The Female Physician / Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child.

CHAP. XI.
Of the Membranes and Waters.

THE MEMBRANES of the Infant, are Two in number, the one exteriour, call’d CHORION; the other interiour, AMNION: which are so contiguously joined one to the other, that they appear like one and the same MEMBRANE; and, because they are only separable by Art, as a Silk-Lining from a Cloth, are sometimes call’d the double MEMBRANE.

THE Chorion is rough and unequal on the Outside, but smoother within; where it closely unites itself to the thinner and transparent Amnion.

THIS Amnion covers the Placenta, and is fixed to the Inside of the Womb, by its Circumference on all Sides.

THESE Membranes contain the Waters, in which the Infant swims; which Waters encrease along with the Infant, generating by degrees, and proceeding from the moist Humours, exhal’d (by way of Transpiration) from the tender Infant’s porous Body.

THESE Waters are of infinite Service to the Infant, during the time of Maturation: As they are to both Mother and Child in the time of BIRTH; which hereafter will more amply appear. And as in Conception, these Membranes are form’d before the EMBRYO; being, as they are commonly call’d, the Coats of the Egg: So, in time of Labour, they always present themselves, with their peculiar Waters, to the ORIFICE, before the Infant approaches.

IN Case of TWINS or more Children; each has its proper Membranes and Waters apart, in which they are separately wrap’d up.