The compleat midwifes practice, in the most weighty and high concernments of the birth of man. Containing perfect rules for midwifes and nurses, as also for women in their conception, bearing, and nursing of children: from the experience not onely of our English, but also the most accomplisht and absolute practicers among the French, Spanish, Italian, and other nations. A work so plain, that the weakest capacity may easily attain the knowledge of the whole art. With instructions of the midwife to the Queen of France (given to her daughter a little before her death) touching the practice of the said art. / Published with the approbation and good liking of sundry the most knowing professors of midwifery now living in the city of London, and other places. Illustrated with severall cuts in brass. By T.C. I.D. M.S. T.B. practitioners.

THE PREFACE OF Sundry PRACTITIO∣NERS in and about the City of LONDON, &c.

Christian Reader.

IT is high time, there being already published, many Treatises in this kind, for us to discharge our consciences for the good of the Nation, we have perused all that have been in this nature in English, and finde them strangely defficient, so crowded with unnecessary notions, and dangerous mistakes, that we thought it fit to give you warning of them, that for the future the unfortunate practi∣sers, may prevent the almost guilt, of the crying sin of murder.

It is Admirable to us, that our Countrey should be so much delu∣ded, to build all their practice upon such Authors that have not at all conduced to any considerable ad∣vantage

in this so necessary usefull Art as the preserving of man-kind; Alas! how many miserable volumes have these late times brought forth. Not to disparage any that have de∣served, but in so weighty a concern∣ment as this, we must stand upon our integrity, There hath been a reasonable intention in the publi∣shers of some books, viz. The Birth of man, the most antient, but very much unfurnished; as also the books of child-birth, The expert Midwife, the worst that have been written in that kind, in French; and its almost or miracle to us that Mr. Culpepper, a man whom we otherwaies respect, should descend so low, as to borrow his imperfect Treatise from those wretched volumes, some of which are before mentioned, and we must deale faithfully with you, that, that small peice of his, intituled, The dire∣ctory for Midwifes, is the most despe∣rately defficient of them all, except he writ it for necessity he could cer∣tainely have never been so sinfull to have exposed it to the light.

Now Christian Reader, to give

thee a true information of what we have here done for thy good, we shal not only Justifie from our own ex∣periences, but fully demonstrate from the writings of the best practi∣sers, both of the French, Spanish, and Italians, and other Nations; and we must cleerly confesse, that we are highly obliged to the incomparable labours of that most famous woman of the world, Madam Long Bourgeo, late Midwife to the Queen of France, the praises that we read of all those that ever heard of her, are not so much a flourish as truth, for her rea∣sons are solid experiences, and her witnesses have been all of the most emminent persons of France; and not only of her, but as we have already exprest of the most excellent known men or women of this Art of other Countries; it's upon this account that we break the barriers, and bold∣ly stand the brunt of all censures.

The chief occasion of this book, is to make it a great exemplary, and Schoole, where medicine married to the Midwives industrie, may teach every one the admirable effects of

the Divinity of this art of Midwifery.

And now knowing Reader that the Receipts herein contain'd, which have ever had happy succeses, are not made publicke to the world on any other designe then or the assistance of such persons whom either the want of fortune or opportunity deni∣eth such sudden helps, neither can we be without bleeding hearts, if we but consider how many have been lost by the unskilfulnesse of those that attempted this great work; nor should we have prostrated our re∣putation and private experiences, but to correct the frequent mistake of most Midwifes, who resting to bold upon the common way of deli∣vering women, neglect all the wholesome and profitable rules of Art, which might concern them in the occult diseases of women, as also of the Anotomical parts of the Body. Thus having discharged our consci∣ences, we have no more to write, but referre you to the book it self, desire∣ing a blessing of God on these our faithful endeavours, we are the hear∣ty well wishers of your good,

• ...I. C.
• ...I. D.
• ...M. S.
• ...T. B.