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.

CHAP. IX. Concerning the Notes of Virginity, and whether or no it may be Violated without the knowledge of man.

ABOUT the orifice of the sinus pudoris, vulgar∣ly miscalled the Neck of the Womb, is that pen∣dulous production, by some termed the Hymen; by o∣thers (more rightly) claustrum Virginale, and by the French Bouton de Rose; for that it beareth a near re∣semblance with the expanded bud of a Rose or Gilli-flower; Hence therefore originally sprung that com∣mon expression of the Deflowring of Virgins.

Forasmuch as the Integrity or Violation of this part is accounted the most certain and infallible sign of Vir∣ginity intire, or violated, some Learned Physitians that have written of this Subject, esteem it a great va∣nity and folly, to think that there is any other Hymen.

Moreover, this word Flower, is used in divers accep∣tations, for besides the proper signification it is com∣monly taken for the prime or chief part of any thing, and so youth is called the Flower of a Mans age; or for that which is handsome or elegant; and so Rheto∣rical expressions are called Flowers; or else for such things as are not marred or spoiled by use; and accord∣ing to this sense a Woman deprived of her Virginity may be said to have been Deflowred, or to have lost her Flower.

Now this Claustrum Virginale, or Flower consisteth of four Caruncles, or Fleshy substances, called Myrtle-formed, in regard they resemble Myrtle berries. These four caruncles are situated as it were in the four Angles of the said Sinus Pudoris, and are connected together by certain Membranes or Ligatures, which are each of them situated in the interstices or spaces between each Caruncle, with which they are in a manner equally ex∣tended; which Membranes being once dilacerated, are an apparent sign of devirgination; nor can it be de∣nied, but that this dilaceration may be caused by other accidents, besides the accompanying with a man; as by violent Coughing, Sneezing, or loud Vociferation; all which may occasion a violent flowing down of hu∣mours, to the breaking of those ligatures or membranes; but as for any Stories of a Hymen, as that it should be a transverse membrane, situated now in the lower ex∣tremity of the Sinus Pudoris, now in the midst of the concavity, that it is perforated all about in the manner of a Sieve, or in the middle only with one larger hole, or that the breaking of this Hymen should be the only cause of Devirgination, are all to be rejected as vain and Frivolous,