CHAP. IV.
Of the QUALIFICATIONS of the Extraordinary MIDWIFE.
THE Extraordinary MIDWIFE, or Andro-Boethogynist (whether Physician or Surgeon practicing this Art) ought not only to be endued with all the Qualities and Qualifications mentioned in the Two preceding Chapters, but also to excel the Woman-Midwife in many special Particulars, and ingenious Points; which no ways belong to her Female Province.
FOR it is not enough that He knows how to relieve and lay the labouring Woman, however difficult or preternatural her Case may be; nor is it sufficient that he understands how to help and succour both the MOTHER and the INFANT after such a Delivery: No, so much of his Business might be easily learn’d and enhanced by old Women, were they but Docile, and not such obstinate Creatures.
BUT He ought farther also to know (first) how to prevent all preternatural Disasters incident to both the one and the other, in their respective States of Child-Bed and Infancy: And, Secondly, how to administer Relief and perform the Cure, in Case of any dismal Accident whatsoever to one or either of them in their dangerous Condition.
MOREOVER, his Knowledge ought neither to commence nor terminate in these Things; it being also his Duty over and above to know, how to conduct the Woman safely through all the Months of GESTATION, and to avert from her the Severity of their respective SYMPTOMS, to which she is so much expos’d, as mentioned in their proper Chapters, Sect. III. And not only so neither, but He ought also to understand well, how to guard against the Accesses of all Acute Diseases, so as at least to avert their ill Consequences; and especially (of course) to know thoroughly how to prevent ABORTION itself.
THESE are the Cases which most commonly require the ingenious Assistance of the Extraordinary MIDWIFE: And These are they which try his Skill and Knowledge most, as the Tempest or Storm best discovers the Judgment and Capacity of the Master-Mariner.
AND yet, neither ought even these Limits to be the narrow Boundary of his Studies: Since the more extensive his Art and Knowledge is, especially in what relates to the natural Constitution of Women, the fitter Man He is to take upon himself the Practice of this noble and most ingenious Profession.
NOT that I would be thought tacitely to insinuate in this place by the By, as if my own Knowledge was in any degree Superiour to other Men’s: No, I am too sensible of my own Weakness, to mean so, or to entertain any such vain selfish Thought; neither have I any fond Ambition to aim at standing in Competition with others in these Respects. For it shall suffice me, and sufficiently gratify my Highest Aim, if possibly a simple Word may drop from my Pen, which the more Ingenious may sometime improve to the common Good of Women, and the Welfare of their Children: And this I would desire the more, because I know no larger FIELD, that the Learned can launch out into; nor any profounder Study, that they can descant upon, than the Nature and Constitution of this tender Sex, which is so peculiarly different from all other Natural Works, and so singularly discrepant from all other Created Beings.
BUT more particularly in order, that the MAN-MIDWIFE or Andro-Boethogynist may be thus duly qualify’d and completely accomplished;
I. HE ought not only to be liberally instructed and generously educated, but also to be a Man of good Breeding and Conversation, as well as Courtesy and Complaisance.
II. HE ought not only to be a Man of diligent Study and sedulous Application of Mind, but also of great Humanity and Integrity, Temperance and Sobriety, endued with solid Resolution, quick Apprehension, and great Presence of Mind.
III. HE ought not only to be a Man of strict Virtue and Chastity, but also of unspotted Life and Conversation, Charity and Companion; delighting in Hospitality, and doing Good; acting the Christian as well as the Gentleman in all respects.
IV. HE ought not only to be a Man of known Discretion and Secresy, Sagacity and Judgment, but also of a pleasant Countenance; neat and clean in Person and Cloathes, Agreeable and Decent in Words and Actions, carefully adverting (at all times) to give no Occasion of Shame or Confusion to the Labouring Woman, or the By-standers.
V. HE ought, in fine, to handle Her decently, and treat her gently; considering Her as the weaker Vessel, whose elegant tender Body, will admit of no rough Usage: Wherefore upon this Account it is, that I would have all Practitioners whatsoever in this Art, debarr’d from the Use of INSTRUMENTS, which would secure many a Mother from being wounded or mangled, and many an Infant from being cut or torn to Pieces.
NOT that I would be thought for all that to imitate Mr. Mauriceau, saying of himself (in some Passages of his Book of MIDWIFERY) that he differs from all others: No, far from it; For I have the Indisputable Authority of the most Learned and Polite Practisers on my side, as mention’d before in Chap. 1. of this SECTION.
HOWEVER yet, I do not deny, but that INSTRUMENTS have been universally used, till of late Years; but the reason of That is Plain: Because in former Times, Men were only call’d upon extraordinary Occasions; some of which (however Skilful and Ingenious) had not the Opportunity of Laying a Woman perhaps in many Months. For which Reason it could not be otherways, but that they must have been at a loss in not understanding thoroughly the Practical Part, having so few Opportunities of improving manual Operation: Whereas since the Politer Part of the World has call’d them generally to the ordinary and common Practice of this ART; they have advanced their Dexterity by degrees, and are now come to the length of discharging that Office by Slight of Hand only, which formerly required so many frightful INSTRUMENTS.
I may well indeed say frightful; for what can be more inconsistent with the tender NATURE of Women, or more terrible to them, than to see Men come armed against Themselves and their tenderer INFANTS, with Knives, Hooks, Iron-Forceps, &c. thereby (as it were) to help them in time of their extremest Agony? For my part, I am Positive, that let who will use INSTRUMENTS, they kill many more INFANTS than they save, and ruin many more WOMEN than they deliver fairly: And this, I think, will be easily agreed to, by all those who have any Knowledge of the Parts of Generation in that Sex; as (I believe) it is also sufficiently evident even to Those who have no Judgment that way, by the notorious Fatalities and tragical Events they daily hear of in Fact.
HOWEVER I know, some Chirurgeon-Practitioners are too much acquainted with the Use of INSTRUMENTS, to lay them aside; no, they do not (it may be) think themselves in their Duty, or proper Office, if they have not their cruel Accoutrements in Hand: And what is most unaccountable and unbecoming a Christian, is that, when they have perhaps wounded the MOTHER, kill’d the INFANT, and with violent Torture and inexpressible Pain, drawn it out by Piece-meal, they think no Reward sufficient for such an extraordinary Piece of mangled Work.
BUT, in short, I would advise such to practise Butchery rather than MIDWIFERY; for in that Case, they could sell what they slay; but in this, by handling Man so, they only bring Infamy upon their Profession, and expose it to the Contempt and Hatred of Others.
COVETOUSNESS is the blackest of Vices, and in this Case (I am sure) it is an unpardonable Sin, to thirst after sordid Lucre for procuring the Health or preserving the Life of our Neighbour; as, I doubt, is but too common among some mercenary People: Who (as we have been creditably inform’d) have refus’d to take Women in Hand at the very Point of Extremity or Time of Need, before a certain Sum of Money was first deposited; tho’ perhaps borrow’d upon Pledge, or collected amongst their charitable Neighbours for God’ssake.
I do not say however, but that the Workman is worthy of his Reward, and That which ought to be paid according to the Merit and Dignity of his Performance; not according to the Time he spends about it, as hired Labourers are paid their Wages: No, that fruitless Labour would not be worth while; no Gentleman would undertake Midwifery upon such unprofitable Terms: For as it is in his Power to save the Life of the Mother, or the Infant, or Both, (which he often does effectually) He undoubtedly deserves an extraordinary Recompence worthy of so great and good a Piece of Service.
BUT notwithstanding all This, an extravagant Price is not to be arbitrarily demanded, nor ought the Reward to exceed the Ability of the PATIENT; neither are Those to be forsaken or left destitute of Help, and expos’d to imminent Danger, at all Hazards of Life, who cannot afford us Money: But rather (on the contrary) they are to be forthwith taken in Hand chearfully, attended by Night or Day diligently, and a trifle of Money given (by us) rather than taken from them, when our Fellow-Christian’s Circumstances so require it. For this is the right way to secure God’s Blessing to Ourselves, and Success to all our Endeavours.
AND, in short, I humbly pray, that He may (out of his infinite Goodness and Mercy) always enable Me, according to my best Inclinations, faithfully to perform these good Offices, which I know to be so much my indispensible and incumbent Duty, in that STATION, his All-wise Providence hath allotted me, as to the Affairs of Life.
WHENCE I come, in the next Place, by due Order, to treat particularly of the Contents of the preceding Chapter; and, First, to set forth an Anatomical Description of the several Parts of Generation in manner following.