavity thereof, even to the inner orifice of the matrix, whereby
there was no entrance, even for a small probe, nor yet any egresse to
her usuall fluxes.

Hereupon, the time of her delivery being now arrived, the poore
soule was lamentably tortured, and, laying aside all expectation of being
delivered, shee resigned up her keyes to her husband, and, setting her
affaires in order, shee took leave of all her friends.

When, behold ! beyond expectation, by the strong contest of a
very lusty infant, the whole tract was forced open, and shee was miracu-
lously delivered ; the lusty child proving the auctor of his own, and his
parent's life, leaving the passage open for the rest of his brethren, who
should bee born in time to come. For, proper applications being admin-
istered, his mother was restored to her former health. Should ever such
an accident come to my hands again, as happened to the woman at
Wossall, I should not feare to open those places ; for that Guilhmeau,
and Dr. Harvey have declared such things to bee done.

In the mean time, I shall admire the forcible vigour, and efficacy
of a mature, and lively fcetus.
___

244

Observations in Midwifery, by

It hath been questioned, whether the womb, closed in a woman
with child, can, by outward enforcements, bee opened. Upon the com-
munication, and assured faith of a reall, true friend, I am confident, that
such a thing was done, and that it might bee done againe.

Comming from Gloucester, in my returning homeward to Darby,
I met with a good friend, a Dr. of Physick, and a practicer in midwifery.

Hee certified mee, that hee was intreated, by a Gentlewoman, to
afford her his help, and assistance ; for that shee knew, that there was a
false conception in her womb, which would bee her ruine, unles, by his
skill, hee could open the womb, and take it forth.

Hee was overperswaded by her, giving credence unto her words, and
being intreated to try his skil, and to use the utmost of his endeavours,
to performe this work ; hee slid up his hands, and forced the orifice of
the womb with his finger end, moving, and thrusting it gently, for a
reasonable space, against the orifice of the womb.

After some time, by these wayes, and her enforcements, the womb
was opened, and, forthwith, the waters flowed ; and, within a short space
after, the birth of a child followed.

At the sight thereof hee was much troubled (hee told it to mee
with a great deale of sorrow) and said unto her, thai^ hee was displeased
with her evil doings.

But shee made slight of bis rebukes, and words.

Although shee then recovered her strength, yet, in some yeares
after, (following her ill courses of life, and putting herself under the
practice of other physicians, to cover her lewdnesses, they not knowing
of each others doings)

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

245

Sh.ee took violent purges from the first physician, and, within an
houre after, from another physician very great cordials, hoping to cover
her lewd misdeeds.

By physick, at last, shee perished. This communication, severall
yeares after, was communicated again to mee by this Dr. of physick, my
worthy, and good friend, but hee desired mee to conceale her name ; for
that her friends, with her relations, and parentage, were of great repute,
and esteem in the country.

A few yeares since this, my good friend is dead, and, I hope, that,
without offence, I may say what I did know of him.

That hee was a learned Gentleman, and a good, and judicious
practicer in Physick, and had great knowledg in the midwife's bed, and
in the delivery of women.

Hee was- piously given, full of charity, a true lover of honesty,
and of all good men ; friendly, and courteous, and kind to every one ;
faithfull to his friend, and injurious to no man, a forgiver, and not a
revenger of injuries.

He lived peaceably and quietly with his neighbours, and was
greatly beloved, living, and was much lamented, and mourned for at his
end, was followed to his grave with much company, great and small, all
shedding tears, and making sore lamentation, for the losse of so worthy
a person.

I was assured by a learned Dr. (that was eminent for severall good
parts, more especially for his knowledge in the midwife's bed) that hee,
with others, was called to deliver a woman, that had the neck of the
womb scirrhous.

246

Observations in Midwifery, by

All of them strived to open, and to dilate the os uteri, with the
instrument, called speculum matricis, and, through their enforcements,
that the instrument was broken in her body.

Whereupon, it was conceived by them, That it would bee the best
way to cut the neck of the womb with an incision-knife. The which
this D1'. affirmed was done on both sides of the womb, and that it proved
gristly in cutting, and that the passage being thus opened, and enlarged,
the woman was, then, happily delivered of a living child, and, that shee
well recovered these wounds, and the enforcements of the instrument,
and was, afterwards, the mother of severall children.

This report, with the passages, seemeth very Strang to mee, and
greatly to bee admired.

This Dr. was very kind and loving to mee, and took delight in
my company. I dare not think that untruths would passe from his
mouth.

Yet let no man bee offended for my saying to strangers
Admiranda cano, sed &c.

The story of subtle cheating knaves.

Severall men came in the night to mee, after that I was gone to
bed. They told mee, that a Gentlewoman, of good worth, hearing a
good report of mee, and how I had saved the lives of severall women,
and of their children, did purposely follow mee, and was now come to
London, for the intent, to procure mee to deliver her; and that shee
was suddenly suprized with pangs of labour, immediately after her
journey. That shee had sent them, of purpose, to desire mee to come

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

247

forthwith unto her, and that shee would give mee any contentment for
my comming.

Beleeving their smooth words, I did arise, and go with them into
Shoe-lane. They brought mee through an obscure Ally, and so into an
upper chamber ; where I saw a man, meanly clothed, lying on a bed,
laid on the floore, and wrapped in a poor blanket.

My heart misgave mee, and I greatly feared that I was trepan' d
by those, that brought mee to that place, and that I should bee abused
by them.

I asked where the Gentlewoman was, that desired my help. I
was then brought into a poor little roome, where I saw the woman.
Her mother in law was a midwife, and had used her very harshly;
through her unhandsome doings, her body was much bruised, and, by
hex putting the infant by the arme, shee had destroyed the infant's life.

I asked the woman, what was that person, that was laid on the
bed in the other roome. They said, that hee was her husband. I de-
sired the women that hee might bee sent away, and that I might bring
the woman to that place, where that I might have roome to turn my
hand, assuring them, That I could not performe the work in that
narrow, strait place.

I brought her thither, and, as shee kneeled on the bed, by the
child's feet, after that I had turned the birth, I quickly laid her of her
dead child.

Her mother in law came afterwards unto mee, and said, That they
were poore, and gave mee half a crown, the which I gave to the woman,
that I had delivered, before her.

248

Observations in Midwifery, by

Her mother in law was of an ill condition, and valued not the
life of her son's wife, as her deeds manifested.

The women told mee, That shee was troubled with a loosenes.
I willed them to make her a rice-caudle, and to give it to her. I went
the next morning to see how shee did. I asked her, whether shee had
taken the things, that I appointed for her.

Shee said, That shee had no money, and that her mother in law
had taken away from her the half crown, so soon as I was gone away.
I caused the money to bee given again unto her.

But this loosenes, with the unkindnes of her mother in law, and
the want of attendance, with provisions necessary, hastened her untimely
dissolution.

Though I was deluded by this flattering, cheating company, yet
I heartily thanked God, that I had escaped my present doubts, and
feares, and rejoyced, That I was not trepan' d, and brought into the
danger to bee compelled to pay for my release, by ransoming my self
with a sum of money, as others had formerly done in London.

To proceed to come to other unhandsome passages. Let mee
acquaint you, That, now, Apothecaries, leaving the beating of their
mortars, turn Doctors, as also taking upon them to bee men-midwives,
and, as yet, escaping their due reward, in not pacing the hangman's
black stumbling horse, or the receiving of the hot iron in their hands,
for their reward, and just deserts.

There was a broken, runnagate Apothecary, that turned mounte-
bank. Hee set forth his bills, promising great cures, and took upon
him to bee expert in the delivery of women.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

249

Hee came into Lincolnshire, where hee was desired to visit a
woman, labouring to bee delivered, and to use his best endeavours to
lay her.

The birth came by the arme, the which hee presently cut off, with-
out any remorse of conscience, and so, forthwith, hee left the woman, in
her afflictions, to be delivered by the women.

And, although the women did earnestly intreat him to stay, and
to finish his work, yet hee would not bee moved to it.

And was there not just cause for his departure? for that this
woman was the first woman (and last) that ever hee came unto, to de-
liver ; and his conscience and credit assured him,

That hee had done already, more, then hee could justifie, and that
hee knew not how to proceed to finish the work.

At his going away, hee told the women, that now it was their
work to performe the rest of the delivery. And so, like himself fa
mountebank) hee left the labouring woman in great distresse.

It pleased God to permit another woman to deliver her of the
rest of the child's body.

Hee was an ignorant, impudent, shameles evank mountebank,
and had five pounds for cutting off the child's arme, and so murthering
the child.

It is now too frequently used, by midwives, to cut off armes, as
this Apothecary did, or to pull the infant by the arme, in hopes, to draw
forth the child's body.

Arme.

250

Observations in Midiviferg, by

In Staffordshire, at King's Bromely, over night, a woman was

delivered of a dead child, and the after-burden being fetched, shee was

put into her bed, and the midwife supposed that all her work was
finished.

But, the next morning, the hand and arme of another child
appeared. By two midwives this child was endeavoured to bee pulled
away by the arme.

But, when their strength failed, the older midwife did cut off the
child's arme, and then, afterwards, shee was delivered, and the woman
again recovered her strength.

This fact was done about the twentieth day of August 1670.

In Staffordshire, at Hampton Bidway, towards the later end of
August 1670,

A woman, in that place dwelling, had a child comming into the
world with the arme first.

Shee had two midwives to help her. After fruitles endeavours to
reduce the arme, they concluded to pul it away by the arme; and,
through their strengths, they pulled off the infant's arme with the
shoulder, and left the rest of the child's body remaining behind, and the
woman not delivered.

A third midwife was sent for. By her the rest of the body was
brought forth (some say, by instruments, the which I do not beleeve)
and this woman recovered.

The same fact was done at Newbrough, long since, upon the body
of Goodwife Right.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

251

There was a scandalous report in London, with which an old mid-
wife was spotted ; That, through a mistake, in stead of the after birth,
sliee pulled away the womb, of which the woman died.

But I will not bee so injurious to old midwives, as to give
credence to such unworthy reports.

Although I know assuredly, That some of them do not (as they
should) understand their practice, and dayly undertakings.

F. E. striving to lift a heavy coale, and to carry it farther, then
her strength would well permit, perceived something to crack in her
back. That night shee suffered lapsus uteri. Shee oft put it up, but it
would presently fall down againe.

Being troubled, and discontented, and wearied with this affliction,
in hopes to cure her serf, shee went into the garden, and, laying hold on
it, drew it, and cut it forth, with part of the vagina uteri.

A great flux of blood followed, with fainting. Shee swooned,
and was taken up, more likely, presently to die, then to recover.

The womb was great, and deep, and shee had cut off some of the
fleshy part of the neck of the bladder, with all the womb, and could
not, then hold her water.

Seeking help to stay her water, and finding none, at last shee
came to mee. I could passe my finger through the wound into the
bladder.

I followed the way, that others had taken, to stich it up. But
first I endeavoured to cleanse her body with purges, and turpentine pils.
For in those parts, shee had a faint, raw, and unsavoury smell. After-

hh 2 ' "

Mrs

Shaw.

Faith

Ra-
worth.

The
womb
fallen
down

and af-
terwards
cut forth.

252

Observations in Midwifery, by

Eli-
za-
beth
Cor-
kin.

wards I scarified the place, where the wound was made ; and, with
double twisted silk, I stitched it up.

Whilest that the stitches did hold, her water came by the right
passage. But, when they separated, her urine issued again by the old
breach. It grew narrower, and lay deep. It could not, at last, bee
perceived where the orifice was, through which the water dribled.

Shee lived severall yeares with this affliction, and died uncured, her
water alwayes comming night and day, insensibly dribling from her.

In S. Thomas Hospitall Anno 1659, there was a creature J. E.
that was neither maid, wife, or widow. She had undergone much
strugling, halings, and enforcements by her midwife, in the time of her
labour to bee delivered. Shee could badly go, and went stradling.

That worthy good man, Dr Wharton, pitying her troublesome
condition, related her misery to mee.

Shee was taken into a private roome by the Dr, and Mrs. of the
ward. Id this woman I saw a great lapsus uteri, as big as two fists.

I put it up before them, and, having about mee an uterine pes-
sary, that was round, and thin, and a little hollo wish, being very light (it
was made of ouler wood) I conveyed the same presently into vagina
uteri. Shee found much comfort by it. It kept up the womb, and
then shee was able to walk, without pain, in a comely gesture. Shee
set herself to sweep roomes, and make beds, and was able to do any
ordinary work without trouble. I willed her not to offer to carry, or
lift any heavy weight, nor to use any violent exercise, or motion.

Whilest that shee observed these rules, and kept the pessary in

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

253

her body, shee was happy, and well, and freed of all disquiets. Shee
was living in May Anno 1668.

De Mola.

Old Dixe of Dawberry lees in Darbyshire married a young
woman. Not long after, her belly grew great, yet shee proved not with
child.

The common, vulgar people said, and usually reported, That his
nature had poisoned her body.

Shee oft had great fluxes of blood, and, in those fluxes, avoided
great clots of blood, and so shee was, for the present, eased of her
paines.

But her belly did not fall, or grow lesser. Shee thus continued
for severall yeares after her Husband's death.

Shee was, afterwards, married to one John Vaughan of Morley,
nigh Darby. And I conceive that this woman had a mole in utero, for
that her breasts did not swell, and had no milk in them.

, Shee became leane in all her body, especially in her legs. But her
belly was much sworn, as though shee had a dropsy. Her navel never
stood forth. Twice, or thrice a yeare shee lost much blood, with sever-
all clots of coagulated blood. At which times shee had some slight
paines, as though shee was in labour. But, when this issue stopped,
her paines abated, and shee was eased by this evacuation of blood.

And, for these causes, I confidently beleeved, That shee had a
mole in her womb, too great to bee expelled, whereof, at last, shee died.

254

Observations in Midwifery, by

In France, and the Low Countries, they have many privileges,
and customes which we cannot obtain in England. They open dead
bodies, without any mutterings of their friends. Should one of us desire
such a thing, an odium of inhumane cruelty would bee upon us by the
vulgar, and common people.

Had this woman, after her death, been opened, I beleeve, that,
in the womb, a mole of a great bignes would have been found. See
Pareus the 33 and 34 ch. concerning the Generation of man. fol. 625.

A dead child in a naturall Birth.

EI.
Hurt.

Dr Harvey saith, That the water is the cause of the delivery of
the fetus, which is dead, and putrefied in the womb. In that, by it's
corruption, and acrimony, it doth extimulate the uterus to releeve it self.

I was desired by a Gentlewoman, to come, and stay with her, for
that, of ten dayes, shee had not perceived the child to move, or stirre
in her womb ; and, when shee lay on either side, shee found, that the
child did fall unto that side, on which shee did lie.

I gave her cordials. Upon the taking of them 3 times a day,
shee felt a heaving in her womb, but no motion of a child. At the end
of these ten dayes, in the night, shee fell into labour December the sixth
1671, before foure a clock in the morning, I was called to her. The
birth came naturally, and the child's head was easily born. The child
stuck at the shoulders ; but, by my finger put under the armepit, with
easy drawing, it was soone brought forth ; as also the after-birth came
quickly. Thus, quickly shee was freed of a dead child about foure in
in the morning 1671.

After shee was put into bed, for that shee was subject to lose

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

255

much blood, I gave her a drachm of the powder of white amber, pre-
pared, and well mixed with the yolk of an egge, and, by degrees, it was
made potable with a caudle, and all her sorrows were, through God's
mercy, and permission, happily ended.

Lastly, I desired to have the child brought to mee. I found the
navel string to have a muddy colour, and the child much flayed, and
corrupted, and the body of it did greatly stink, so that I was not able
to endure the sent of it.

Yet, I humbly thank God, shee is well recovered, and enjoyeth
her health, and strength againe.

Elizabeth, the wife of John Stone, of Rudgway, fell into labour
January the 25 167£. The midwife forced the birth, and broke the
waters towards night, and an arme came downe. Shee had two mid-
wives, and both pulled, one after the other, the child by the arme,
untill they had killed the child ; and the arme was made black, and
greatly sweFd by their halings, and was nigh pulled off at the shoulder.

In their despairing to deliver her, I was sent for. The 26 day I
came to her.

After I had seen her, and her midwives usage, and had felt her
pulse, and had viewed her face ; I went to her husband, and told him,
That, with God's permission, I could lay his wife, but, in all likelyhood,
shee would not recover, but die not long after the delivery of this child ;
for that shee had been ill used by her midwives, and her body was de-
stroyed by them. Yet hee desired to save her life, and shee, mightily,
to bee layed.

I placed her kneeling on a bolster, and putting down her head

Eliz.
Stone.

256

Observations in Midwifery, by

in a bending, descending posture, by the child's feet, shee was quickly
laid ; and the after-birth was soon fetched away, and shee was put into
her bed.

But her feet were cold. Unto them were hot bricks applied
(wrapped in cloths) and her face was kept warm with hot linens. But
her chin continued cold, and would not bee warmed with hot linen
cloths, oft put under it. After this, shee complained of a stitch, which
took her in the left side, but it was removed by a tallow brown paper,
with warme applications.

Shee had a decoction of cloves, made of equall parts of white
wine, and water ; of which shee drank, to mitigate her after-paines. To
her navell was laid a plaister of raw Galbanum, and her nostrils were
anointed with oile of amber.

At last, shee could not swallow, and, about eight houres after her
delivery, between ten and eleven, shee departed that night.

2-d oj

1. Felice Hollinghurst of Budgly.

2. EUzabeth Walthur of Stafford, a Butcher's wife.

There is an infirmity (though it seldome happeneth, or is seen by
physicians, or chirurgions) called Cauda mulierum, and it causeth great
flouding, of which I will make some mention, because I have seen it.

There was a maid, a miller's daughter in Darbyshire. Shee oft,
at severall times, lost much blood, issuing violently, before it stopt.

Shee came to mee Anno 1638 for help. Shee shewed mee a long,
round lump of flesh, like a dog's pizzle in shape, and thicknes, which
shee could put forth of her body, when shee stooped downward.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

257

It lay on one side vagina uteri, and had a hollow sheath to cover
it. When shee stood upright, it went up into her body, and then it
was not to bee felt, and from this cauda the flux of blood issued.

I used severall wayes for her ease, without any good successe. At
last, I resolved to take it off with a ligature, for that it had no great
root-
But this maid, grieving at her affliction, went alone into the
garden, took hold on it, and, with a violent twitch, pulled it off. She
did greatly bleed afterwards. Being tat en up from the ground, shee
was supposed to bee dead. Being carried into the house, and laid on a
bed, shee came againe unto herself. And thus, casually, shee was cured,
and was not, afterwards, any more troubled with bleeding, or any other
infirmity of the womb.

There came into my house, at Darby, my honoured good friend
Dr Harvey 1642.

Wee were talking of severall infirmities, incident to the womb.

After that I had related the aforegoing story de cauda mulieris,
and how shee flouded, and was cured, hee added to my knowledge an in-
firmity, which hee had seen in women, and hee gave it the name of a
honey-comb, which also, hee said, would cause flouding in women.

Some twenty yeares after I was desired to come to an ancient,
good woman, aged about three score ; that, then, began to floud, and
never afore that time. And this issue of blood seized on her once a
moneth, or oftener ; and in so violent a manner, that shee would make
wet, with her blood, severall black cotton cloths, in lesse space, then
three quarters of an houre.

258

Observations in Midwifery, by

And this flux would' not stanch, untill that shee became pale, and
weak, ready to faint away.

I gave her seven graines of the inner part of an unripe, green
gall, with the same quantity of blue vitriol, mixt with a little , conserve
of red roses.

The medicine made her once to vomit, but it did not purg her,
and shee never flouded after the taking of this medicine.

I found, by my finger, a swelling, nigh the upper part of vagina
uteri, towards one side of the womb, there • sticking, to my thinking,
like a spung, or a honey-comb ; at the end whereof were some small
'tumours, like to the blind piles, but the tumour did not, at all, afflict her.

The losse of this bloud did adde weaknes to her body, but the
severall disquiets, which shee oft received from a troublesome daughter,
did much more grieve her, and trouble her spirits ; and, somewhat more,
then half a yeare after, shee died ; not through the losse of bloud, but,
rather, of troubles in her mind, which shortened her dayes. .r

Her husband was my familiar friend, and, by his discourse, in
talking with mee, hee made it very manifest, That shee long had, this
tumour called a Honey-comb in vagina uteri, growing towards the neck
of the womb.

Of the tunicle, or membrane, called Hymen.

Pareus, in his 42 ch. de generatione hominis, saith, That in some
virgins, or maidens, in the orifice of the neck of the womb, there is
found a certain tunicle, or membrane, called, of ancient writers, Hymen,
which prohibiteth the copulation of a man, and causeth a woman to bee
barren.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

259

i This tunicle is supposed, by many, to bee, as it were, the enclosure

of the virginity, or maidenhead, hee saith.

I once saw it in a virgin of seventeen yeares. It was a very
thin, nervous membrane. It grew a little above the nymphee, near unto
the orifice of the neck of the womb. In the midst thereof was a very
little hole, whereout her water did flow. I, seing the thicknes thereof,
cut it in sunder with my scissers, and told her mother what shee should
do afterwards ; and shee married afterwards, and bore children.

But this tunicle is very seldome seen, so — saith Pareus.

Whilest that I lived in Stafford, out of the More-lands, a child,
about seven yeares of age, in the yeare 1655, was brought unto mee,
having this membrane called Hymen.

After that I had bound her in that way, as they do their patients
in cutting for the stone, into the small orifice I put a crooked forceps ;
with the dilatation of the instrument, the thin membrane was easily
torne open, and I had no need of scissers, or of an incision-knife, to
divide the skin.

Pareus, in his 43 chapter, saith, That John Wierus writeth, That
there was a maid at Comburge, who, in the midst of the neck of the
womb, had a thick, and strong membrane, growing overthwart. So
that, when the monethly termes should come, it would not permit them,
which caused a great tumour, and distended the belly with great tor-
ment, as if shee had been in travail with child.

The midwives being called, and having seen, and considered all
that had been done, and did appear, did all, with one voice, affirme,

260

Observations in Midivifery^ by

That shee sustained the paines of childbirth ; although the maid herself
denied, that shee ever dealt with man.

Therefore, then, this foresaid Auctour was called, who, when the
midwiyes were void of help, and counsell, might help this wretched
maid, having, already, had her urine stopped three whole weeks, and per-
plexed with great watchings, losse of appetite, and loathing. And when,
hee had seen the grieved place, and marked the orifice of the neck, of
the womb ; hee saw it stopped with a thick membrane.

Hee knew also, That the sudden breaking out of the bloud into
the womb, and the vessels thereof, and the passage for those matters,
that was stopped, was the cause of her grievous, and tormenting paine.

And therefore hee called a chirurgion presently, and willed him to
divide the membrane, that was in the midst, that did stop the flux of
bloud, which being done, there came forth as much black, congealed, and
putrefied blood, as weighed some eight pounds. In three dayes after
shee was well, and void of all diseases, and paine.

I have thought good to set downe this example, because it is
worthy to bee noted, and fitting to bee imitated, if that the like occa-
sion should happen.

The report of James Guillimeau the French King's Chirurgion in his
second book ch. 8. fol. 108.

In the yeare 1607 in May Mr. de la Noue, the King's Chirurgion
in ordinary, and sworne in the Chastelet of Paris, was called to search
a young woman, the wife of a Goldsmith, who had been cited by her
husband to appear before the officiall of Paris, alledging, That shee was
not capable, nor fit, by nature, to bee married ; which was an occasion

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

261

that Germane Hassart (a midwife) and myself were sent for, to search
her. Where wee found, That, in the very entrance of the womb, there
was a membrane, so strong, hard, and thick, that a man's finger (and
much lesse the other part) was not able to break it open ;

Hee having oftentimes made triall to do it, whereby he had incur-
red a Paraphymosis. And, therefore, it was concluded, that her hus-
band had a just cause to cite her; but, yet, for all this, that it was

curable.

Whereupon her Husband thought good to call Mr. de Levyre,
and Pietre, sworn chirurgions at Paris.

Then, wee all there concluded, with a generall consent, to make
an incision of the said membrane ; which was done, and dressed, and
healed, to her husband's content.

Onely hee was somewhat doubtfull of that, winch the said de la
Noue had observed, and told him, That his wife's belly was big, and
that shee was qualmish, and distasted, vomiting every morning, which
made him suspect, That shee was with child. Whereupon, a midwife
told him, That there was no likelyhood, nea, it was impossible to think,
That a young woman, of eighteen yeares of age, should bee with child,
her husband having never entered within her maiden cloister, and that,
with threshing onely at the barn doore, shee should bee full.

Whereupon Mr. Pietre was sent for, who thought, at first, hee
could not bee induced to beleeve it, yet, at length, having well con-
sidered thereof, gave his judgement, That shee was with child, which
proved true ; For, about some foure moneths after the incision was made,
shee was happily delivered, at her full time, of a fair daughter.

262

Observations in Midivifery, by

Mrs.
Grant.

Superfetaticm.

Pareus saith, That superfetation is, when a woman doth beare two,
or more children at one time, and they bee inclosed, each in his severall
secondine. But those, that are included in the same secondine, are
supposed to bee coneeived at one, and the same time of copulation, by
reason of the great, and copious abundance of seed. And these have
no number of dayes between their conception and birth, but all at once.

Superfetation is no other thing, then a certain second conception,
when the woman, already with child, again useth copulation with a man,
and so conceiveth again, according to the judgment of Hippocrates.

This is a most manifest argument of superfetation, That as many
children, as are in the womb, (miles they bee twins of the same sex)
so many secondines there are, as I have often seen my self. And it is
very likely, That, if they were conceived in the same moment of time,
that they would all bee included in one secondine.

Dr. Harvey of the birth fol. 479 reports, That a certain maid,
gotten with child by her master, to hide her knavery, came to London
in September, where shee lay in by stealth, and, being recovered again,
returned home. But, in December following, a new birth (for shee had
a superfetation) did proclaime the crime, which shee had cunningly con-
cealed before.

Some women, that have suffered abortment, have conceived two
children at the same time, and the other hath continued the full time,
and been brought forth perfect.

A Gentlewoman in Darby, after that shee had laien in her moneth,

and was ! preparing to go to ' the church, with her neighbours, to give
God thanks for her safe delivery, was taken with sudden paines, like
throws, whereupon shee returned againe into her chamber ; there, that
day, shee had an unexpected superfe^ation, and was delivered of an other
child.

Abortion.

Parens saith, That abortion, or untimely birth is one thing, and
that effluxion is another.

They call abortion the sudden exclusion of the child, already
formed, and alive, before the perfect maturity thereof.

But that is called effluxion, which is the falling down of seeds
mixed together, and coagulated but for the space of few dayes, in the
formes of membranes, or tunicles, congealed blood, and of any unshapen,
or deformed piece of flesh. .

The sayings of Dr. Harvy.

I have, sometimes, known the conception to perish in the womb,
and, being turned into a putrid matter, to have glided, and issued forth
(like the flores albi) and this, both in women, and other animals.

There was, not long since, a woman in London, which, after such
kind of abortment, did conceive again, and was 'delivered at the just
time.

But, a little after, as shee went about her work, being not in
great pain, or distemper, shee did eject, by pieces, the black little bones,
which related to her former abortment.

264

Observations in Midwifery, by

Some of these bones were brought to mee, which I could discover
to bee the fragments of the spine, the bones of the thigh, and of other
bones.

See the Countesse of Chest.

Susan Love, the wife of Richard Love, a gardiner, and souldier
in Darby Anno 1643. This woman had a child, that rotted from her
womb, in great lumps, the bones and flesh came sticking together.

There was a great piece of the flesh brought to mee, containing
part of the forehead, and cheek, with all the flesh about the eye, and
the eye not broken, sticking in it in one lump.

With giving her medicines to keep open, and to cleanse the womb,
shee, through God's great mercy, and permission, recovered, but hath
had no child since that time. Shee, yet, is living 1671.

I came casually into a friend's house, I found the good woman in
labour, and the midwife too busy, in striving to deliver this woman of
an abortion.

I desired the midwife to put her into her bed. There, after some
warme keeping, shee did, without the midwife's haling, miscarry.

There came from her a thin membrane, filled with clear water,
and one might clearly see, through this membrane and water, two small,
white substances, not altogether as big as barley cornes, swimming in
the water, each of them having a navel-string, and they both were en-
closed in one membrane ; and these two small substances, though easily
touched, separated into several! parts, having no thicker consistence,
then coagulated creme.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

265

I beleeve that this thin membrane was Amnion, comming away
entire, not breaking the coat, and containing in it the colliquamentum, or
purer humour, mentioned by Dr. Harvy, for that a secondine, with
some little skin, representing a peare, came afterwards, which I took for
chorion ; and it was hollow in the midst.

February 22 Anno 1652; There was a worthy, good woman, that
miscarried. From her body was brought unto mee a perspicuous, thin
membrane, full of very cleare water, in which was a small, little, white
lump, hanging by a navell-string, and swimming in the water.

After this followed a thin, lumpie piece of flesh, perforated, and
hollow in the midst, like a purse.

And, unles the first was amnion, with the waters contained in it,
and the other chorion, I cannot imagine what these two severall mem-
branes should bee.

I was sent for to visit a gentleman's wife, about the yeare 1664,
that had an abortion. The midwife shewed mee a lump of gristly flesh,
representing a cock's gizard, with the side perforated, with a long slit,
by which I knew that shee had miscarried ; and this was the secondine,
and I have seen it in severall women, that have had abortments.

But the Amnion, comprehending the thin, and transparent water,
comming whole away, I never saw many more, but in these two onely
mentioned.

I was brought to a woman in Nottingham Town, from whom all
the fleshy parts of her child consumed, and rotted away in her womb,
and shee had ejected severall dry, bare bones of the armes, thighs, and
legs, some whereof I took from her body before severall women.

At Twi-
ford
Mrs.
Har-
pur.

266

Observations in Midivifery, by

The mouth of the womb was scirrhous, somewhat open, and filled
full of many bones.

At last her side impostumated, and out of it was taken the child's
skull. I desired a chirurgion to look unto her. Shee was poore, and
I feare hee neglected her. Shee died Anno 1632.

Sennertus de partu nullo.

After a full time, it may so happen, That signes of delivery may
appear, and that a woman may have paines, and that the water may
onely issue, and that, afterwards, all paines may cease, and return no
more.

Goodwife Cole of Redemarton in Gloucester-shire, having a great
belly, supposed her self to bee with child. Shee kept her midwife a
fortnight, or longer, in the house with her. At last, the womb opened,
and the waters dribled severall dayes together. By degrees, her belly
did fall, and became little, and her expectation ended in nothing. Shee
lived severall yeares after, but gave over bearing children 1624.

I was with a woman of Newcastle under Line in Staffordshire,
her belly was big, as though shee had been nigh downe lying.

Shee had much paine on her, day and night. Her womb opened,
and part of chorion descended, like a gut, two inches long, and as thick
as two fingers, full of water.

Shee continued with her great belly, full of misery, above a
moneth after this time. Then the membrane chapped, and the waters,
by degrees dribled. Her belly fell, and the tumour went away, and shee
recovered.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

267

Dr Harvey reporteth, That hee did know a young woman, who
was daughter of a physician, who was his neare acquaintance, which,
being big, felt all the symptomes incident to women in that condition,
and continued hearty and spritely. After fourteen weekes, shee per-
ceived the motions of a foetus in her womb, and, having finished her
time for going with child, conceiving the houre of her delivery to bee
nigh at hand, shee had her bed furnished, her cradle ready, and all the
implements, pertaining to the purpose, laid out for use.

But all these preparations came to nothing, and Lucina was crosse
to her wishes, for her customary paines left her, and her belly, as it rose
by degrees, so it sunk again. But shee remained barren ever after.

This same accident happened to an acquaintance of mine in
Warwick-shire. Shee never had any child afterwards.

Also Dr Harvey did know a noble matron, who had borne above
ten children, and whose courses were never suppressed, unles shee were
with child.

But, being, afterwards, married to another husband, besides other
usuall signes, shee apprehended her self to bee with child, by the stirring
of it (which both shee her self, and her sister also, who then lay with
her in bed, did, many times, in the night, perceive) and all the argu-
ments, I could suggest, could not remove that perswasion from her ;
till, at the last, all her hopes vanished into flatulency, and fatnes.

Therefore Dr Harvey saith, So that, sometimes, the most approved
signes of ingravidation have not onely deluded the silly women, but the
experienced midwives, and the skilfull physicians themselves.

There are several! false indications of gravidation. Wee must not
__ .. __ ________

268

Observations in Midwifery, by

e. w.

rashly determine of the inordinate birth, before the seventh moneth, or
after the eleventh.

There was a Gentlewoman, a very good friend of mine, who
heartily laughed at the folly of an ill bred, dogged, and covetous clown,
that had abused her, Anno 1646.

That night following shee was taken with various movings, or
motions in her belly, like to the moving of a lively child, and these
motions continued, and did accompany her body, chiefly, in the night,
for a moneth, or longer time, untill her courses did break again upon
her, and then they ceased.

Nobody would have thought these motions any other thing, then
the lively stirring, or moving of a child.

In June 1631 There came into my chamber at Darby the wife of
Thomas Hood of Hallington, having a great belly.

Shee desired mee to take my instruments, and to deliver her.
Shee said, That, in March last past, shee was in strong labour, and had
many throwes to enforce the birth. That shee had two midwives,
Goodwife North, and Goodwife Goodwine, to assist her in travaile.
That they both felt the child, and hoped that every throwe would have
delivered her.

When, suddenly, in the height of her labour, her paines ceased,
and her body again closed up, and, from that time, shee never had any
pain, or more dribling of the waters -, nor, since, felt the child to move.
And her husband witnessed the same, both affirming, That, afore, the
child was a lively, moving child.

I sent her to her lodging. I gave her musk in claret wine mulled.

Peixivall Willughby, Gentleman.

269

But the child had no motion, and it caused no alteration in her body.
Wherefore, for the present, I desired her to be patient, and promised
her, if ever shee had any more labour, or that, at any time, her body
again opened, that I would be ready to help her the best I could.

But, being impatient, and not brooking delayes, shee put her self
under the hands of a beggery, wandering woman, that promised to cure
her.

The wanderer gave the powder of white hellebore unto this great
bellied woman, which much swelled her body, and threatened to en-
danger her life with suffocating fits.

This wanderer, seing her patient very ill, and that her physick did
not work, as shee expected, went unto an Apothecaries widow, and
desired her to give her any purge. So shee let her have two ounces of
syrup of roses, which set the hellebore on working.

The operation was very violent, in forcing many vomits, and
stooles.

For all this, the greatnes of her belly continued without any
abating.

I saw this great bellied woman some fourteen moneths after this
time. Her belly grew greater, and shee was much weakened through
her infirmity.

And, from her groin, shee had very great, and larg venes, ascend-
ing to her breasts.

About November, afterwards, this great bellied woman, in this
her weaknes, did take a vomit from an ignorant man. It made her sick.

270

Observations in Midwifery, by

At the first motion of the working, shee became very faint. At the
second vomiting, shee died.

Her neighbours desired my comming to open her belly, but I was
not at home.

A woman, among this company, did cut open her belly, and womb.
And there was found a female infant, which began a little to corrupt on
the crown of the head, and at the finger ends, and toes.

All the rest of the body was sound, not in any place offering to
corrupt.

This child, after the usual time of women going with child, shee
carried in her womb above two years, seven moneths, or a longer time.

This wandering woman, her physician, leaving Loughborrow, in
her comming nigh to Darby, was delivered of a child in a ditch with-
out the help of midwife, or any assisting woman shee took up her child,
and brought it with her alive to Darby. So shee escaped hanging.

Shee took upon her great matters, and rare cures in Physick, and
chirurgery. Her Apothecaries shop was a butter milk can, in which
shee kept the universall medicine to cure epilepsies, Palsies, Lethargies,
Consumptions, Dropsies, the lame, and blind; sweFd, as also all
withered, decayed members. But, her practice failing, shee fell to
theeving. Shee was necessitated to flie, and run away from Darby,
fearing the Hangman's Budget.

I make mention of these reports, for that I knew each of these
passages to be true. And I admired at the gathering again of new
waters, in which the infant was long preserved, without any more putre-
faction.

A child
born in
a ditch.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

271

There was a Strang, yet true accident, which happened at Ash-
burne in Darbyshire.

At the first hearing of it, and fov that I would bee more certainly
informed of the truth, I sent unto my friend Mr Abraham Mercer,
lecturer of the place, desiring him, to let mee have a true relation of it,
and from him I received this certificate December the 9. 1667.

Emme, the wife of Thomas Toplace, was five dayes in labour.
The sixth day, shee had a medicine given her, to ease her paines, by a
Doctor of Divinity, pretending some small skill in physick. After the
taking of the medicine, in the evening, shee was supposed to bee dead;
and, after nine a clock that night shte was buried.

As shee was carried to the grave, some thought, that they heard a
rumbling in the coffin. A noise was heard like the breaking of a
bladder, after which followed a noisome smell. Shee had an ill condi-
tioned man to her husband, that frequently gave her evill words, and,
oft, blows with them.

Her Husband, with his mother, and the midwife, with some other
women, made haste to bury her, having, among other things, filled her
mouth with, hurds.

Severall women were much troubled at her hasty buriall, and
thought, That shee was not dead.

Among this company there was one Anne Chadwick, by name,
that returned to the grave ; and, laying her eare to the ground, shee
heard a sighing, as it might bee of one dying in that grave.

A souldier, being with her, heard the same, and hee affirmed, be-
sides the sighing, that hee heard the crying of a child.

Dr.

Kettle-

by.

272

Observations in Midwifery, by

They went to Mr. Pegg, a Justice of the Peace in that Town,
and told him of it, as also the minister, and others, what noise was
heard in the grave ; and Anne Chadwick said, That shee beleeved that
the woman was alive.

The earth was cast off from the coffin, and the coffin was found
somewhat opened, where, formerly, the bords were joined together, with
a ridg at the top, and the coffin was hot.

After that, it was opened ; the woman's hand was seen bare, and
some saw hurds lying on her breast, and in her hand, with which her
mouth had been stopt by her husband's friends. And it was beleeved,
That the buried woman had pulled those hurds out of her mouth with
her own hand, after that shee was interred.

Another woman put downe her hand, and found a child, delivered
in the coffin, and descended as low as her knees, or lower, with one
hand in the mouth, and the other extended by the side, and the after-
burden was also come from her.

Her husband, with Ins mother, and the midwife, with others,
which laid her forth (after her supposed death) were much displeased,
that the grave was opened, and at the murmuring of the people. Hee
gave threatening words against some of the company ; but, at last, hee
thought that it was his best way to bee quiet, and to let all their words,
and deeds sleep with his deceased wife.

I shall leave her husband, and his mother, and the women, that
would have her so suddenly buried, to bee censured, as each particular
person pleaseth.

Whether this woman was alive, or dead, when shee was buried.

Percivall Willushby, Gentleman.

273

Elizabeth Shent, with her mother Anne Chad wick, with others,
affirme these passages to bee true, and the coffin was left open all that
night, that the bodies of the mother, and the child might bee seen by
all those, that would look on them.

Mr Abraham Mercer, also, took a certificat out of the Parish
Register book, where it was thus recorded.

April the 20, 1650 was buried Emme the wife of Thomas Toplace,
who was found delivered of a child, after shee had laine two houres in
the grave.

Eor this woman's sake, 1 would not have women to bee suddenly
buried, dying in child-bed, before signes of putrefaction do manifestly
appeare. Especially, if that they have taken any medicine to ease pain,
and cause sleep.

Dr Harvey fol. 492 saith, How great furtherance the foetus doth
confer to its own birth, severall observations do clearly evince.
Farther hee reporteth.

That a certain woman here among us (I speak it knowingly) was
(being dead over night) left alone in her chamber. But, the next
morning, an infant was there found between her legs, which had, by his
own force, wrought his release.

There was a naturall foole,. shee had good friends. It was her
mishap to prove with child. Her friends were very carefull of her, and.
shee lay between two women every night, and, by them, shee was looked
unto, and attended.

274

Observations in Midivifery, by

But, at the last, not knowing what labour was, as these women
slept, finding her belly to ake, shee stole from between them, and hasted
to a ditch side, where did run a small rivulet of water; There, supposing
to ease her belly- ach, instead of a naturall sioole, an abortion came from
her.

This business was soon begun, and quickly ended, and shee
presently returned.

But the women, her attenders, missing her, did arise to follow
her, and they met her nigh, comming towards the house. They asked
her where shee had been ; shee said, That her belly did ake, that shee
went to the ditch to grunt, that some-thing was come from her, and
that it lay on the bank.

So this poor creature, not knowing what labour meant, was,
through ignorance, by Dame nature, quickly, and easily delivered ; and,
instead of going to the ground, was freed of an abortment.

IMevertheles the Coroner sent this poor foole to the Goale. Shee
knew not how to plead for her life. I was heartily grieved at her sim-
plicity. I moved the Coroner to speak for her. Hee informed the judg,
that it was a very small child, and the whole Bench saw that shee was a
foole. It was in the Protector's dayes, and I feared that shee would
have summum jus.

The judg shewed the statute-Book to the jury. Neither judg,
nor jury regarded her simplicity. They found her guilty, the judg con-
demned her, and shee was, afterwards, hanged for not having a woman
by her, at her delivery.

Let all honest women take notice how easily, and quickly shee
was delivered, through warme keeping, and quietnes, without a midwife.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

275

Let the looser sort fear to commit folly, and, if casually they
should transgresse, to bee carefull, not to bee alone in their travaile,
least they should suffer, as tins poore, simple creature did.

And let all midwives bee assured, That it is not their labours, in
pulling, and haling their women's bodies, that causeth delivery.

But that it is the work of Dame nature. And that the apple,
peare, or plumb, or any other fruit, being full ripe, will fall off it self,
without enforcement.

Felice Hollinghurst, midwife at Rudgeley in Staffordshire, certi-
fied mee, That Alice Harrison, a servant, being with child, but not
mistrusted, dwelling at Ingam-Thorpe in Cank wood, hasted to a midden,
in which shee made a hole, into which the fruit of her body (a female
infant) was suddenly dropped. Shee, seeing her Mrs comming, did
leave the place. Her Mrs, hearing a child to cry, went to the hole,
and took up the infant, smeared with muck, and carried it into the
house. The woman was caught, and brought to the child, and shee was
happy that it pluckt her breast, so shee escaped the gallows about the
faU of the leaf 1668, or 69.

Country Observations.

Let midwives observe the countryman, how he will bring his cold,
stiff bootes, or shooes to the fire, how hee will warm them by degrees ;
and, afterwards, how liee will smear them over with grease, and then
rub it into the leather. .

Thus doth liee make his boots, or shooes to become limber, soft,
and easy to draw on, without hurting his feet, the which hee could not
do afore, but with much strugling, and hurting himself, and torturing
his feet with paine, and endangering the tearing of the leather.

276

Observations in Midwifery, by

Midwives, think of this leather, when that you anoint your
women's bodies with ointments, or balsamum Hystencum. See fol. 177.

Observe the Smith, when hee is called to open a lock, that is out
of order, how he will smear Ms key with grease, before he endeavoureth
to open the lock ; and how he will gently move it up, and down, not
striving with violence, and sudden motions, to unlock the same ; and
how, at last, through patience, and easy motions, hee becommeth Mr of
his desires, without breaking the key, or spoiling the lock.

The womb is a place locked up. Let midwives so deale with their
travailing women, so will the birth be more easy, and the child not
pulled to pieces, or destroyed, nor the woman torn, or ruinated by the
midwife's struglings, or stretchings of their bodies. In fitting time
nature .will open the womb.

Let all midwives observe the wayes and proceedings of nature for
the production of their fruits in trees, the ripening of walnuts, and
almonds, from their first knotting, unto the opening of the husk, and
falling off the nut, and considering their signatures, to take notice, how
beneficiall their oiles may bee for use in their practice, for the easing of
their labouring woman.

Both these fruits have their green husks, without any chappings,
sticking so close unto them, that it is not possible to separate the husk
from the shell, in which the fruit is inclosed, whilest that it is green,
and unripe.

But, as the fruit ripeneth, so, by degrees, this husk, of it self,
will separate from the shell, which, at last, by it's own accord, chappeth,
and, with a fissure, openeth, and, by degrees, separateth from the fruit.
Then cloth the husk turn up the edges, and give wa}^, without any en-

forcement, for the falling off the nut. Lastly, how this husk becom-
meth black, and rotteth away from the tree, representing the comming
away of the secondine.

This signature may teach the midwife patience, and to perswade
them, to let nature alone, to performe her own work, and not to crosse
nature, in disquieting their women by their laborious struglings.

For, as I have oft said, such enforcements, used by ignorant mid-
wives, do rather hinder the birth, then, any way, promote it, and that
they oft ruinate the mother ; and, usually, the child, and too often de-
stroy both mother, and child.

An egge representeth the womb. Now the hen, with keeping the
egge warm, doth breed the chicken, the which, when it is come to
maturity, doth chip the shell, and, by degrees, is hatched, without being
navell-gauled, or made bloody in any part.

But, if the countrywoman will hasten the hatching of the chicken,
by endeavouring to pull off the shell from the chicken, shee then maketh
an effusion of blood, and a navel-rupture, so the guts of the chicken
falleth out of the body, and the chicken dieth.

So hasty midwives oft cause effusions of blood, in the delivery of
women, and too oft destroy infants, by their too officious struglings in
the woman.

Whereas, if the countrywoman would let the hen alone, and the
midwife not trouble the labouring woman, both chicken, and infant
misrht better bee saved.

278

Observations in Midwifery, by

The Index of the Auctor.

Accidents of the after-birth, Guilliroeau, -

The Lady "Fitton, Sr Charles Addersl/s Lady, -

Mrs. Alestry, __---.__

112

Mrs. Susan Alport, ..-..__

Mrs. Anson, .._.....

194

The Lady Atherly,

231

Abortion, ..-_--..-

263

Arme, ---------

Amnion -.--._ _

Mary Baker, --------

Mrs. Catherine Bambridge, ------

120

Old Mrs. Bambridge the mother, - - -

117

Anne Barnet, ________

105

Margery Barker, -------

Mary Barton, --------

Mrs. Bateman, --------

184

Goodwife Bayly, --------

223

Dorothy Bayly, --.-----

205

Grace Beechcroft, --------

125

John Besecht's daughter,

225

Some would have all births turned to the head,

123

William Blood's wife, - -

210

Anne Bonsall, .-..-.-_

133

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

279

Mrs. Bright, -

The Lady Broughton,

Brumicham, the Innkeeper's wife, -

Byron,
Afterbirth, -

Bolster, -

Isabel Carter,

Mr. Charles, the minister's wife,

The Countesse of Chesterf., -

Mr. Cornelius Clark's wife,

Joseph Clark's wife,

Mr. Clark's wife by the Brook,

Dr. Chambers, perhaps,

Christopher Naylor's wife,

Elizabeth Cockin lapsus uteri

Mrs. Coke of Trusly,

The Cook's wife of Rishly,

A Colliers's wife's loosness,

A Coshall woman,

Sarah Cordine,

Cotchet the Captaine,

A Countryman's wife at London,

Mrs. Crafts cancerous,

Anne Creswick,

Crochet -

Mrs. Crampton by Stone,

Eleanor Cripple, -

116—26

154—74

130
109
180
115
155
211
245
68
252
237

86-

220
158
198

227

-114

159

280

Observations in Midwifery, by

Mrs. Curson, ._.-..

Clysters, --------

When the child is entered into the bones,

- 62—18
76

Chorion, --------

Child in the womb, ._-...

Cotchet's wife, -------

117

Medicines to draw forth the child,

205

Canda mulierum, ------

256

Edward Dainty, ------

Dr. Dakins's wife, - - -

248
- 217—10

Isabel Dakins, ------

Catherine Davies, ------

- 108—127

Difficulty of birth,

Susan Doughty, ....--

51—108
203

Alice Doxy, -------

Mrs. Dubton, -------

98
103

Best way of delivery, -

Delivery without midwife, -----

18
31

Grace Edinser, ------

Elizabeth Elde, -

Sr Tennebs Evank, -

135

Verba Antonij Everardi, -
Effluxion, - - - - -

95
263

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

281

Mary Faring, -------

178

Alice Feme, ._.....

176

The Lady Fitton, Sr Charles Addersly's lady, -

Elianor Fletcher, -------

127

Goodwife Forman, ------

Anne Frith or Smith, ------

Mrs. Gilbert of Loccho, -

117

Mrs. Gifford, ... ...

Mrs. Catherine Gorton, ......

The Lady Griffin,

226

Mrs. Grant, -------

262

Mrs. Margaret Hallowes, -

237

My Cousin Hannom's Daughter, -

Mrs. Mary Harley, -..-..

Anne Harrison, -._-_-

Heath chan. eger. ------

El. H. El. H.

254—179

Mrs. Alice Heath,

The Huntsman's wife of Colton, -

Mercy Haywood, ------

Mrs. Harpur, -------

265—170

Mary Hector, -------

162

Mrs. Hoden, ...__.-

217

282

Observations in Midwifery, by

Mrs Higs, ......_

Elizabeth Holland, - -

Mrs Hopkins Draper at Darby, .....

Hampton Redway, ......

250—33

Mrs Houghton of Darby, .....

105

Countesse of Huntington, - -

180

Husan's wife, . - - . . .

Hymen, - - - - , . -

258

Holerentius's wife, ......

147

Haling &c. naught, ......

Humours before delivery, -

Hydrocephalos, ._.....

128

Thomas Hofe's wife, ------

162

Honey- comb, .......

258

Th. Hood's wife, - - ...

268

Goodwife Jackson of Nungreen, ....

214

Mrs Mary James, ------

109

•

Jennings the Apothecary, .....

240

Ignorant Daies, ......

36—6

Goodwife Johnson, ......

The Irish relation, - - - - -

Against Iliack passion, ------

216

Catherine Key, -------

King's Bramley, -------

250

Shooe lane cheating knaves,

246

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

283

The birth by the knees, -

Mrs Kniveton, --.__._

208

DrKettleby,

271

Dorothy Launt, ___„___

233

Laxington, ______

Tbe Lady Holt Leigh, -.____

The Lady Leigh at Eidway, -

Mrs Lilly of Diseworth, ------

228

Mrs Low's daughter of Denby, -

Forerunner of labour, ____..

Signes of labour, - -

To prepare women for labour, -

Susan Loue, _______

264

Mrs Maneuring, _______

240

Mrs Marcome, _______

Mrs Mary Mercer, ---____

208—186

Mrs Middleton of Wandsly,

107

K. P. a London midwife very officious, -

54—22

Young midwives, - -

30—72

The duty of midwives, ___,_.-_

11—4

Midwives that will not fetch the after-birth,

Ignorant mid. --------

21—72

Mrs Milward, - - - - -

Jane Molineux, ------

138

Eobt Middleton's wife, ____■__

mm2

284

Observations in Midwifery, by

Goodwife More of Nottingham, -

160

Mrs Isabel Mumford, _____

When midwife to begin to assist, -

How to dry milk after birth, -

213

De Mola, - -

253

Mrs Nabs of Stafford,

228

Christopher Naylor's wife, -

A distorted neck, -

- 163, &c.

Dorothy North,

Nature's force for expulsion, - -

111 to have the navel-string long in the world,

Goodwife Oldam, -

192

Mrs Okeover, _______

197—126

Goodwife Osborne, - - - -

The woman of Osliston, ------

Mrs Elizabeth Parker,

215

Cleare Pearson, -------

Mrs Perkins, .......

215

Goodwife Percy at Wollerton,

160

Margery Philips,

235

Goodwife Picraft, -------

146

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

285

Mrs Elizabeth Potter, Mr Tho : Potter's wife,

Powell at Weston, -

Mrs Powell a scholemrs wife, -

Jane Potter of Duffield, - -

Mrs Price, _______

167

Pil. Pacifica, __„____

175

Piles in child-bed, ______

213

John Primer's wife, ______

132

Mrs Pickard, _______

230

De partu nnllo, _____„_

266

Elianor Ragge, ______

225—106

Paith Kaworth, _______

251

Mrs Season, - - ■ -

Goodwife Renshaw, ______

Jeremy Rhodes wife, - - - _ - -

Mr Robert Ring's wife, ______

215

Risedale's wife, -------

153

Isaac Saint's wife, _______

Mrs Shelton, - - - . - . -

Mrs Sheevirall, _______

Mrs Shaw of London,

- 251—37

286

Observations in Midwifery, by

Smedly, ........

Alice Smith of Darby, ....._

Mrs Smith of Quinborrow, .... -

210

Joane Smith, ...-.._.

218

Mrs Snead, ..._.--.

130

Mrs Mary Spademan,

Spink in the strand, ....

211

Jane Spencer, ........

220

Elizabeth Stone, -------

255

Secondine, - - - - - - -'-

Mrs Staynes, - -

130

Scouring in child-bed, ------

217

Superfetation, -------

262

Sr Tennebs Evank, -------

135

Emme Toplace, - - - - - - -

271

Woman tossed in a blanket, -

156

John Twigs, -------

120

Elizabeth Twomley, -------

Twins how many at a time, _...-..

The latter twin to bee fetched away presently after the first, -

44—47

Some twins included all in one after-birth, -

50—49

Tab's wife, --------

130

Mrs Walker,

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

287

Mrs Judith Ward,

Mrs Watson,

Mrs Whitehalgh at Park-hall, .....

166

Dr John Wilby,

244

Mrs Jane Wildbore, --....

22—141

Goodwife Wilder, -_-...

Mrs Willis nigh London, -

A countrywoman nigh London, •

Councellour Milward's wife, .....

A woman tossed in a blanket, ....

156

No woman born a midwife, ......

Italian & Irish women, -

Woman with a broken arme, -

Colton poore woman, ------

Mrs Wollaston,

118

Shestock woman delivered under a park pale,

233

The womb forced open by straining, ...

E. W.,

268

A woman delivered after shee was buried,

271

Goodwife Yates of Darby, -

The Lady Zouch, --.._..

Zacutus Lusitanus, - _

288

Observations in Midwifery, by

An Additionall Table.

Abortion, 263

Women, that, after abortion, conceived, and were in due time
delivered, and, after that deliverance, ejected the reliques
of the abortion a foregoing, - - - 263 see 265

The after-birth, - - 11—116 &c— 222— 235— 236— 237

Afterbirth to bee fetched as soon as the child is borne, and how

to fetch it, 236—26—27

What to do after the afterbirth is fetched, - - - - 28

When some part of the after-birth remaines what to do, - 28

Strang afterbirths, 50 — 166 &c

What to do, when afterbirth offereth it self before the child bee

borne, 168 &c— 238

To expell the after-burden, - - - - - - 173

The membrane Amnion, ..... 265 — 3

Apothecaries, ........ 248

To mitigate after-paines, - - - - - - 256

Arme, - .- 55—90—43—120—93—95—97—98—

99—125—199—208—218—247—249—250 97 &c

Madame Arnault a Frenchwoman, - 24

Aron roots, 175

Dr Audley, 180

Belly, back, buttocks,

A Baker's wife at Scrapton,

Balsamum Hystericum,

91—120—129—130 &c.

89
177

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

289

Some children born by the buttocks, - - -

What first to do in a difficult birth, ....

To alter the birth by rolling the belly, -

Mrs Beaumont mightily given to sweetmeats, -

203

The bed to deliver women in, ----- -

A natural! birth made difficult, -

Two things requisite in a naturall birth, ....

A birth without the midwife's help, -

An easy naturall birth, -_-... 39 — 33

—56

Preparatives for birth, --.-.. 64

—41

Causes of difficult birth, .... 51 — 52 fee-

-102

Not to turne the birth to the head, -

123

A breach made from the birth into the fundament,

159

Cold hinders the birth, ....__

160

Outward passages of the birth-place stopt,

241

Eesemblances of the birth, .... 275 — 276—

-277

Clotters of blood, --------

Use of the bolster in delivery, - 75 — 91 — 154. How to bee

placed, _--.-._.

Child much entered through the bones in a naturall birth,

Unnaturall births, - - - - - - -102—

-120

111 position of bones, - - - - - - -108 &c

Both bones of arm broke, and did not unite again, -

Breech taken for the head, - ■ -

132

Anne Bradford of Walton midwife, -

171

To distinguish buttocks from head, -

134

Bones called ossa pubis part not in time of delivery as Pareus

will have it, and Dr Harvey also, -

Naturall and unnaturall birth, - - -

290

Observations in Midwifery, by

Madam Louyce Boarges, -._...

Ill conformation of the bones, - 109 — 80 — 11

C.
Cancer in the womb taken for a child, -

2 &c

Cancerous tumours, - - - - - - -227-

-228

At what age cancers happen to women, - - -

230

An Aphorisme of Hippocrates about cancers,

230

Cauda Mulierum, --------

257

Child sticks not to the back or side, as some midwives talk,

How it lies in the womb, __-_-_

The reason why the child would bee out of the womb,

Child scrabling with his fingers at the mouth of the womb, 22-

-140

Child comming crosse as midwives say, -

To know whether the child bee alive or dead, -

A child born in a ditch, -------

270

A child born in the grave, - - - -

272

A naturall foole with child hanged, for being delivered of an

abortion, nobody being by - - - - - 273 &c

A giant-like child, -------

105

Child too great, --------

107

Mercatus against cutting children, -

Oile of charity, --------

177

Things to draw forth the child, ------

205

A woman with child when no passage for seed into the womb,

242

Women, that thought themselves with child, who yet were not,

and continued barren ever after, - - 266 — 267—

-268

A child carried two yeares and above in the womb,

270

To know when the child is weak, -

Overgrown children, - - - . - - - -88

—86

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

291

- 3—265
3
4

62—68—69—70

- 63—5

7
40
71
64

A rash, ignorant chirurgeon, -

To abate the paines of childbearing,

The membrane chorion, -----

It groweth to the secondine, - - - -

What the chorion is like when the after birth is fetched,

The benefit of clysters before travaile, - 5 — 18

An example of a clyster, -

The quantity of it,

Margaret Cliffe, ------

111 succes of a clyster given before labour,

Clyster pipe, .......

Oscoccygis, - 76—80—81—106—110—109

Conceptions, brought forth whole, with membranes, most natural!, 40

216

202 &c— 83

198

266

- 88—89

Dan-

88 &c

Against a convolvulus, -

Convulsions, __.__..

To deliver speedily in convulsions,
Goodwife Cole, __..__.
What posture best in using the crochet -
When safest to draw the child with the crochet, -
The fashion of the crochet, -
Child drawn with the crochet, -
To draw with the crochet, 114—127—150—152—153.
gerous, __--_--
To distinguish paines of colick from paines in travaile, ■
To recover one grown cold after delivery,
Mercatus against cutting children, -

Some new thing in every delivery,

nn2

292

Observations in Midwifery, by

3 humours come away before the time of delivery, - - 13

No separation of Ilium from os sacrum in time of delivery, 15 — 16

Severall wayes of delivery, and which best, 18 — 73 — 74 — 153 — 154

What to bee done before delivery, - - - 37 &c — 19 — 41

What at delivery, what after, - - - 28—29—25—26

A souldier's wife in Ireland delivered without any help, • 34 &c

A woman delivered in a common, - - - - - 35

Another in a wood, __.---_ 35

A powder to promove delivery, - - - - - 60

Good to keep bed long, after delivery, - - - - 213

A woman delivered in a park, nobody by, - 233

Another delivered in a lane, - 234

An easy delivery, -------- 274

Too much drines, - .... 102—105—107

E.
Midwives to use no enforcement, ----- 9

Why this book in English, ------ 2

Effluxion, . . . 263

Excoriations in the womb, - - - - - - 222

F.
Fainting fits, -------- 211 &c

Sometimes the birth unfortunate by the feet, - - - 148

Mrs. F. of Hopton, 58

Fluxes of blood, 176 &c

A medicine to stop a flux, - - - - - - 179

Watery flux, 184—185

Flouding most endangers the mother, - - - - 196

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

293

The child's feet in the womb, -

130

To help flouding, .-__.__

200

Womb alwayes open in fluxes, --_--_

187

When flouding comes from vagina uteri, and what to do then, 188-

-193

A course of physick for that purpose, - - - -188-

-189

Bloody fluxes from whence, • -.

187

In great bloody fluxes to deliver speedily,

187

Fluxes of blood frequently fatall, - - - - 187 fee-

-191

Distilled water of hog's dung good for a flux, - 190 — 201 see 255

When flux comes from inner part of womb, what to do, 193 — 196-

-197

Fluxes after delivery, -------

198

For a flux of blood, 231-

-258

When foetus would come out of the womb,

Some new thing in extraction of every dead foetus,

151

Better learned by seeing than reading, -

151

Water cause of delivery of a dead, putrefied foetus, - - 132-

-254

A Foetus solely contributing to his own release,

265

Verba Nicolai Fontani, ------

115

Forcible vigour of a lively foetus, -

243

A naturall foole, __-_-.-

265

Foot, 122—124—142—208—209-

-136

Strang moisture out of fundament in time of delivery,

Child full of gangrene blisters, - - - - -

105

Gentlenes to bee used in laying women, - - - -

Mrs Grant, ---------

262

Haling of women naught, - - 6 — 8 — 9 — 32 — 33 — 54-

-158

294

Observations in Midwifery, by

The hand better then crochet, &c - - - 149 — 57

One hand, ---_-_■_. 89

Hands and feet, _._..._.. 146 &c

To distinguish between hand, foot, thigh, - - - 134 — 163

Handy operation intent of this treatise, - 1

Dr Hatton, - - - 180

Great head, .... 46—75—125—59-127

Head bending, -------- 76

Head, - - - 77—80—81—82—84—86—123—124—125

Skin of child's head swoln, into which the braines were squeezed, 85

Dr Harvey commended, - - - - - 118 — 119

How to get child's head out when it remaines alone in the

womb, - 149—150 &c

To prevent separating of the head from the shoulders, - 150

What to do when the head is forth, and the rest of the body sticks, 154

What to do when you cannot draw the head out with the crochet, 157

A distorted head, - - 163 — 166

A great mistake about a child's head, - - 164- — 132 — 134

What to do when the head is past the bones, and can get no

farther/ _._--..- 58

An honeycomb, -..-.._. 357 — 258

Goodwife Hood, 268

Hurtles after delivery, - - - - - - - 128

Hydrocephalus, - - - - - - - - 127

The tunicle hymen, 258 — 259 — 260

A woman with child that had that tunicle, - - - 261

Thomas James's wife, - - - - - - - 35

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

295

Jennings the Apothecary,

240

A medicine for the Iliack passion, -

216

Impostumation on the navel of a woman, ...

133

Impostume after delivery, - - - -

220

A great person in Ireland, ------

239

"Wild Irish break ossa pubis of female infants,

Wild Irish how delivered, - -

Weak infant how knowne,

No such thing as coccyx broke in maids in Italy,

A woman of Kegworth, -------

Doctor Kettleby, -------

271

Knees, 91 — 126-

-138

Forerunners of labour, ------

To prepare women for labour, ------

To facilitate labour, -------

A letter, ---------

173

A woman dwelling nigh Lichfield, - - - •

230

For a loosnes, --------

110

Good wife Menil, --_._..

176

Midwife not absolutely necessary, - - - 11 — 31 — 32

—33

Midwife's office, 5—11

—12—14—20—26—42—118—156—241—275—276-

-377

Books not sufficient to make a good midwife, 12 — 151 — 191—

-206

296

Observations in Midwifery, by

Younger mid wives rebuked, ----- 30 — 72 — 73

This book containes chiefly the Auctour's own wayes in midwifery, 2

Cruelty of midwives, 55—119—133—151—153—155—

156—157 &c— 161— 162 &c— 170— 209— 224— 247

— 250—251—255—277. How a London midw: made 73

To dry up the milk, 213

Too much moisture about passages of the womb dangerous, 103 — 102

Demola 253

Mopishnes after hard labour dangerous, - - - 214 — 225

Moreland the Innkeeper, ._-.-_ 77

N.
To know when the child commeth naturally, when not, - - 25

To deliver a woman when the child commeth naturally, - 26

Navelstring the guide to bring away the secondine, - - 5

111 to have the navel-string long in the world, -

O.
Oakewater, -----..-_ 227

Country observations, - - - - - - - 275

Salad oile to prepare women's bodies, - - - - 61

Opening of dead bodies ordinary in Prance and Holland, - 254

To distinguish paines of travaile from those of colick, cancerous

tumours, &c _-_-__. 5

Pil. pacifica, __--___- 175

De partu nullo, .--..-.__ 266

Pessaries not reach the place from whence flouding comes, - 202

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

Piles, caused by hard labour, cured,
John Plimer's wife, - -

213
132

A Countesse voided something like stalks of raisins, - - 181
A doubtfull remedy in a desperate disease better then none, 216 — 236
Pareus his way of delivering some women by ribbands, - 120

Goodwife Eight, 250

Eisings in the body like hurtles, - ... 128

A scholemaster's wife, ---__.. £9

Scouring in first seven dayes generally fatall, - - - 217 — 237
A medicine for a scouring, - - -•- . -'218

The secondine grows to the botom of the womb while the woman

is with child, -----__ 2

Upper part of it, ------- _ 3

Middle part of it, ------- 4

Matter of the secondine, - ibid

Cesarean section, - - - - - - . 101

Shoulder fixed in the birth, - - - - - - 75

When the skin of a child flayes off in the womb, - .- 85

Skins comming away in child-bed dangerous, - - - 225

Skull divided, 108

A child's skull taken out of an impostumated side, - - 266
Secondines that twins are inclosed in, - 46

Child born inclosed in the secondine, ... 40

Sleeping after delivery, --..... 214 — 234

297

298

Observations in Midwifery, by

To cause sleep, - ------

A must loathsome smell of a dead child,

Sneezing to promove the birth, - - -

When the Auctor left Stafford, -

Mrs Staynes, -------

Pulvis stegnoticus, ------

Stones, wrapt in slime, and skins, from the bladder,
Stones wrapped in flesh and skins,
Superfetation, - - -

Sutures of a child's head firm, aud hard,
For a swelling, - -

Infusion of tin in white wine, -

What to bee done when travaile approacheth,

For thirstines, -------

Signes of travaile approaching,

A forerunner of travaile, -

Medicines not to bee too soone given to promove travaile,

An hard scirrhous tumour in one side of the womb,

A tumour as big as a peny loaf in the womb,

Not good to have vagina uteri softish, -

Cancerous ulcer, -------

Vomiting in labour, and after delivery not to bee liked,

Breaking of waters in women with child, ...

85-

219
-132
54
238
130
189
106
226—227
262
126
221

99
18

196

229

238

214
229
215

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

299

No delivery of a woman till womb open, and waters, in

part,

be issued, _..„_-

If infant come with waters, birth more easy,

Danger of waters untimely let forth, - •

20 — S

-254

Two or 3 gallons of water voided 5 dayes before delivery,

Waters, dribling long, what they signifie,

- Yt

>5-

-186

When to let out the waters though not broken,

194

Driblings of the water most endanger the child,

196

New waters, ..._...

270

What to bee done in By-waters, as midwives call them,

Strang blasts of wind from the womb in time of. delivery,

—67

Winstandly, ..._._-

184

A self-willed woman, ------

—78

Weaknes of woman to bee delivered,

102

Violent motion hurtfull to women with child,

182

Women, dying in childbed, not to bee suddenly buried,

265

A woman, dead over night, delivered next morning,

265

The womb, _..__--

228

Outward orifice of the womb closed, and how cured,

242 &c

Best and safest way to preserve a weak woman in extremity,

154

Neck of the womb, being scirrhous, cured,

246

But hardly beleeved, -.._-.

246

Womb fallen down, and after cut off, -

251

see

252

Womb keeps not alwayes one certain site,

122

*Willughby, Mrs., Midwife.

THE END.

THE COUNTREY MIDWIFE'S

OPUSCULUM OR VADE MECUM.

SHEWING THE WAYES HOW TO DELIVER
ANY DIFFICULT BIRTH

BEE IT NATTJEALL OR UNNATUEALL.

PUBLISHED FOR THE HELPING AND EASING OP WOMEN IN THEIR
EXTREMETIES AND FOR SAVING THE INFANTAS LIVES.

LONG PRACTISED AND WITH GOOD STJCCESSE USED IN THE
TIME OF THE WOMAN'S TRAVAILE.

DIRECTING HOW THE MIDWIFE SHOULD CARRY HER SELF IN THE

HANDY OPERATION

FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE ENDING OF THE WOMAN'S DELIVERY.

By PERCIVALL WILLUGHBY,

Gentleman.

There bee diverse births mentioned by severall Auctors, with their
various formes of the child proceeding forth of the womb, expressed,
and shewed by their schemes.

All which may bee reduced to two, either to the head, or to the

feet.

The birth, comming by the head, is called a naturall birth. The
birth by the feet is called by midwives an unnaturall birth.

To these may be added the birth by the buttocks, which is not

usual!.

And by one of these three wayes all women bee delivered.

But, for that the birth, comming by the buttocks, may bee easily
altered, and that the infant may bee brought forth by the feet ; as also,
for that this birth hath been fatal to some women, and may again prove
dangerous to others, miles it bee turned to the feet, I therefore say,
that all births bee produced either by the

Head or by the feet,

All unnaturall births comming by the arme, belly, or back, side,
or buttocks, or by the knees, or with a distorted neck, may easily and
quickly bee brought to the feet.

304

Observations in Midwifery, by

And by the feet of the infant (miles the birth bee monstrous, or
much besides the usuall limits of nature) an understanding midwife may
quickly deliver her labouring woman of all unnaturall births (shee hav-
ing no ill conformation of the bones, occasioned by the rickets, or too
narrow a passage, or by other unusuall infirmities, or tumours, or sores
in the genitall parts) although shee have no throwes to assist nature for
the thrusting forth of the birth, by drawing the infant gently by the
feet.

The birth by the feet usually proveth good, and fortunate, so that
the midwife knoweth, and understandeth the well ordering of the de-
livery.

Let midwives read what hath been written in my observations, let
them consider diligently the severall reports, not fained, or taken upon
the supposition, or the surmized thoughts of Auctors, or man's fantasy,
sitting and meditating in his study ; but on that, which really de facto
hath been performed by mee in the travailing woman's chamber (through
God's assistance, and his gracious permission) before severall midwives,
by mee assisted, and other women there present.

And God Almighty, in mercy, give, and increase to midwives
their knowledg, and understandings, with much tender affections, and
willingnes to comfort; and help all their suffering, and distressed
women, desirous of their assistance in the afflicted time of their travaile,
as well the poor, as the rich.

And let midwives know, That they bee nature's servants, let them
alwayes remember, That gentle proceedings (with moderate warm keep-
ing, and having their endeavours dulcified with sweet words) will best
ease, and relieve, and soonest deliver their labouring women ; after that

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

305

their bodies bee prepared, and fitted for their labours, by gentle clysters,
which must bee but little for quantity (not past six ounces) a little
warmed, and given luke-warm, the which must bee retained as long as
possibly may bee, for the better bringing forth of the common excrements,
which might obstruct the passage; and to supple, and to dilate the way,
for the making of a more easy delivery; unles nature of it self doth
performe this work, by giving of a loose stoole, or two, before the
approaching labour. In which case clysters, or other medicaments may
bee forborne.

And let the midwife (before shee commeth to her pallet-bed, or
knees) perswade the labouring woman to make water, so that the fulnes
of the bladder may not straiten the waves of delivery.

And, for the labouring woman's chamber, let it bee made dark,
having a glimmering light, or candle-light placed partly behind the
woman, or on one side, and a moderate warming fire in it, and let it not
bee filled with much company, or many women; five, or six women
assisting will bee sufficient.

And, having her body anointed with Balsamum Hystericum, let
her now and then (if shee please) walk gently in her chamber, or to lie
quietly on her bed, untill Dame nature (Eve's good midwife) shall will
her to lie on her bed, or to come to her knees, for her more quick, and
easy delivery.

Every Countryman knoweth (through his observations) That each
fruit (bee it apple, peare, or plumb, nut, or acorn) that when it is full
ripe, that it will drop off it self without shaking of the tree.

306

Observations in Midwifery, by

But, that green, immature fruits will not bee soon brought down,
but that the shaking violently cloth oft break the branches.

And so putting women to labour before fitting time, together with
haling, and enforcing their bodies, doth no good, but hurt, and hindereth
their delivery, and oft ruinates the mother, with the infant, by lacerations,
and the forcible struglings of the midwife.

And I would have no medicines given to force throwes, miles
nature faint, and that towards the end of the travaile.

I have read many bookes, with all the late writers in midwifery,
and I do perceive that they all keep, and follow one common road, taking
their severall schemes, or figures, with the explanations of them, one
from another, changing nothing from the dictates of their foregoers.

In severall of these schemes various things may bee perceived,
which will bee troublesome to any labouring woman, which a judicious
practicer well observing will not follow, or approve necessary to be usefull,
for that they will, no way, comfort, or help the labouring woman. See
the schemes in what I have varied from their opinions.

From mine, or their directions let midwives chuse the best, and
facilest wayes for the relieving, and easing their women in affliction.

And, to decide all various disputes, let reason bee the Juclg, let
opinion, and experience argue the dubious doubts, and wayes of practice
in midwifery, and, after a full debate, let unspotted truth record for
succeeding times, what is most fit to be followed, and used.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

307

And for that all women bee delivered, usually, either lying on a
pallet-bed, or kneeling upon a bolster ; if the woman bee weak, a pallet-
bed may. bee thought the most convenient place.

But, if shee bee strong, and of an able body, and the child lively,
I then know no cause contradicting, why shee may not bee as well, or,
rather, better laid kneeling on a bolster, then lying on a pallet-bed, when
that her body is fitted for the birth ; with this caution, so that shee will
not bee overruled by the midwife, to make too much hast to come unto
her knees for her delivery.

For, in so doing, the ignorant midwife will take occasion (least
that shee should bee thought to bee idle in her calling) by too much
strugling, or haling, to make the birth (which, of it self, would bee easy,
and quickly laid) to become difficult, and of long continuance, and very
dolorous to the woman.

I have known that it hath proved a great happines to some poor
women, for whose delivery the midwife did not make too sudden hast,
that they have been better, and easier delivered in the midwife's absence,
through nature's force, then, in probability, they would have been with
her assistance, as severall of my observations will make manifest.

And in such creatures, as desire to conceale their great bellies,
that these have been helped better without midwives, by nature's force,
and sooner delivered, then honest, good women, that have suffered the
struglings, and the too much hasty officiousnes of conceited midwives.

When all the gates bee set open by nature, and there is no
obstructive hinderance left in the way, the retentive faculty being
weakened, and the expulsive made strong; then nature will thrust forth,

pp'

308

Observations in Midwifery, by

with ease, whatsoever is in the body retained, which confirmeth the
sayings of good Auctours, That the longer the woman retaineth, and
retardeth the birth, the easier, and more succesfull proveth the delivery.

Therefore I have adviced some women, that have formerly suffered
much bitternes, and pain by their hasty midwives proceedings, not to bee
too forward to thrust themselves into their midwives hands, and not to
let the midwife force them to sit on her stoole, or woman's lap, or to
come to their knees, nor to touch them, more than to anoint their bodies,
untill the waters should flow of themselves, without any enforcement
from the midwife ; and that, with their owne fingers, they could touch
the child's head ; and yet, for all this forwardnes of approaching delivery,
not to hasten to their knees, before strong, through throwes did come
upon them, to force forward the birth ; assuring them, That it was no
part of the midwife's office to force the birth, her part and duty was
onely to receive the child.

Many women have given mee thanks for such directions, telling
mee, That, in observing of them, they had found much ease, with a
better delivery, then, formerly, they have had.

In a naturall birth, the labouring woman, kneeling at a convenient
and fitting time, in a bending posture, holding her hands about another
woman's neck, that sitteth afore her, having a pillow laid on her lap, on
which the labouring woman, resting her belly, will have much command
of her self, and of her belly, in this bending posture; and more, then if
shee did sit on a woman's lap, or on the midwife's stoole ; for that the
birth will bee pressed somewhat forward by the pillow, and her own
thighes ; and, through this bending posture, shee will bee the speedier.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

309

delivered, leaving the midwife nothing more to do, then to receive the
child.

And the woman, that sitteth afore her, on whose neck shee leaneth,
may much ease her, by putting her hands under the woman's amies, the
better to staj^, and bear up her body, as shee kneeleth.

In all unnaturall births, comming with the feet forwards, the
woman will not bee so well delivered, unles shee kneeleth on a bolster,
in a bending posture, during the time of her delivery, aud the midwife
to bee placed behind the woman, to help the woman, by gentle drawing
the child by the feet.

In all births (whether natural, or unnatural) where there is need
to alter, and turn the birtii to another posture, the woman will not
conveniently bee delivered, unles shee kneeleth on a bolster, and have
her head put down in a slope descending posture, to rest on a pillow,
placed on a woman's lap, sitting before her on the bed, for the better
returning of the child back again into the womb, and for the getting of
a larger passage, to find out, and to fetch forth the feet of the child, the
which cannot well bee don, as shee lyeth on her back, overthvvart the
bed; in which posture shee must bee kept, untill the midwife hath
brought forth the feet of the infant, and hath received them in a soft
linen cloth, for the easier holding, and drawing forth of the feet.

Then let the midwife raise up the labouring woman's head, and
keep her knees in a slope, bending posture, ascending, with her hands
holden about the woman's neck, that was sitting on the bed afore her.

In which posture let the midwife keep the woman kneeling, untill
shee hath drawn the child forth unto the loines, then (if need require)

310

Observations in Midwifery, by

sliee must turue the infant's face towards the back of the woman, and
afterwards draw gently again, untill the infant bee brought to the
shoulders, or to the neck.

Then the midwife must slide up her hands between the woman's
backbone, and the child's face, and put her middle linger a little way
into the child's mouth, to presse down the chin into the child's throat,
and after placing her other two fingers on each side of the child's nose,
so draw forth the child's head, gently, and leasurely ; holding by the
child's body, or feet, as shee draweth, untill sliee hath brought it forth.

And I humbly thank God, that I ever found this way good, and
easy to bee performed for the woman's safety in the delivery, and ever
prosperous for the saving of the child's life.

In false conceptions, and small abortments, let not the midwife
trouble the woman in being too busy, with her too much officiousnes, to
bring it away, for that nature, and her own strength, with quiet keeping,
and comfortable warmnes, will soonest free her of these sufferings, by
driving them forth, without any other enforcement from the midwife's
hands.

And the after-burden will ever bee better found, and drawn away
as the woman kneeleth, then it can bee as shee lyeth on her back upon
her pallet-bed.

And, untill I am convinced of any mistake in this way of delivery
of unnaturall births by the child's feet, let all practicers in midwifery
suffer mee, without feare, to maintain, That any unnaturall birth may
easier, and more speedier bee laid by a judicious, and well practiced
midwife, comming by the feet, then it can bee by turning the birth to

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

311

the head, to bee delivered in a naturall posture. The striving to turn the
birth will increase the woman's sorrows, and the midwife's enforcements
will multiply her afflictions, by endeavouring to turn away the birth from
the feet, to bring it by the head.

I affirme, That where I have found the infant to have had a great
head, and a larg body, that there I have turned back the head, and have
fetched down the feet, and so have quickly delivered the woman, and so
have saved the infant's life.

Whereas, otherwise, both mother and child, after a long suffering
labour, in all probability, would have perished together.

For by the head, as the infant slideth, or commeth to the birth, an
understanding midwife knoweth, that with patience shee must wait, and
stay nature's time, and that all this while that shee cannot take off the
sharp throwes, and pangs of labor, the which the woman will suffer.

And it will bee an happines to the labouring woman, if, in the
interim of time, to these paines an hasty midwife doth not adde severall
afflictions, through her too much strivings to procure a more speedy
delivery.

When the infant commeth unnaturally any way, and more par-
ticularly by the arm, back, or belly, or with a distorted neck, there the
midwife, having altered the birth, may soon deliver the woman by the
child's feet, as shee kneeleth, by gentle, and easy drawing it downwards,
(as it hath been oft made manifest by my practice) although shee bee
not in pain, and have not throws to force, or drive forth the infant.

And this way of practice in all difficult births to deliver women
by the child's feet, I shall wish all midwives to follow, untill it shall bee
disallowed by manifest reasons, and daily practice.

312

Observations in Midwifery, by

Humanum est errare I may bee deceived, but I suppose that I
have not wandered from the truth, and that I have taken the direct, and
readiest way for the delivery of women, having had two judicious
Associates to accompany mee in these travailes (long practice, and
confirmed experience) both which have been followed with good successe,
and found approved true in the labouring woman's chamber, and seen
by mee experimentally performed by severall midwives, and women there
present.

I will willingly give thanks to any one, that will shew mee my
mistakes, or that would take some pains to set forth a more eas}7, and
safer passage for the birth of children, and for the woman's good, and
safety, in dulcifying the terrours, and sufferings of delivery, too oft made
dolorous, and sometime destructive, by the unadvised doings of ignorant
midwives.

Head.

The schemes, and figures of the birth, with their various postures.

In a naturall birth, when the infant's head shall proceed first, with
the rest of the body in a due order, and where the mother is strong, and
the child lively, and the woman fittingly prepared, and ordered for her
bed, or knees, with the anointing of the passages belonging to the birth,
and keeping her body warm;

There let not the midwife use any enforcing to bring forth the
child, but commit all the ensuing work to God's mercy, and time, for
the bringing forth of the birth, and hee will assist nature (whose onely
wrork it is) for the bringing forth of the infant.

After the head is born, if the child, through the greatnes of the
shoulders, should stick at the neck, let the midwife put her finger under

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

313

the child's armpit, and give it a nudg, thrusting it to the other side with
her finger, drawing the child, or sh.ee may quickly bring forth the
shoulders, without offering to put it forth by her hands clasped about
the neck, which might endanger the breaking of the neck.

In this birth the midwife's office, or duty is no more, but to attend
patiently on nature's wayes, and to bee ready to receive the child, and
afterwards to help (if need require) to draw forth the after-burden, and
to see that the mother, and the child have fitting accommodations.

Where the head and body of the child, in a naturall birth, bee too
great for the passage, and when anointing with unguents, or oiles, and
sneezing with powders, and the woman's endeavours, and enforcements
afford no help, then the midwife must turn back the head, and bring the
birth to the feet, as shee kneeleth in a slope, descending posture ; and
by the feet let the midwife produce the infant, as the labouring woman
kneeleth on the bolster, and having turned the birth, let her then raise
the woman's head unto a slope, ascending posture, and then afterwards
to draw the child forth by the feet.

Let the midwife oft anoint the woman's body with convenient
oiles, or ointments, to cause a more easy sliding of the child, that the
woman's sufferings may bee the sooner ended.

Sometimes the child comes naturally with the head formost, but
the head is placed amisse, having the neck bowed, and it stands awry,
leaning towards the flanks, or otherwise, which makes that the child
cannot come forth in? a straight, and direct line.

The child being thus turned, it is very hard, yea even impossible,
that the mother should bee delivered, either through any endeavours of
the child, or by any labour of the woman's enforcings, although shee

Head and

body (oo

great.

A crooked

neck.

314

Observations in Midwifery, by

strive, and strain her self very much, by holding in her breath, or by
usiug any other waves; for the more the child strives to come forth, the
more hee entangles, and wreaths his neck, and, by this strugling, hee
makes himself, and his mother weak, through the paines, they both
suffer.

And this birth will not bee well helped any other way, but by
turning the birth unto the feet, and with using the slope, bending posture,
descending, wildest that the woman kneeleth on the bolster.

Guillimeau willeth, That the woman bee laid overthwart a bed, for
the better convenience of the chirurgion, or midwife, and to have a
bolster put under her head, her back being a little raised, and her hips
lifted up somewhat higher, with pillows laid under them, and her hinder
parts to lie within half a foot of the bed's side ; and then the chirurgion,
with his anointed fingers, must thrust upwards the body of the child,
either by the shoulders, or breast, or by the back, so that, by these
meanes^, the neck of the child will even come of it self to the right
place.

And, for the better help of the chirurgion, at the same instant hee
shall slide in his other hand (yet not taking out the former) where with
finding the place where the head doth rest, and leane, hee may easily
draw his hand towards the side of the child's head, and so shall hee
bring it gently to the naturall place, and, by these meanes, the child's
head will rest between his hands, to bee set right.

Our late Auctours follow Guillimeau' s directions, to thrust up the
shoulders of the infant, that the head may fall down to the orifice of the
womb, as being nearest to it. And hee saith, That, if there bee any
other way attempted, shee must bee brought back to the bed, and rolled,

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

315

and so stirred, untill the infant shall come to a more commodious forme
of birth.

This rocking, and rolling the woman on the bed, is the lest
affliction, that the midwife putteth the woman unto. It may casually
alter the birth, but I beleeve, that it seldome, or never doth it.

As for the placing of the woman on a bed, according to
Guillimeau's direction, I know that it will bee terrible to the woman, to
bee held with violence, wildest that the chimrgion operateth.

Also, I conceive this bed to bee useles for the chirurgion's conve-
nience, for hee cannot reach the woman's body at so remote a distance,
shee lying half a foot from the bed's side.

Furthermore, hee cannot, as shee lyeth, well put back the child,
for that the work will lie under his hand, and the child will rather come
upon him, than fall from his hands.

And lastly, to have both the hands of the chirurgion, at the same
time, in the woman's body, to receive the child's head between his
hands, to set it right, must needs mightily extend, and enlarg the
woman's body, and how this will fefe done, without great stretching, and
tearing those places, I cannot well imagine.

I conceive, in this delivery, that it will bee a better way, and with
more ease by the midwife to bee performed, to have the woman to
kneele on an high, hard bolster, and to put the woman's head down in
a slope, descending posture unto a pillow laid in a woman's lap, sitting
afore her; afterward, to slide up her anointed hand into the woman's
body, and to fetch forth the child's feet, and so to lay her, by drawing
by the feet, as it hath often been expressed, in diverse of my observa-
tions, seen by mee performed.

qq.-

316

Observations in Midwifery, by

When the midwife hath gently drawn the child by the feet unio
the knees, then to raise up the woman's head, and let the labouring
woman he placed forthwith in a slope, bending posture, ascending, and
let her hold the woman with her hands about the neck, that was sitting
afore her. So will the midwife more easily draw forth the rest of the
infant's body without strugling, or enforcement, not any way hurting,
or tearing the woman.

I know, that this way will prove more easy for the woman's
delivery, and better to bee performed by the chirurgion, or midwife, to
find the child's feet as shee kneeleth, and, by them, to bring the birth
forwards, than to strive to put back the birth, by the shoulders, or
breast, to place the head in a right posture, to receive it between the
hands for a naturall birth.

In all births, laid by the feet, the child's face must ever bee turned
to the back of the woman. Otherwise, the child's chin will bee endan-
gered to bee catched by the share-bone, and then it will be a difficult
busines to fetch off the head, and to save the child's life.

How to turne the child's face to the back of the woman, and when
to do it, as also how, with safety, the child's head will bee brought forth,
the following unnaturall birth will make manifest.

In all births, after the infant is bora, let the midwife shake the
after-birth from side to side, gently holding by the navel-string, after-
wards, to put up her anointed hand, and to gather the after birth into
her hand, and to hold it easily, without squeezing, then let her cause the
woman to cough, boken, or sneeze, and this motion, with easy drawing,
will drive forth hand, and after-birth together.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

317

Feet with
the hands
stretch-
ed down-
wards by
the sides.
1.

UNNATUEALL BIRTHS.

When the infant commeth to the birth with both his feet forward,
and his hands stretched downward, lying by his sides; do not disquiet
the woman, by drawing up the child's legs, to bring downe the child's
head, in hopes of a naturall birth, neither take care to secure the infant's
armes, that it may not have power to draw them back againe.

But, in this birth, let the midwife place the woman, kneeling on a
bolster, in a convenient, slope, bending posture, ascending.

And let the labouring woman hold her hands about another
woman's neck, sitting afore her.

And, having her body anointed with fitting oiles, or unguents, to
cause a more easy sliding of the child, let the midwife place herself be-
hind the woman, and take the child's feet in a warm, soft, linen cloth;
let her draw leasurely by the feet, untill it come to the loines. And, in
the drawing, if that the midwife perceive, that the child's face is not
towards the woman's back, after that the child is brought forth to the
loines, there let the midwife take the body of the child, and wrap it in a
soft, linen cloth, and, holding it easily between her hands, let her gently
turn the body, and set the child's face against the woman's back.

The child's body, thus held, will easily bee turned, without any
let, or trouble to the woman, or danger to the child.

After this, let the midwife draw again leasurely, untill the child
shall come to the upper part of the shoulders, or to the neck.

Then, let the midwife slide up her anointed hand between the
child's face, and the rump-bone of the mother's back, and put her middle
finger a little way into the child's mouth, to presse the child's chin

318

Observations in Midwifery, by

Upon the
mother's
belly, or

against the

child's

head.

See this

Auct. obs.
pag. 92.

and some
part of

the hand

above the

head. ib.

Feet with
the hands
lifted up
above the
head.

downward to the pit of the child's throat, and, afterward, to place her
two ringers on each side of the nose, and so shee will keep the neck of
the womb open from closing about the child's neck, and free the infant
from die danger of being throtled, or strangled.

After this, then, let the midwife desire some assisting woman to
place a flat hand upon the child's head, and gently to presse forward the
departing infant, at that time, when the midwife draweth leasurely by
the child's feet, or some other woman for her.

Thus, with the assisting woman's help, the labouring woman will
quickly bee delivered of this unnaturall birth, and the child safely born,
without the pulling off the head, or breaking the child's neck, or any
way endangering the child's life.

When the infant commeth with his feet forward, and the hands
lifted up above the head ;

Let not the midwife thrust back the infant's feet into the womb,
in hopes to turn it, and to bring it to a naturall birth by the head :

But, as afore directed, and in a slope, bending posture, ascending,
to deliver the woman by the child's feet, without striving to bring down
an arm or armes.

But if, to no purpose, the midwife hath a desire to bring down the
arm, or armes, shee may easily do it, by putting up her fingers above the
child's shoulder, and drawing the arme by it.

The child's armes bee apt, of themselves, to come down, without
enforcement, before that the child's body is brought to the shoulders, or
neck.

Peicivall Willughby, Gentleman.

319

But Pareus counselleth, when that the child commeth by the feet,
to keep up an arm, saying, That one of his armes must bee stretched out
above his head, and the other down by his side. For, otherwise, the
orifice of the womb, when it were delivered of such a grosse trunk (as
it would bee, when his body should be drawn out with his armes along
by his sides) would so shrink, and draw it self together, when the body
should come unto the neck (onely by the accord of nature requiring
union) that it would strangle, and kill the child.

Guillimeau, the French King's chirurgion, saith, If both the
armes bee stretched out above the head, you shall bring down one of
them close to the side, and let the other stay stretched out, that, when
the shoulders are come forth, the said arm may bee (as it were) a stay,
or splint to the neck, for the passage of the head, to hinder the neck of
the womb from closing up, and fastening about the neck of the child,
and to hinder the child from comminff forth :

For the arm, or armes, being lifted up over the child's head, will
keep the womb from closing about the neck of the child ; whereby the
infant will bee secured from the danger of strangling, and the neck from
being broken, and the head from being separated from the shoulders.

The finger, put into the child's mouth, with the rest of the
directions, followed, will also withstand all these dangers, and casualties,
and will help to save the infant's life.

When the infant commeth forth with one foot onely, and the
armes let down to the sides, and the other foot turned backward,

In this birth, you need not to bring the woman to her bed, to
tumble thereon (unles it bee to ease herself) before shee bee willing to

One foot

the armes

letdown to

the sides.

320

Observations in Midwifery, by

come to bee delivered; And, having placed the woman kneeling in a
slope, bending posture, ascending, I would not have you to offer to turn
up the foot, that is come forth, into the womb again ; but to take the
foot in a soft, warm, linen cloth, and by that foot to draw gently, and
leasurely, untill the body of the child commeth nigh unto the twist; or
buttock ; and then (if not afore) you shall perceive where the other foot
stayeth, the which you may easily draw down, or remove with your finger,
and afterward, quickly lay her by the feet, observing, and following the
directions of the first unnaturall figure, &c. '

Side or

back.

In this birth you will do no good by rolling the woman on the
bed, or by strugling to turn the child up, to bring it to a naturall birth,
by your hand.

A_nd why should an ignorant midwife, by unadvised wayes, disquiet,
and long torment, to no purpose, her afflicted woman : and to make a
worse birth, when that, without struglings, shee might well deliver
her woman by the child's feet (as hath been directed) in very short space
of time.

"When the infant lyeth crosse the womb, on it's side, or back, with
the hands and feet upwards ; in this posture it is not possible that the
child should bee born.

Disquiet not the labouring woman with struglings, to bring it to
a true form, or naturall birth, by lifting up the buttocks, and directing
the head to the birth, or by rolling herself upon the bed.

But, by the feet (as hath beeue directed) in a slope, bending
posture, ascending, deliver the woman.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

321

"For the putting of the woman to roll on the bed doth, not help
the delivery. It is no better then a demurrer, or a shrouding cloak, to
cover the midwife's ignorance.

Tor the infant to hasten to the birth with the armes and legs
distorted, and crooked, I hold this birth to bee a supposed imagination,
and that there never was seen, or known any such birth, or comming
of a child in this dancing posture.

Yet, if midwives will have their wills, and that there may bee such
a birth, the same will soon bee laid by the child's feet.

If the infant shall fall down with both the knees bent, and the
hands hanging down to the thighes, or sides, do not strive to force the
knees upwards, untill the feet happen to come forth formost.

Neither bee persuaded, that rolling on the bed will bring the
infant to a more commodious posture.

As the woman kneeleth, in a slope, bending posture, ascending,
by your fingers you may easily bring down the legs, and so, by the feet
of the child, the woman may quickly bee delivered.

The child should come into the world with his head forward, and,
if there bee any thing, that comes with it, as the hands, and arme, it is
contrary to nature.

This is the birth, which most amazeth, and puzleth midwives,
and bringeth into their thoughts unhandsome performances, so that,
without all tender compassion, after they have much afflicted the woman,
and have destroyed the child, they become bold, with forcible halings, to
pull off the armes, and shoulders of children into severall pieces in the
mother's womb, to bring forth the body, thus killing the child, and, oft,
the mother with it.

Arms and

legs
distorted.

Knees

bent.

Hand,
or Arm.

322

Observations in Midwifery, by

And, if the mother escapeth with life, yet, frequently, shee liveth
miserably, and sadly, all the succedent time of her life.

Mrs. Jane Sharp, midwife of thirty yeares apprenticeship, willeth
the midwife to anoint her hand, and to thrust it up into the womb, to
feel how the child lyeth, saying, That, sometimes, the child may bee
drawn out with the hand, and, had shee said no more, shee had well
deserved of all labouring women.

But, to shew midwives, how (though in dead children) to pull
out armes, and to cut them off, as also, how to use, unhandsomely,
hookes, and incision knives, to cut children in pieces in the mother's
body, to bring forth the child divided in many parcels, is an horrid work.
In charity I beleeve, that shee never used this way of practice.

Some of our country midwives (although long practicers in mid-
wifery) to save their credits, and for that they would not bee thought
inferiour, in knowledg, to others, by reading such books, and expressions,
bee encouraged to follow this way of cruelty, in this unnaturall birth,
comming by the Arme.

I will omit to make mention of the evil facts, they have, lately,
done in eeverall places.

I wish, with all my soule, that no country woman should have
this birth, comming by the arme, or have occasion to desire the help of
such midwives, as to have themselves abused, and their children so
destroyed.

To amend this unfitting way of practice, in the first place, I shall
mention, what some men have lately published.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

323

Secondly, what others, long since, have done, after that they have
found the children destroyed by mid wives.

And, lastly, I shall set forth my way of practice in this unnaturall
birth, with which, through God's great mercy, and assistance, I have
oft eased, and helped severall women (after long suffering under midwives
hands) in less a time, then half a quarter of an houre, to the great wonder-
ing of midwives, and other women in the labouring woman's chamber,
and have saved the children's lives.

Dr. Philadelphus demands of Mrs. Eutrapelia, what, if the infant
commeth out hastily, with one hand, and the other hand down toward
the side, and the feet stretched out straight into the womb, how will you
receive the infant ?

The midwife answereth, Sr, I am not at all to receive it so, nor
to suffer it to proceed farther, but must bring her to the bed, where shee
must lie lower with her head, then her buttocks. Then, I must swath
her belly gently, that the infant may fall back again into the womb.

But, if it fall not back of its own accord, I must put in my hand,
and presse back the shoulders, and must reduce the arme, that hangeth
out, to the side, that it may bee disposed of to a naturall forme in the
womb, and so it may come forth easily. So saith James Wolueridge,
M.D., in his book, fol. 53.

Dr. William Sermon willeth, when the child proceedeth headlong,
with one of his armes first, not to suffer the birth to proceed farther.
But let the midwife put in her hand, and, gently, by the shoulders put
up the child again. So the hand thereof may bee setled in the right
place, by which meanes the child may come naturally.

hr2

324

Observations in Midwifery, by

But, if the hand thereof cannot bee brought again to the right
place, then, causing the woman to lie upright, with her thighes, and belly
upward, by which meanes it may bee brought to passe. Fol. 130.

I could wish that these wayes, thus expressed by these worthies,
might prove effectuall, and have an happy successe, the which, as yet, I
could not, at any time, see to bee performed.

But my practice hath shewed mee, That, in severall of these births,
through the midwives struglings to reduce the arme, that the arm hath
been broken by them, and the child destroyed, and although, through
much enforcement, they have reduced the arme, yet, through the
woman's sufferings, aud the midwife's strivings, the labouring woman
hath been left so weak, that shee could not bee delivered by the midwife.

And, to give my opinion, it is to no purpose to reduce the arme,
as, by my observations, and practice, it may sufficiently bee proved.

James Guillimeau saith, It may so happen, that the child's arme
comming formost, through the long stay it makes without, as also,
because it hath been pulled, by violence, by the midwife, will bee swollen,
yea and even gangren'd, that it possibly cannot bee thrust back again,
that the child may bee drawn forth by the feet. That then the arme
must bee pulled as far forth as it can, and, if it may bee done
conveniently, let it bee cut off at the joint of the shoulder.

But let not our midwives attempt any such thing, so long as
there is any thought, that the child is alive.

Pareus reporteth, That once hee was called to the birth of an
infant, whom the midwives had essaied to draw out by the arme, so
that the arme had been so long forth, that it was gangren'd, whereby
the child died.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

325

Hee told the midwives, that this arrne must bee put in again, and
that the child must bee turned otherwise. But when it could not bee
put back, by reason of the great swellings thereof; and also of the
mother's genitals, that hee did cut off the arme, which being done, hee
turned him with his feet forward, and so drew him out by the feet.

By these men's sayings it doth appear, that they were not willing
to cut off the armes of children, although the children were dead, if
possibly they could bee reduced.

But, if midlives will bee pleased to bee better adviced to save
their credits, I will, then, shew them how, in this birth, with much ease,
and safety, they may speedily deliver their women, without tormenting
them, by struglings to reduce the arme.

And I shall desire all miclwives, not to pull any child by the arme,
in hopes so to deliver the woman, and to hate the cutting off the arme,
or quartering their limbs, to draw them forth piece- meale out of their
mothers bodies.

I have known the arm of the child so fixed in the neck of the
womb, by the midwife's pulling, that the arme hath been immoveable,
and hath hindered the child's body for turning round, and the child's
arme for returning, to go up into the woman's body.

But this let hath been soon removed, by taking the child's elbow
in my hand, and, by thrusting it a little upward, it hath removed the
sticking of the shoulder, and hath made way for the turning round of
the body, and for the easy going up of the child's arme.

When, therefore, the infant shall come to the birth, with one hand
appearing, let not the midwife receive this birth, nor disquiet the woman,
with rolling her on the bed, nor bee too hasty suddenly to procure the

326

Observations in Midwifery, by

delivery ; neither would I have the midwife to offer to thrust back the
arme, to place it by the infant's side, in hopes to' bring it to a naturall
birth.

But, in this birth, after the anointing of the woman's body with
convenient oiles, or ointments, let the midwife bring the labouring
woman, and cause her to kneele on a hard bolster, placed on a bed's
side, and, afterward, to put down her head in a slope, bending posture,
descending, to a pillow, placed on a woman's lap sitting afore her on
the same bed to support her.

So her body will bee raised up, to give way for the descending of
the infant into the hollownes of her body, as shee kneeleth in a slope,
bending posture, descending.

And the midwife, comming behind the woman, as shee kneeleth,
let her not offer to reduce the arme, for the bringing of it to the child' s
side; but to slide up her anointed hand over the child's arme, as it
hangeth out of the woman's body, putting up still her anointed hand,
by degrees, untill shee commeth to the child's feet, which usually lie on
the child's belly, and not stretched out into the womb, as some affirme.

And, although, in my observations, I have given the midwife
some light, to know whither her hand passeth, and unto what parts of
the infant's body, it commeth in these obscure parts, for that shee may
distinguish the better of the parts of the infant's body by her feeling, as
the thigh and foot from the arme, and hand ; the back from the belly,

Shee shall find the back to bee hard, and to have a ridg in it,
The belly to bee soft, and smooth,

The arme to bee small, and the hand little, composed of severall
long fingers, and bending joints ;

Peicivall Willughbv, Gentleman.

32'

The thigh and leg to bee grosse, and thick, in respect of the arme,
and the foot to bee a hard, united, grosse, thick lump, having shoit toes.

Wow when her hand is put up into the woman's body, if it light
upon the child's back, let her not pull forth her hand again out of the
woman's bod}r, but turn it round by the child's side, and it will bring
her hand to the childs belly, where shee shall find the other hand, and
both the child's feet, lying together.

And, having found a foot, let her take hold of it between her fore
finger, and her middle finger, placing her thumb over her hand griped,
the better to hold it.

Let her, then, draw gently, and leasurely by the foot, untill shee
hath brought the foot forth of the woman's body, then let her take the
foot in a soft, warm, linen cloth, (the firmer to hold it) and, afterward,
still to continue drawing, untill it come nigh to the twist of the body,
or that the buttocks begin to appeare (if that the other leg doth not
shew it self before where it resteth)

And, if it so happen, that the midwife should find the other leg
bended at the knee, or that it should lie on the child's belly, let her
draw it gently down with her finger, and it will soon bee brought forth
with easy drawing, and without any enforcement.

And then (and not afore) to raise up the woman's head, and to
place the woman kneeling in a slope, bending posture, ascending,
holding, or leaning with her hands about the woman's neck, that doth
sit before her.

And, in this bending posture, let the midwife keep the woman
kneeling, untill shee hath drawn the child forth unto the loines.

328

Observations in Midwifery, by

Then, if sliee shall find the child's face to bee towards the woman's
navel, and belly, let her take the body of the child, and, holding it in a
soft, linen cloth, let the midwife turne the infant's face, gently, toward
the back of the woman.

Afterward, to draw easily again, untill the infant shall bee brought
to the shoulders, or to the neck.

Then the midwife must put up her hand between the child's face,
and the rump-bone of the mother's back, and put her middle finger, a
little way, into the child's month, to presse the chin downward to the
pit of the child's throat, and to place her other two fingers on each side
of the nose, to keep open the passage.

Then may the midwife, having thus placed her fingers, desire some
assisting woman to place a flat hand upon the child's head, and gently
to presse forward the departing infant, at that time, when shee draweth
leasurely by the feet, or some other woman for her, and so the child will
quickly bee born.

And, thus ordering the birth, there will be no cause to fear the
child's life, or the ruinating of the labouring woman's body.

And the way of a slope, bending posture, ascending is to bee used
in all births, .comming by the feet, as the woman kneeleth on the
bolster.

The other slope, bending posture, descending is onely to bee used
for the turning of the child, that hath a great head, or body, or to help
a distorted neck, or to reduce the birth to a more commodious way for
delivery, as in the birth, where the arm and hand first commeth forth.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

329

And this slope, bending posture, descending, is no longer to bee
continued, after that the birth is altered, and the feet obtained, and brought
forth, but the woman's head is to bee raised, and shee to bee placed in a
slope, bending posture, ascending.

And then the rest of the work is to be finished, as shee kneeleth
on a bolster, in this slope, bending posture, ascending.

And thus have I set forth the wayes, that I have used for the
turning of the birth, as also for the helping of all unnaturall births, and
chiefly, when an arm is first proferred.

And, to God's glory, and honor, I do affirm, That, taking this
course, I never, to my remembrance, lost, or endangered any infant, nor
much disquieted any woman, during the time of her travaile.

And severall midwives, that have been non-plust, and puzled in
this birth, for whose help I have been called, by others, to assist the
midwife, when that shee knew not what to do, or how to deliver the
woman, will testify what I have said, and performed, to bee true.

And that I have laid the woman easily, and quickly, that had been
long tortured by her midwife in this birth, in lesser space, then half a
quarter of an houre, although the woman had no pain, or throws, to
assist nature in the time of her delivery.

And, where the midwife, by her halings, and pullings by the
child's arme, had not killed the infant before my comming, that there I
have saved the infant's life, and, by the speedy delivery, have freed the
woman of her sufferings.

And, through God's gracious assistance, and permission, I have
brought forth, and set at liberty the imprisoned infant.

330

Observations in Midwifery, by

Both armes

comming

down.

But midwives may object, and say; How will the arme, or armes
bee reduced, that hang forth before the birth, if that you will not permit
us to put them up ?

I answer all midwives with assurance, and reason will shew the
same,

That, as the buttocks come down, the back turneth round, and,
the shoulders go up, and, by this circular motion, the arme, or armes go
up with the shoulders, and so, of themselves, become reduced, and lie
again close to the sides, without any enforcing to thrust them up.

But, if midwives will not bee perswaded, that the arme will reduce
it self, it shall not trouble mee, if that it will not bee reduced, in any
birth comming by the feet.

Tor, not being reduced, it will bee a meanes to keep the womb
from closing about the child's neck, and to save the child's life, and the
neck from breaking, as Guillimeau hath testified, with Pareus, and as it
was lately happily approved in Darby Nov. 27, 3 669 in W. B.

When both the armes come down before the birth, with the hands
stretched over the head, and the feet straight stretched into the womb ;

In this birth, do not offer to drive back the shoulders, that the
infant may fall again back into the womb ; Also, in this birth, do not
force up the armes to place them by the child's sides,

But slide up your anointed hand, and seek for the feet, and use
the same way, as is directed in the seventh scheme.

So, by the feet of the child, you may speedily, and safely deliver
the woman, as I have shewed in my practice, although the woman hath
no labour or throwes, to help forward the delivery.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

331

When the child commeth with his buttocks formost, there bee
some that give directions, to lift up the fundament of the child, and to
turn the head to the birth.

But, if it cannot bee turned with the hand, they say, That then
the woman must be brought to the bed, where, by often rocking to and
fro, the child may bee brought forth by the head.

Surely, in these men's, and midwives thoughts, and opinions,
there is observed some occulta qualitas (which, as yet, no practicer hath
revealed) in the tossing, rolling, or rocking of the labouring woman on
the bed, for the turning of the child to the head, or to a better forme.
And, untill it shall be revealed, I shall interpret it to bee no other thing,
then, Sola ignorantia obstetricis.

Eor it cannot chuse, but that it will bee grievous to the Avoman, to
have her self, and the infant thus tossed, and violently moved from the
breech, to briug downward the head to the passage. And her rolling,
and tumbling on the bed will not alter the birth.

Wherefore, to lay aside all these disquieting motions, causing
tortures, let the midwife, in this birth of the buttocks, slide up her
anointed hand into the woman's body, as shee kneeleth in a slope,
bending posture, ascending.

So may the midwife soon meet with the child's feet, and after-
j ward bring them forth, without any violent force, to the orifice of the
i matrice.

For the best, and surest way is, to draw the infant forth by the
feet, and so shee may quickly bee delivered.

ss£

Buttocks.

332

Observations in Midwifery, by

Breast or

belly.

10.

In all births not to bee seen, but must bee distinguished by the
feeling of the hand, let the midwife remember, That the breast is hard,
and bony, and that the belly is smooth, and soft ; let her follow the
softnes, and it will bring her to the thighes, and from thence shee may
easily come to the feet.

When the infant shall fall downe upon the breast, or belly, let not
the midwife enquire after the armes of the infant, to lay hold of them,
that shee may bring the head to the birth, and so dispose the armes
afterwards to the sides ;

Nor bring the woman to the bed, to tumble, or roll, nThopes, by
this delay, the infant, perhaps, may accommodate it self to a more fit
posture for the birth.

But let the midwife put down her head to a pillow, placed in a
woman's lap, and then to put her right hand along the child's thigh (as
Guillimeau directeth) to find one of the feet, which being found, shee
shall cast about it a ribband with a sliding knot ; then shall shee seek
for the other foot, and bring them both gently to the passage, and so
to draw the' child forth by the feet, taking hold of them with a
warme napkin between her hands. Observing alwayes, that the child's
face, and belly bee downwards, that is, to bee turned to the back of the
woman, for fear least, when the shoulders ~are come forth, the chin
should catch on the share-bone.

But I like not so well the use of ribbands to bee tied to the
child's ankles, as I do, to fetch the feet by my hand, and fingers. I have
tried both wayes. To mee the hand alone was ever most usefull, and
readiest for the work.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

333

So have you Guillirneau in the first place using ribbands, which
bee troublesome ;

And my practice, by my hand, and fingers, to mee easily to bee
quickly performed, the which, with good successe, I have oft used, and,
in so doing, have frequently saved the infants lives, and suddenly eased
the mothers sufferings.

When the child commeth with both the hands and feet together,
it is impossible, that the child should bee born in this posture.

In this birth, I would not have the midwife to move up the feet
of the infant, nor to handle the head, to bring it to the birth, nor to
strive to bring the hands, to place them by the sides of the child, nor to
bring her to the bed, to tumble her with rolling, or tossing. Such
doings will afflict the woman, and may endanger her life.

But rather, as the woman kneeleth, in a slope, bending posture,
ascending, leaning with her hands about another woman's neck, sitting
afore her,

Let the midwife come behind the labouring woman, and taking
the child's feet in a soft, linen cloth, let her draw down the child gently
by the feet.

The hands of the child will both return by this drawing, and will
go up, of themselves, into the woman's body.

Por, as the child turneth round, so goeth up the shoulders, and
both the hands with them, and come placed by the sides.

And it is Guillimeau's opinion, That it is better, whether the
child bee alive or dead (if hee come with his feet, and hands formost) that
the chirurgion, or midwife bring him forth by the feet, then to turn him,
to bring his head formost.

Hands and
feet.
11.

334

Observations in Midwifery, by

For, in this striving, the mother having been much wearied, and
the child much weakened, the delivery (although it may bee brought to
a naturall birth with much strugling) will prove very long, and difficult
to bee performed, in regard, that neither the mother, nor the child have
much strength left them.

Whereas, if you draw the child forth by the feet, neither the
mother, nor the child being weakened, the birth will bee more easy and
fortunate.

And, by the feet, in Darby, and near to Darby, I have easily, and
quickly, without torturing, laid this seeming difficult birth very happily,
without thrusting up either the hands, or the feet.

I have also laid this birth, where but one leg, and one arme came
forth together ; and my work was performed, and ended, by drawing the
infant forth by the feet.

Feet.
12.

Guillimeau saith, when the child offereth to come into the world
with one, or both his feet formost,

The chirurgion (after the woman is placed) having his hands
anointed, may chuse, whether hee will draw the child forth by the feet,
or else, if hee think it better, to put back one, or both the feet, and to
turn him, and bring his head straight to the passage.

But hee concludeth, and thinketh, That the better, and safer way
will bee, to draw him forth by the feet, then to turn him upside down,
to lift his feet upwards, thereby to bring his head downwards to the
passage.

All difficult births bee best laid by the feet.

Peicivall Willughby, Gentleman.

335

All births, comming with the feet forinost, ever lay by the feet,
and do not thrust back the feet, to alter the birth, to bring it to the head,
least that you make a worse birth.

In all births, delivered by the feet, when the infant is drawn to
the loines, if the child's face bee towards the belly, and navell of the
mother, turn the child's body, that the face of the child may bee set
towards the back of the mother.

So you may draw him forth without danger, or staying, or the
head catching on the share-bone, having your finger in the child's
mouth, pressing down the chin at the instant time of drawing by the
feet.

It cannot alwayes bee perceived, whether there bee two children
at once in the womb.

For Guillimeau affirmeth, that hee was at the delivery of an honest
woman, who brought forth two children at a birth : When shee was
delivered of the first, the midwife (not expecting that there was a second
child) was ready to draw forth the after-burden, but was staid for the
present, for that hee perceived another child to offer it self at the passage,
which, as it came naturally, so shee was delivered very fortunately.

Dr. Sermon hath such a like story of the same nature. Fol. 133.

But grant, that either of these midwives had drawn away the
after-burden before the second child had been born, must it needs have
followed, that the travailing woman would have been ruinated by a flux
of blood, through her straining to bring forth the second child ?

I would not have any midwife to hazard such a danger, although
I have known, that no mischief did follow in the like case, and that the
woman lived, and did well recover.

Twins.
13.

336

Observations in Midwifery, by

11.

If it should so fall out, that the twins should come together, one
with his head, the other with his heeles formost,

The chirurgion shall consider, which of the two children the
woman may bee easiest delivered of.

If the head of the one come not so forward, as the feet of the
other, it will bee easiest to draw forth the child first, that commeth by
his feet.

But, if it happen, that, in the delivery of the first by the feet, that
the second twin shall chang his situation, that then the chirurgion shall
look after the feet, and draw him forth, as hee did the former, by the
feet.

If the head of the first bee very forward, then shall hee thrust
back the feet of the second, to give way to the other, that hee may
come naturally.

I have been at the birth of severall twins, bedded together in one
secondine, as yet I never found, that they both forced their way
together, neither could I heare it from any midwife.

But I observed, that they ever came one after the other, with
some intermission of time, as a quarter, or half of an houre, or a longer
time between.

When the first twin is born, hee must bee taken from between his
mother's legs, after the navel-string is tied, and to tie the rest of the
navel-string, that is fastened to the after- burden, with a larg and strong
string, that it may thereby bee the easier found, and drawn forth
afterward.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

337

When the second child is come forth, the chirurgion, or midwife
must consider, whether there bee two after-burdens, or but one.

Let the midwife search dilligently the after-burden, when that shee
hath brought it forth, whether there bee two navel-strings in that after-
burden, or but one.

If there bee two navelstrings fixed to that after-burden, then
both the twins were contained in that secondine.

But, if shee find but one navel-string in the secondine, then shee
must search for a second after -burden again, for that the twins were
included in severall secondines.

Dr. James Wolveridge affirmeth, although there bee twins, or
more, yet there is but one placenta, for hee saith, so many navel-strings
are inserted in diverse places, as there are young ones. Fol. 89.

But I know the contrary, and, chiefly, in twins of severall sexes,
that they have had severall secondines, to which their navel-strings have
been inserted in the womb.

Pareus saith, That, if there bee twins, and both of one kind, as
both males, or both females, that these twins bee enfolded in one
secondine, and I have seen this to bee true.

But, if one bee a male infant, and the other a female infant, that
then, hee saith, that they have both severall secondines. But this rule
doth not alwayes hold. For I have seen it otherwise, and that both the
male, and female infants have been included in one secondine, and I
have found both navelstrings in the same after-burden, or secondine, a
span's distance fixed the one from the other.

338

Observations in Midwifery, by

Therefore let the midwife search the secondine, to see if all the
navel-strings bee inserted in one after -burden, before shee make another
searching in the womb.

Should all the navel-strings bee inserted into one placenta, and,
through her ignorance, shee should seek for another after- birth, shee
might lacerate the womb, and so ruinate the woman.

Both Pareus, and Guillimeau advice the chirurgion, that if there
bee twins in the womb at once, to take heed, that hee take not of either
of them a leg; for, by drawing of them so both forth together, hee
should profit nothing for the delivery, but, in so doing, hee would
exceedingly hurt the woman, and teare the children both asunder.

Wherefore, that hee may not bee deceived, Guillimeau willeth,
That, when hee hath drawn out one foot, and tied it with a ribband, and
hath put it up again, let him, with his hand, follow the band, wherewith
the foot was tied, and so go to the foot, and then to the groin of the
child, and then from thence hee may find out the other foot of the same
child, and so join them together.

But I assure myself, that, after the chirurgion, or midwife hath
drawn forth one foot with his hand, that it will bee the better way, to
hold the foot fast in a linen cloth, and to draw the child gently by the
foot, untill hee can find where the other foot resteth, the which hee may
easily draw down with his finger, rather then to tie the child's feet with
ribbands, which proceedings will bee troublesome, both to the mother,
and the child.

Guillimeau saith, That, if the two children should have but one
body, it would bee a more easy, and safe way, to turn the head
upwards, and to draw him forth by the feet, then to make him come
forth with the head formost.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

339

Yet this is but his opinion, for hee concludeth, in the 22d
chapter of his second book, saying, That hee was never present at this
kind of delivery.

Yet my thoughts bee fixed to his opinion, from whence wee may
gather this good observation, That all great heads, and bodies, with all
difficult births, may, and ever will bee better delivered by the feet, then
possibly they can bee by the head.

For, when the head first approacheth in a difficult birth, there can
nothing bee done more, then to anoint the body, and to cause sneezing,
and to give medicines to enforce throwes.

When neither anointing, or medicine, or the midwife's skill, with
enforcements, prevailed, then I have been sent for, and, by turning the
birth from the head to the feet, I have oft happily, and quickly delivered
the woman.

In the birth of twins, if either of them come down with an arm,
first lay that twin, comming by the arme (as hath been directed in the
seventh scheme) by the feet.

If it come by a foot, follow the way set for the delivery by the
feet.

If by the head, follow the directions of a naturall birth.

If the second child be weak, and continuing strugling in the
womb, wanting strength to break the membranes enfolding, and keeping
in his imprisoned body, let the midwife slide up her anointed hand, and
break the bed, and draw the infant forth by the feet, the which I have
severall times performed, and, in so doing, I have saved the child's
life, which, otherwise, by weaknes, might have perished.

tt2

340

Observations in Midwifery, by

Csesaveau

section.

FOE CESAREAN SECTION.

It hath proved unfortunate to severally under whose hands the
women have perished, and it is not used in England.

Dr. James Primrose holdeth it to bee a rash piece of work, and
to do it in a living woman, a practice to bee abhorred.

I therefore passe it over with silence, being unwilling to make a
dreadfull noise in the eares of women, or to embolden any in the works
of cruelty.

Yet let mee not leave women in their sufferings comfortles, with-
out any hope of cure, for that I beleeve this dreadfull operation may,
without cutting the mother's side, and womb, bee better performed, and
helped, by drawing the child, if it bee living, by the feet; if it bee dead,
by the crochet.

For I have delivered severall women of dead children by my hand,
by turning the birth from the head to the feet, that have been left
comfortles by mid wives, and their friends ; and have drawn forth the
dead children by my hand, the which I could not do by the crochet,
although it was conveniently fastened in the head.

I therefore prefer the use of the hancfbefore the crochet, or any
other instrument whatsoever.

I could wish, that all men-mid -wives, and all women -midwives
would make triall of this way, as I have done, and shall pray, that this
work may bee as happily performed by them, as it hath been approved
by mee, by the hand producing the infant by the feet, and so saving the
child's life; and the mothers, with their children, as yet living, will
beare mee witnes, that I affirm nothing but the truth.

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

341

And, for that there bee some schemes, differing onely a little in
the figure, all which bee laid after one way, I thought to have omitted
some of them, but then I should not have pleased the young midwife,
for that shee would have thought her book defective, in not being
furnished with all the schemes, and various figures, on which midwives
look, making their women to think of wonders, by shewing them these
pictures of the children, assuring them, that, by these, they bee directed,
and perfected, aud much enlightened in the way of midwifery.

Therefore, with others, I have set forth all the schemes, with
their figures, the which bee observed for the woman's delivery.

And, in these unnaturall births, comming by the feet, let mee
perswade, and assure midwives, that they will bee best laid, as the
woman kneeleth on a bolster, using the slope, bending posture,
ascending, as it commeth by the feet.

But I lie difficult births, not to bee seen, must bee first altered, in
a slope, bending posture, descending, or, otherwise, the labouring
woman will bee put to suffer much affliction in the delivery.

As in these births, where the head, and body bee too great for
the passage ; or when the infant offereth to come with a distorted, or
crooked neck; And to these may bee added the birth, which cometh
thrusting forth first an arme, or armes.

For the births, comming by the belly, back, or side, or with
bending knees, or hands, with feet, or the buttocks, these bee of a
middle nature, between these extremes, and difficultnesses, for the
delivery, and may bee laid, either the ascending, or descending posture,
by the midwife, accordingly as each scheme hath his peculiar direction.

And, therefore to satisfie the young practicing midwife, I have
set forth all the severall births, with their schemes.

1: 2:

342

Observations in Midwifery, by

And, in so doing, I have multiplied words, and made repetitions,
not knowing how to avoid them, for satisfying their desires.

And if, in so doing, I have offended the learned, I would that all
superfluities might bee pared off by some judicious practicer, to the
content of all readers.

Yet I must intreat their favours, for the present, to passe over
this fault (if it should bee so thought) and the rather, for that this
work was not intended for them (being too weake to improve their
knowledge) but for the simple beginner, the new, ignorant midwife,
though aged in yeares, yet a young novice for practice, inhabiting the
countrey, and dweDing in obscure, remote places, destitute of all able
helps to assist her. Where the old midwife can shew her nothing more,
then how to receive the child, comming in a naturall birth, which, with-
out her company, or assistance, would, sometimes, sooner, and easier,
without any halings, or enforcings of the woman's body, bee bom, by
the sole help of nature, with little, or small trouble.

And this Opusculum, or the midwife's vade mecum (which is,
and ever was my way of practice) let the country midwife take thankfully
for her use, to help, and direct her endeavours, untill shee can get better
wayes, and directions from judicious practicers, or from her own experience.

So God alone, that doth all things, and helpeth women in the
need Ml time of labouring, and in bringing forth of children,

To him bee given all honour, praise, and glory, for his great
blessings, and mercies, in the preserving of mankind, as also all his
creatures, by whose gracious favour, and goodnes wee live, move, and
have our beings.

Therefore, let every one give thanks, and let all, that hath breath,
praise the Lord — For his mercy endureth for ever, and is daily seen in
all his works, in the continuation, and preservation of them.

Peicivall Willughby, Gentleman.

343

The Table.

All births produced either by the head, or feet - - - -304
To prepare women for travaile - 304 — 5

Labouring woman's chamber - 305
Midwife not to meddle till nature call - - 305—6—7—8
No medicines to labouring woman to cause throwes unles

nature faint, and that towards the end of the travaile 306

Auctours on midwifery follow one another - - - 306

Pallet-bed best for weak women, a bolster for the strong 307

Delivery without midwives - - - - - 307

The longer the birth retained, the more succesfull the deliverv 308

When to call the midwife to ede - - - - - 308
Delivery of a naturall birth ----- 30 8 — 9

The woman's posture when the birth is to be turned - - 309

In false conceptions and abortments nature the best midwife 310

All unnaturall births to bee delivered by the feet - - 810

What a naturall, what unnaturall birth - 1

Delivery in a naturall birth by the head - - - - 312

Midwife's office in this birth - - - - . 312

Delivery of a birth where the head and body is too great - 313

Delivery of a birth comming with a crooked neck - 313

Guillimeau's way of delivering - - - - . 314

The foregoing birth disallowed 315

The child's face in all births by the feet must bee toward its

mother's back -.-.._. 316

To get away the after-birth - - - - - . 31 6
To lay the birth comming with the feet forward, and hands

stretched downward to the sides - - - - 317

344 Observations in Midwifery, by

To lay the birth comming with the feet forward, and the

hands lifted up above the head - - - - 318

To lay the birth comming with one foot onely, and the armes

let down to the sides ------ 319

To lay the woman when the infant lyeth crosse the womb, on

its side or back, with hands and feet upwards - 320
To lay the birth with armes and legs distorted, which it is

questionable whether it ever was - - - 321
To lay the birth when infant comes with the knees bent; and

hands hanging to thigh es or sides - - - 321

Cruelty of midwives in birth comming witli armes - - 321
What late auctors advice in the foregoing birth - - 322, &c.

Arm fixed in the neck of the womb how to bee loosed - 325

The Auctor's way in the last birth ... - 325

How the child's feet lie in the womb - 327
To know the parts of the infant's body in the womb - 326 — 332

How to hold the child's foot - 332
Slope bending postures ascending and descending when to

bee used - - - - 328

Birth by both the armes ' - - - - - - 330

Birth by the buttocks - - - 331

Hocking and rolling the woman - - - - - 331

Birth by the breast or belly - - , - - - 332

Birth by both the hands and feet ----- 333

Birth by the feet - - 334

Twins, the way of delivering them - - - - - ,335

No twins forced their way at once ... - 336

The time between them - - - - - - 336

Percivall Willughby, Gentleman.

345

To know whether two after-burdens in the birth of twins 337

Chiefly twins of severall sexes have either of them a secondine 337

When second child in twins is weak, what to do 339

Csesarean section ------ 340

Instead thereof to draw the infant by the feet - 340
What births to bee laid by the ascending, what by the

descending posture - - - - 341

Apology for tautologies - - 342

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

Full text of "Observations in midwifery : as also The country midwifes opusculum or vade mecum"

See other formats