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.
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Title
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.
Author
Chamberlayne, Thomas.
Publication
London, :: Printed for Nathaniel Brooke at the Angell in Cornhill.,
1656.
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Subject terms
Obstetrics -- Early works to 1800.
Midwives -- Early works to 1800.
Gynecology -- Early works to 1800.
Medicine -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A78521.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 27, 2024.
Pages
CHAP. I. Of Midwifes.
ALthough in these dayes there are many unskilful women that take upon them the knowledge of Midwifry, barely upon the priviledge of their age: yet there are many things which ought to be observed in a Midwife, that they are utterly wanting of. Let us therefore consider of the things required in a midwife, in relation both to her person, and her manners: as for her age, she ought to be neither too young, nor too old, in a good habite of body, and not subject to diseases, not mishapen in any parts of her body, peculiar in her habits and in her person; her hands must be small, with her nailes pared close, without any rings upon them, in the time of her duty, nor bracelets upon her wrists; she must be cheerfull, pleasant, strong, laborious, and used to travaile; it being required that she should be
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stirring at all hours, and abiding long time to∣gether with her patient.
For her manners, she ought to be Courteous, sober, chast, not repining, cholerick, arrogant, or covetous, nor apt to talke of what she sees done in the houses where she hath to doe.
For her spirit, she ought to be prudent, wary and cunning, oft times to use faire and flattering words.
She ought moreover to know, that God hath given to all things their beginnings, their In∣creasings, their Estate of perfection, and decli∣nation: Therefore the said Midwife, nor any of her assistants, must not do any thing rashly, for to precipitate or hasten nature.