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. X.
Of Difficult BIRTHS, proceeding from Causes of the BLADDER and RECTUM.

DIFFICULTY in BIRTH may also proceed from the BLADDER, as (in like manner) it may from the RECTUM or Strait Gut.

I. FROM the BLADDER, when affected with Tumours, Ulcers, or Glands, obstructing the Passages; which however is more frequently occasioned by Stones lodged in the BLADDER, or in its Neck: In either of which Conditions, the Midwife, by dilating the Passage with a subtile HAND, must repel the OS COCCYGIS according to Art (as taught in the preceeding Chapter) that the HEAD in falling down, may the less offend the BLADDER.

II. THE same Difficulty may arise from the RECTUM, when it happens in the same Manner, to be affected with such obdurated Glands, Tumours, &c. for the Consequence is the same in shutting up the Passages: In which Case the MIDWIFE is to depress gently such Excrescences, of what kind soever, with her cautious HAND, and consequently to dilate the Passages by degrees (how much soever obstructed) for receiving the Head of the INFANT; always having a respect to the affected Parts, and bearing no harder upon them than Necessity requires.

MOREOVER sometimes it happens, that the only Difficulty in LABOUR proceeds from hardened Excrements in this Gut, which may as effectually stop or shut up the Passage, as any thing else, until duly voided and evacuated by one or more proper CLYSTERS, as Occasion directs.

BUT sometimes it also happens, that such Difficulties arise from the falling out of the Fundament by the strong and violent THROWS that the Woman Suffers in Labour: In which Condition, if the CHILD is very forward in the Passage, before it happens, it may be prevented by dissuading or hindering the Woman from Labouring so vehemently; but if it happen’d before that time, it must be left so until the BIRTH be accomplished; after which time, it is to be put up exactly, and reduced to its proper Place, in the same manner as the Womb might be (in Case of its Prolapse, as mentioned in the following Chapter) after duly fomenting and bathing it with proper Applicatives: advertising always to use no CLYSTERS, in time of Child-Bed; because such Means would readily excite it again to a slippery Relapse.