CHAP. II.
Of the Qualifications of the Ordinary MIDWIFE.
IT is indeed indifferent whether Men or Women practise this Art, so the Practisers be properly adapted, and duly qualified for the Purpose of so great a Work. As for Instance, in France, Men only profess this Business; in Italy, and Germany, Men and Women promiscuously; in England, Scotland, Holland, &c. Men are stiled Extraordinary Midwives, being seldom or never call’d but in extraordinary Cases of difficult and preternatural Births. Wherefore, upon this Account, I shall first observe and denote the Qualifications most requisite and absolutely necessary for WOMEN practising this Art.
NOW as all Arts and Sciences require Instruction, Application, Pains, and Time, for qualifying any Person to become a Master in the Practice of them; so the Art of Midwifery requires not the least Regard, Attention, and Information. Wherefore it is quite wrong for any Persons, who have not a Body and Mind particularly adapted to this Business, to spend their Time in qualifying themselves for, and applying themselves to the Performance of this good Office. For such as These ought to leave This Province to Those Persons, whom Nature has more signally mark’d out for the Purpose.
AND that I may the better distinguish upon what I have here propos’d, I shall first speak in the Negative, and then in the Affirmative Sense of the Affair; Or first, of her Natural, and then of her Acquir’d Qualifications.
I. THEREFORE, She who would discreetly undertake Midwifery, ought not to begin the Practice too YOUNG, nor continue it till grown too OLD: For the one will want, perhaps, due Experience, as well as decent Gravity and Solidity; the other will, peradventure, want requisite Strength and Vigour of Body, as well as the Free Exercise, and ready Use of her Senses.
II. SHE ought to be no weak, infirm, or diseased Person, incapable of undergoing the Fatigues which the Business too often requires: Such as watching Night and Day; turning the INFANTS, when in a wrong Posture; or extracting them at length; which Action frequently requires the full Strength of a strong MAN, instead of a weak Woman. For thus the most learned and excellent Fabricius d’ Aquapendente, testifies of himself, that he has often been so weary and tired, that he has been obliged to leave the Work for his Assistant to finish; and as Daventer also (a robust Man) relates of himself, that in the coldest Time of Winter, being but thinly cloathed, and at a Distance from any Fire, his Hair has been wet, and all his Body in a Sweat, and both his Loins and his Limbs have aked egregiously some Days after delivering a Woman.
III. SHE ought not to be too Fat or Gross, but especially not to have thick or fleshy Hands and Arms, or large-Bon’d Wrists; which (of Necessity) must occasion racking Pains to the tender labouring Woman.
IV. SHE ought not to be lame or maim’d, nor have stiff or crooked Fingers, Hands, or Arms; for these Parts are to be used in different Manners and Postures, even so that the Success of the Labour often depends upon their Readiness and Agility.
V. SHE ought not to be, negatively speaking, a conceiv’d or Child-bearing Woman; because This may be of bad Consequence, not only to the labouring Woman; (who depends on her, for more than she’s able to perform, especially in a strong Labour) but also to the conceiv’d MIDWIFE herself, and her own INFANT.
VI. SHE ought not to be an Ignorant, Stupid, Indolent, or a dull Person; and especially not incapable of conceiving Matters distinctly, or judging of Things aright: Neither ought she to be a Self-Indulger, Slothful, or Lazy; nor a Light, Dissolute, or Daring Person: She ought not to be inconsiderate, negligent, or forgetful; nor proud, passionate, or obstinate: Neither peevish, morose, or surly; nor fearful, doubtful, or wavering-minded: neither ought she to be a Tipler or Drunkard, nor a Tatler or Vagabond, nor a covetous, or mercenary Person.
BUT on the other Hand, in the Affirmative, SHE (First) ought to be a Woman of a good middle Age, of solid Parts, of full Experience, of a healthy, strong, and vigorous Body, with clever small Hands: Since nothing can be more agreeable and conducive to the Art of MIDWIFERY, than slender Hands, long Fingers, and a ready Feeling.
II. SHE ought to be Grave and Considerate, endued with Resolution and Presence of Mind, in order to foresee and prevent ACCIDENTS; Sagacious and Prudent in difficult Cases, so as not to take All upon her own Shoulders or Judgment, but to have immediate Recourse to the ablest Practiser in the Art, and freely submit her Thoughts to the discerning Faculty of the more Learned and Skilful.
III. SHE ought to be Watchful, Diligent, and Expert in all Cases and Conditions that can or may occur; so that no Opportunity in the Beginning of the Labour be lost: Since I have more than once observ’d, that the Neglect or Mistake of improving a critical Minute, hath cost the Mother many violent or heavy Pains afterwards, and the Child also its Life. For which Reason it is of the greatest Importance, to nick the Opportunity, conformable to Cato’s Saying——
IV. SHE ought to be a true Fearer of God, a Conscientious Person, of good Life and Conversation: Since Matters of the greatest Moment are committed to her Care; and depend entirely upon the faithful Discharge of her Duty: For she has the first and best Opportunity of shewing her Compassion, and Tenderness to Mankind, in this Infant and Helpless State. In short, Charity ought always to engage her, to be as ready to help the Poor as the Rich; the Life of the One being as Dear as the Other’s, and the Image of God being equally stamp’d upon Both: For the ineffable Recompence of Charity far exceeds all other Considerations of trifling Gain.
V. SHE ought to be Patient and Pleasant; Soft, Meek, and Mild in her Temper, in order to encourage and comfort the labouring Woman. She should pass by and forgive her small Failings, and peevish Faults, instructing her gently when she does or says amiss: But if she will not follow Advice, and Necessity require, the Midwife ought to reprimand and put her smartly in mind of her Duty; yet always in such a manner, however, as to encourage her with the Hopes of a happy and speedy Delivery.
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.