To take away pains and strengthen the parts, foment with the decoction of mugwort, mallows, rosemary, with wood myrtle, St. John’s wort, each half an ounce, spermaceti two drachms, deer’s suet, an ounce; with wax make an ointment.  Or take wax six ounces, spermaceti an ounce; melt them, dip flux therein, and lay it all over her belly.

If none of these things will do, the last remedy is to try surgery, and then the midwife ought without delay to send for an expert and able man-midwife, to deliver her by manual operation, of which I shall treat more at large in the next chapter.

FOOTNOTES: 

[10] Horse-parsley.

* * * * *

CHAPTER VI

     Of Unnatural Labour.

In showing the duty of a midwife, when the child-bearing woman’s labour is unnatural, it will be requisite to show, in the first place, what I mean by unnatural labour, for that women do bring forth in pain and sorrow is natural and common to all.  Therefore, that which I call unnatural is, when the child comes to the birth in a contrary posture to that which nature ordained, and in which the generality of the children come into the world.

The right and natural birth is when the child comes with its head first; and yet this is too short a definition of a natural birth; for if any part of the head but the crown comes first, so that the body follows not in a straight line, it is a wrong and difficult birth, even though the head comes first.  Therefore, if the child comes with its feet first, or with the side across, it is quite contrary to nature, or to speak more plainly, that which I call unnatural.

Now, there are four general ways a child may come wrong. (1) When any of the foreparts of the body first present themselves. (2) When by an unhappy transposition, any of the hinder parts of the body first present themselves. (3) When either of the sides, or, (4) the feet present themselves first.  To these, the different wrong postures that a child can present itself in, may be reduced.

SECTION I.—­How to deliver a Woman of a Dead Child by Manual
   Operation.

When manual operation is necessary, let the operator acquaint the woman of the absolute necessity there is for such an operation; and that, as the child has already lost its life, there is no other way left for the saving hers.  Let him also inform her, for her encouragement, that he doubts not, with the divine blessing, to deliver her safely, and that the pains arising therefrom will not be so great as she fears.  Then let him stir up the woman’s pains by giving her some sharp clyster, to excite her throes to bear down, and bring forth the child.  And if this prevails not, let him proceed with the manual operation.