Chapter V: AND finally, the Cause may depend upon a superiour Influence, in

so far that, as we see with our _Eyes_, such _Grain_ as is _sowed_, and such _Plants_ or _Trees_ as are _planted_ in the _Interlunium_, or _silent Moon_, and before _Full-Moon_, to fructify and _ripen_ sooner than others: Or, as we see and perceive our very _Nails_ and _Hair_ which are _cut_ in that Time, to _grow_ faster and sooner, than what is so _cut_ after the _Full-Moon_: So we may as easily comprehend by our _Reason_, that these _Times_ may have the same Natural _Effect_ in the[150]_Human Seed_. And as then the _Parts_ are more _Succulent_, and the _Generative Virtue_ more _excitated_, not only in the _Human Seed_, but also in all other _Seeds_ and _Roots_, what wonder is it, that the _Womb_ be also more _efficacious_ and _prestant_ at the same _Conjuncture_?

This I take to have been _Pliny_’s[151] Meaning, saying none are _born_ in the 7th Month, but they who have been _conceiv’d_ in the very _Change_ of the _Moon_, or within a Day of it, under or over. Hence I may justly observe, that all _slower Births_ have been _begotten_ at opposite Times; for which, I think, I have also sufficient Authority from[152]_HIPPOCRATES_ himself, saying, when a _Woman conceives_ after _Full-Moon_, that _Conception_ must, of Necessity, reach the 11th Month.

HAVING thus far (according to the Best of my Judgment) dilucidated these _Cases_, and having hitherto conducted the _Woman with Child_, and brought her safe this Length, thro’ all the _Difficulties_ she has been expos’d to, and the many _Hardships_ she has met with in her _Gestation_ or _Bearing-Time_, to the compleat _Number_ of her _MONTHS_, or precise _Time_ of her _LABOUR_: It remains now, that I should also direct her _Safety_ upon that emergent Occasion; since if we should now lose our good and fruitful _Woman_ at last, all our previous _Pains_ and _Care_ have been _Labour in vain_, and nothing but _Frustration_. But, because the _Work_ of _DELIVERY_, does not always depend upon the _Woman_ herself, and but seldom in these _Countries_, upon the _Physician_; before I commit her to the _Hands_ of the rude or unskilful, (whether _MAN_ or _WOMAN-MIDWIFE_) I shall in the next Place, (with all due _Deference_ to my _SUPERIOURS_, especially the eminent _Professors_ of _Physick_, and _Practisers_ of MIDWIFERY in the _City_ of _LONDON_) endeavour to instruct such Persons in the _Fundamentals_ of their _ART_, and to qualify them with the necessary _Knowledge_, and indispensible _Duty_ of their _BUSINESS_.

IN fine, I shall attempt now to perform This _Undertaking_ in the plainest and most succinct _Terms_ following.

SECT. IV.

CHAP. I.
_Of MIDWIFERY._

BIRTH, and whatever may depend of, take Rise from, or have any antecedent, concomitant, or consequent Relation to it, is the only proper Business of MIDWIFERY, and justly deemed the common Boundary of the _Knowledge_ and _Practice_ of the MIDWIFE.

WHICH _Art_ of MIDWIFERY is (in itself) as excellent and ingenious, as its _Practice_ is useful, and absolutely necessary to the _Commonwealth_; insomuch that this will admit of no _Contradiction_, when we rightly consider the following few, but important, general _Heads_, to which I reduce it throughout this Work, _viz._

I. THIS _Art_ distinguisheth a _Fertile_ from a _Sterile_ or Barren WOMB; it supports and corroborates the _one_, and rectifies and cures the _other_, in most (if not in all) _Cases_.

II. IT distinguisheth an impregnated from an unconceived WOMB, a real from a false _Big-Belly_, and a natural from a preternatural _CONCEPTION_.

III. IT teacheth the _Regimen_ of the conceived Woman, for averting the Severity of the SYMPTOMS of the several _Months_, and all acute _Diseases_, in order to strengthen the _Infant_, and prevent any MISCARRIAGE.

IV. IT instructeth by the _Touch_ or _Handling_ only, to discover, from time to time, the true _State_ and Condition of the _Conceived Woman_, not only during the Time of _Pregnancy_, but also before and in the time of LABOUR.

V. IT immediately (in the beginning of LABOUR) discriminates a _Natural_ from a _Preternatural_, and an _easy_ and _speedy_ from a _difficult_ and _lingring_ future BIRTH.

VI. IT presently discovers any _one_ or more of the many different, general, or particular _CAUSES_ of _difficult_ or _preternatural_ BIRTHS.

VII. IT informeth the fair _Practiser_ how to remove and correct those _CAUSES_, and deliver the _Woman_, not at all by _butcherly Instruments_, but by _Judgment_ and _Help_ of HAND only.

VIII. IT sheweth not only how to extract _dead Children_, and sometimes MONSTERS, but also false _Conceptions_, _Superfœtations_, _Moles_, &c.