The compleat midwife's practice enlarged in the most weighty and high concernments of the birth of man containing a perfect directory or rules for midwives and nurses : as also a guide for women in their conception, bearing and nursing of children from the experience of our English authors, viz., Sir Theodore Mayern, Dr. Chamberlain, Mr. Nich. Culpeper ... : with instructions of the Queen of France's midwife to her daughter ... / by John Pechey ... ; the whole illustrated with copper plates.

Of certain Women that bear Children, and lie in before their time: And others, at their full time, who grow big, and full of humours, which causeth the death of the Child, presently after their Delivery; their Chil∣dren being nourished in their bellies, like fish only with water.

I Knew a Gentlewoman who had Laid-in three times, but yet none of her Children lived: I desired her to take a Physician that might give advice both to her and me, and to order her some remedies, and a govern∣ment of diet to keep her from suffering the like acci∣dents for time to come. We chose a Physician, who prescribed certain Tablets or Trochisques, to take from the time she began to grow big, until the time of her Delivery, twice a week; as also to take the wa∣ter of Indian Bul-rush, and of Sarsaparilla, to mix in her drink, or broth, as often as she would, having a

due regard to the heat of her blood: She observed eve∣ry tittle of his directions, which made her to bear a Son, alive, sound, and healthful. She continued these Remedies four years together, but the next time she grew big with Child, she thought that Nature of ••t self would be sufficient: I counselled her to the contra∣ry, but she hearkned not; so that when her time came, she was brought to bed of a dead Child. I shall give you the Receipt of the Tablets, and of the water, for the benefit of Women that are subject to an ill Delive∣ry, by reason of the great quantity of water, which hindereth the Child from turning in the Womb: The Water is made in this manner.

Take two pints, or two pints and a half of water; put therein half an ounce of the root of Indian Bul-rush, and an ounce of Sarsaparilla; put this in the drink, and let it infuse one night; mix it with the drink, or else drink it pure.

The Tablets are made after this fashion

Take Mace, Saunders, Rhubarb, Pearl, and Coral, Sena, of each 25 grains, with one ounce and half of Sugar; let every Tablet weigh six drams.