A companion for midwives, child-bearing women, and nurses directing them how to perform their respective offices : together with an essay, endeavouring to shew the influence of moral abuses upon the health of children / by Robert Barret ...

CHAP. VIII. Of the Cesarean Section, or Cutting the Child out of the Mother's Womb.

WHen the Woman dies, and the Child is alive in her Belly, we some∣times open her up, and take out the Child. Some foolish People talk of performing this Operation upon living Women, in a dangerous Labour, to save the Child's Life; and therefore would call it Cesarean Section, in imitation of Cesar's Birth: 'tis true there would be some pretext of ex∣cuse to make Martyrs of poor Women to bring a second Cesar, or some great and new Prophet, into our Western World; but 'tis not known that ever there was any Law, Christian, or Civil, which counte∣nanc'd the Martyrdom of the Mother to save the Child. Some Country Gossips will tell you they know such yet living, whose Sides have been opened to make way for the Child: But such Stories as

these, are only fit Entertainment for Fools and Children.

A Surgeon must never practise this cru∣el Operation whilst the Mother is alive; but when she is dead, he ought not to neglect it, and what he does, he must do it quickly, because delay will certainly be the Death of the Child. The Greeks were acquainted with this Operation, and call'd it Embriulie. Most Authors would have it made on the left side of the Belly, it be∣ing more free from the Liver, which is on the right. Some are for opening just in the middle of the Belly, between the two right Muscles, because in this place there is only the covering and the white Line to cut. To dispatch then with more ease and speed, the Surgeon having plac'd himself, the dead Body may be a little rais'd. Let him take a good sharp Incisi∣on-Knife, make one or two stroaks into the Peritonaeum, and then gently take out the Child.