The expert midwife, or An excellent and most necessary treatise of the generation and birth of man. Wherein is contained many very notable and necessary particulars requisite to be knovvne and practised: with diuers apt and usefull figures appropriated to this worke. Also the causes, signes, and various cures, of the most principall maladies and infirmities incident to women. Six bookes compiled in Latine by the industry of Iames Rueff, a learned and expert chirurgion: and now translated into English for the generall good and benefit of this nation.

Title

The expert midwife, or An excellent and most necessary treatise of the generation and birth of man. Wherein is contained many very notable and necessary particulars requisite to be knovvne and practised: with diuers apt and usefull figures appropriated to this worke. Also the causes, signes, and various cures, of the most principall maladies and infirmities incident to women. Six bookes compiled in Latine by the industry of Iames Rueff, a learned and expert chirurgion: and now translated into English for the generall good and benefit of this nation.

Author

Rüff, Jakob, 1500-1558.

Publication

London :: Printed by E. G[riffin] for S. B[urton] and are to be sold by Thomas Alchorn at the signe of the Greene Dragon in Saint Pauls church-yard,

1637.

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Subject terms

Obstetrics -- Early works to 1800.

Infertility -- Early works to 1800.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A11176.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"The expert midwife, or An excellent and most necessary treatise of the generation and birth of man. Wherein is contained many very notable and necessary particulars requisite to be knovvne and practised: with diuers apt and usefull figures appropriated to this worke. Also the causes, signes, and various cures, of the most principall maladies and infirmities incident to women. Six bookes compiled in Latine by the industry of Iames Rueff, a learned and expert chirurgion: and now translated into English for the generall good and benefit of this nation." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A11176.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 21, 2025. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• imprimatur
• To all grave and modest Matrons, especially to such as have to doe with women in that great danger of childe-birth, as also, to all young practitioners in Physick and Chirurgery, whom these matters may concerne, Grace, Peace, and good successe, in their underta∣kings, heartily wished.
• The Methode of the Worke, through the Arguments of the Bookes and Chapters.
  • THe first Booke intreateth of the Genera∣tion of man and women.
  • The second Booke, of the Matrix and parts thereof; also of the condition and state of the Infant in the wombe, and of the care and duty to be observed by women with childe.
  • The third Booke, of the birth, and of all manner of remedies, which may concerne wo∣men in time of child-birth, and also their In∣fants.
  • The fourth Booke, of the differences and va∣rieties of an unnatuarall birth, and of the cure and remedies of them.
  • The fifth Booke, of the false conception na∣med Mola, and other false tumors of the womb: Also of aborcements and certaine Monsters, and likewise of the divers signes of conception.
  • The sixth Booke, of divers causes of sterility and barrennesse, and of the speciall maladies of the Matrix; and also of the divers remedies of all of them.
• THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE Generation of Man.
  • CHAP. I. Of the Generative or Begetting Seede, how, and in what manner it hath his beginning.
  • CHAP. II. Of the mixture of the Seede of both sex, also of the substance and forme of them.
  • CHAP. III. Of the three Coates, wherewith the Feature is invi∣roned, defended and covered.
  • CHAP. IIII. Of the three faculties, disposing and governing the body, and of the spirit it selfe.
  • CHAP. V. Of the true Generation of the parts, and the in∣crease of the Feature, according to the daies and moneths.
  • CHAP. VI. Of the food of the Feature in the wombe, with what nourishments it is nourished, and when it groweth to be an Infant.
• The second Booke. Of the Matrix and parts thereof, also of the condition and state of the Infant in the womb, and of the care and duty to be ob∣served of women with childe.
  • CHAP. I. How necessary a thing it is to insert and annex the Anatomy of the Matrix to this worke.
  • CHAP. II. Of the substance, forme, qualities of the Matrix, and parts annexed.
  • CHAP. III. Of what great profit it is, to have an exact know∣ledge of this Tractate.
  • CHAP. IIII. Of the Condition of the Infant in the wombe, also of the care and duty belonging to women conceived with childe.
  • CHAP. V. How the Infant is conditioned and in what state he is, the fift, sixt, seventh and eight Moneth, and also the difference of the Sex and formes.
  • CHAP. VI. Of certaine Precepts very necessary for women con∣ceived with childe, even to the houre of the birth, by the reason of divers chances.
• The third Booke. Of the birth, and all manner of re∣medies, which may concerne women in time of child-birth, and also their Infants.
  • CHAP. I. Of the due and lawfull time of the birth, and of the forme and manner of it: and also of the paines and dolours of women in time of their travell and labour.
  • CHAP. II. Of the Office of Midwives, and of the apt and fit forme and fashion of their Stoole or Chaire.
  • CHAP. III. Of certaine naturall Precepts and Medicines, fur∣thering and easing the flownesse and difficultie of the birth.
  • CHAP. IIII. How the Secundines, or after-burden may have an easie passage, if it stay behinde.
  • CHAP. V. Of the usage and ordering of the woman in child-bed, and of the Infant being newly borne.
  • CHAP. VI. How, and with what instruments children sticking in the wombe, and being dead, are to be brought forth.
• The fourth Booke. Of the differences and varieties of an unnaturall birth, and of the cure and remedies of them.
  • CHAP. I. Of the first-forme and fashion of a birth not Natu∣rall, and how it may be remedied.
  • CHAP. II. What the second forme or figure of an unnaturall birth, and how it may be remedied and cured.
  • CHAP. III. The third forme of an unnaturall birth, what it is, and how it may be cured.
  • CHAP. IIII. Of the fourth forme of an unnaturall birth and of the cure of it.
  • CAHP. V. Of the fifth forme of a birth against Nature, and of the cure of the same.
  • CHAP. VI. Of the sixt forme and fashion, and of the helpe and remedy of it.
  • CHAP. VII. Of the seventh forme, and how it is to be remedied.
  • GHAP. VIII. Of the eight forme, and the cure of it.
  • CHAP. IX. Of the ninth forme and fashion, and of the cure of the same.
  • CAHP. X. Of the tenth forme and cure of it.
  • CHAP. XI. Of the eleventh forme and remedy of it.
  • CHAP. XII. Of the twelv'th forme, and cure of it.
  • CHAP. XIII. Of the thirteenth forme, and the cure of it.
  • CHAP. XIV. Of the fourteenth forme, and the cure of it.
  • CHAP. XV. Of the last forme and fashion of an unnaturall birth, and the cure of it.
• The fifth Booke. Of the false Conception, named Mola, and other false tumours of the womb: also aborcements and certaine monsters, and like∣wise of the divers signes of con∣ception.
  • CAHP. I. Of the false Conception named Mola, and other falsely supposed Conceptions.
  • CHAP. II. Of the cure of the false conception Mola, and other false tumours and swellings of the wombe.
  • CHAP. III. Of unperfect children, also of monsterous Births.
  • CHAP. IIII. Of the causes and signes of aborcement, or untimely births, and also of all manner of cure of such as suffer abortion.
  • CHAP. V. Of the signes of Conception.
  • CHAP. VI. Whether men and women may ingender or conceive children of Divells, or Spirits; and againe, whether Divells may have children by men and women.
• The sixth Booke. Of the divers causes of Sterility and barrennesse, and of the spe∣ciall maladies of the Matrix, and also of the divers remedies of all of them.
  • CHAP. I. Of the Sterilitie of men and women, also of the cause and signes of the same.
  • CHAP. II. Of the cure and remedy of sterilitie, and barren∣nesse, proceeding from Phlegme.
  • CHAP. III. Of the Cure of sterility arising from cholericke humidities and moistures of the Matrix.
  • CHAP. IV. Of the cure of barrennesse, if it proceed from su∣perfluous bloody humours of the Matrix.
  • CHAP. V. Of the Cure of sterility proceeding from a melan∣choly humour.
  • CHAP. VI. Of the Cure and Remedy of sterility proceeding of over-much heate, drinesse, moisture and coldnesse.
  • CHAP. VII. Of certaine generall Precepts serving for the curing of the barrennesse of men and women.
  • CHAP. VIII. Of the Suffocation and choking of the Matrix, and of the causes and cure of the same.
  • CHAP. IX. Of the Precipitation or falling downe of the Ma∣trix, of the causes and cure of the same.
  • CHAP. X. Of the superfluities of the Termes, and of the Cure of the same.
  • CHAP. XI. Of the the Causes and Cure of the stopping of the Termes.