CHAP. VII. How to draw forth the Secondines.

THis childe being thus drawn forth, and in safety, the midwife must now apply her selfe to the drawing out of the secondines, which must be don by wagging and stirring them up and down, and then gently drawing them forth, causing the woman to take salt in both her hands, and to shut them close, and then to blow in them, whereby you shall know whether they be broken or noe: it may be done also by causing her to put one finger in her mouth, to provoke a desire of vomiting, or else by stir∣ring, as when she is doing the ordinary deeds of nature, or as nature it selfe constrained her to doe, before the head of the child was come forth. All this must be don speedily; yet if this be not sufficient, she may take the yolke of an egg raw, or she may take a small draught of raw el∣der-water, or you may cause her to smell to a peice of Assa Foetida. If she be troubled with winde collicks, or have taken cold, which often times doth breed wind, which is a great hin∣derance to the coming forth of the secondines. The Midwife ought to chafe the womans belly with her hand, which does not only breake the wind, but causes the secondine to come downe. If this failes the midwife may with her hand di∣late Page  85 the exterior orifice of the womb, drawing it forth gently and by degrees.