The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. XIV. Of the situation of the infant in the wombe.

REASON cannot shew the certain situation of the infant in the wombe, for I have found it altogether uncertaine, variable and divers both in li∣ving * 1.1 and dead women: in the dead by opening their bodies presently after they were dead, and in the living by helping them by the industry of my hand, when they have beene in danger of perishing by travell of child-birth: for by putting my hand into the womb, I have felt the infant comming forth, sometimes with his feet forwards, sometimes with his hands, and sometimes with his hands and feet turned backwards, and sometimes forwards, as the figure following plainely describeth.

[illustration]

I have often found them comming forth with their knees forwards, and some∣times with one of the feet, and sometimes with their belly forwards, their hands and feet being lifted upwards, as the former figure sheweth at large.

[illustration]

Sometimes I have found the in∣fant comming with his feet down-wards striding awide, and some∣times headlong, stretching one of his armes downward out at length, and that was an Hermaphrodite, as the figure following plain∣ly declareth.

[illustration]

One time I observed in the birth of twinnes, that the one came with his head forwards, and the other with his feet, according as here I have thought good to describe them.

In the bodies of women that died in travaile of childe I have sometimes found children no bigger than if they had beene but foure moneths in the wombe, situated in a round compasse like a hoope, with their head bowed downe to the knees, with both their hands under the knees, and their heeles close to their buttockes. And moreover, I protest before God that I found a childe being yet alive in the body of his mother (whom I opened so soone as shee was dead) lying all along stretched out, with his face upwards, and the palmes of his hands joyned together, as if he were at prayer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The situation of the infant in the wombe is divers.