Chapter VI: IN like manner as she ought to be Modest, Temperate, and

_Sober_, so she ought to be _Faithful_ and _Silent_; always upon her _Guard_ to conceal those Things, which ought not to be spoken of.

THESE, in fine, are the chief of the natural _Qualities_ requisite for _MIDWIFERY_; from whence I come to the _Theoretical_ and _Practical Part_, without which all _Others_ are (in effect) Nothing to the Purpose.

CHAP. III.
_Of the THEORETICAL and PRACTICAL Knowledge of the MIDWIFE._

SHE, who finds herself thus (properly) adapted both in _Body_ and _Mind_, according to the _Rules_ of the preceding _Chapter_, does a Good and Laudable Work, if she also studies to _qualify_ herself well, _first_ in the _THEORY_, and then in the _PRACTICE_ of _Midwifery_.

WHICH, in order that she may most easily and accurately do, I shall reduce the whole _Theoretical Part_ (absolutely necessary) to the following _Seven general Heads_; of Which she ought not only to have a general and superficial, but also a distinct, special, and perfect _Knowledge_; viz.

I. OF the _external_ and _internal Parts_ of Generation, and the _adjacent Parts_; together with a competent Skill of the respective _Substance_ and _Nature_, _Connexion_ and _Function_ of each of _These_ in the Time of _BIRTH_.

II. OF the PELVIS, or _Bason_, and its _Contents_; together with the true Knowledge of its _Bones_, their _Form_ or _Figure_, _Office_ and _Connexion_, &c. upon that Occasion.

III. OF that Wonderful _Body_, the MATRIX, and its _Vagina_ or _Neck_; together with the understanding of its _Substance_ and _Structure_, _Duty_ and _Function_ in Time of LABOUR.

IV. OF the Strange Natural _Qualities_, and amazing singular _Faculties_ of This _Body_, in distinguishing all its peculiar _Properties_.

V. OF the TOUCH, or _Handling_ the _Woman_; together with knowing its many various _Uses_, and manifold distinct _Advantages_.

VI. OF the _Genuine_, and _Real_; as well as of the _Spurious_ or _Bastard-Labour-Pains_: How they differ in themselves, and are to be carefully distinguished.

VII. OF the _Method_ of LAYING the _Woman_, and _Manner_ of extracting the AFTER-BIRTH; together with all the _heterogeneous_ and _preternatural Contents_ of the WOMB.

THESE _speculative Heads_, in short, shall be the particular _Subjects_ of the respective _Chapters_, of the consequent Part of this SECTION, for the requisite _Instruction_ and indispensible _Qualification_ of all young _MIDWIVES_: As the _Practical Part_ shall be the _Subject-Matter_ of the two next following SECTIONS. Which _Practical Part_, I shall now likewise reduce to the _Three_ subsequent general _Heads_; of which she ought also to have a full and compleat _Knowledge_, viz.

I. OF the various _Methods_ to be taken for the present _Ease_, and expeditious _Relief_ of the LABOURING _Woman_.

II. OF the discreet _Method_ of TURNING an ill-situated _INFANT_, (whatsoever the preternatural _Posture_ may be) and drawing it forth _safely_ by the FEET.