Observations in midwifery : as also The country midwifes opusculum or vade mecum / by Percival Willughby (1596-1685); edited from the original MS. by Henry Blenkinsop, 1863.

  • Willughby, Percival, 1596-1685.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations in midwifery : as also The country midwifes opusculum or vade mecum / by Percival Willughby (1596-1685); edited from the original MS. by Henry Blenkinsop, 1863. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    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 infani 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 auswereth, 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, 1 must put in my hand, and presse back the shoulders, and must reduce the arme, that haiigeth 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. uii2