The Province of Midwives in the Practice of their Art Instructing them in the timely knowledge of such difficulties as require the assistance of Men, for the preservation of Mother and Child; very necessary for the perusal of all the sex interested in the subject, and interspersed with some New and Useful Observations.

CHAPTER V.

Chapter 5213 wordsPublic domain

_Concerning_ TOUCHING.

This ought to be put in Practice, as soon as, from the Symptoms given in the Third Chapter, it is reasonable to expect the Birth approaching; and a _Child-bearing_ Person would be very much her own Enemy to refuse the only Means of giving a _true_ Information of her Case, and the Knowledge how to do her the most effectual Service.

The Midwife, having her Nails well pared, and very smooth, and her Fingers anointed with Oil or Lard, must introduce the two _fore Fingers_ of either Hand into the _Passage_ or _Neck_ of the _Womb_, as far as its _inward_ Orifice, directing them with a _gentle_ and _easy_ Motion, somewhat upwards, as it were with a Tendency through the _Passage_ towards the _Navel_; in this Search she will find the _internal_ Orifice, joining the _Passage_ or _Neck_ of the _Womb_ more or less open, relaxed, and thinner than usual; and cautiously protruding her Fingers farther, she may possibly touch the _Crown_ of the Child’s Head; she will easily, by the _Sutures_, or _Opening_ between the Bones of the Skull, distinguish the _Crown_: Keeping her Fingers in this Situation, _during_ the Beginning, and Continuance of _strong_ Pains, she will observe the _Waters_ contain’d in the _Membranes_ including the Child, and After-birth _forming_ within the _inward_ Orifice, as if something like a Bladder _blown_, or _distended_ with Water, presented to the _Touch_, dilating the _Orifice_ with each _Throw_; these Appearances presage a _speedy_ and _easy_ Birth.