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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1746 edition. Excerpt: ...d is only a plain Orb, and not deep, but the rest are broad and deep, the outmost Part being two Fingers broad, and they end towards the Centre, 'more oblique or acute from the Circumference; their internal Cavity and Depth is answerable to their external Breadth; all of them are 148 MIDWIFERY Improrfd. Tumours or Ulcers, either purulent and other Ma-lignant ones, or with Glands more or less hard, great and painful; all which very much straighten, and so closely shut up these Parts, that not so much as a Finger, much less a Hand, can be put up without a great deal of Pain and Trouble. Concerning this, Paulus Portael tells a notable Story of a Noble Wo-man, whose Private Parts were so swelled and in-flamed, that he could scarce pass a Probe, but after having thrust in his Finger, he gradually dilated them more and more, till at last he had opened the Passage sufficiently for the Infant, upon which a happy Birth ensued. In all these Symptoms I re-fer you, not without Reason, to the Advice of Physicians and Surgeons, especially to a ikilful one that practises Midwifery; which a Woman may do without losing her Credit, or degrading herself; for it is more commendable for her not to meddle, but distrust hersels, and commit the Matter to another, than rashly to endeavour more than she can do, trusting to her Knowledge and Experience. I might say more here of the Manner of handling such Symptoms, but since the Information I give in this Book is not writ for Men-Midwives that practise Surgery, therefore I shall pass those as well as other Things by, proceeding to another Accident which often hinders Birth, 'viz. falling down of thefflagina 5 not that which happens after Birth, but presently before the Birth in the Beginning of the Labour, which...