BUT _this_, in short, happens to the _Woman_ with _CHILD_, because her _WOMB hangs forward_, or is _resupin’d_, according to the _Depression_ made on the _WOMB_ by the _Intestines_, forcing it _this_ or _that way_; or to either _Side_, as will by and by more fully appear[173]. But——
SINCE it is most requisite to know presently in the _Beginning_ of _LABOUR_, whether the _WOMB_ be placed _forwards_, in order that the Means of Help may be taken accordingly; I shall in the _second place_ add the _SIGNS_, or _Tokens_, by which the _MIDWIFE_ may know this _Position_ of the _WOMB_, and what _she_ has best to do in such a nice ticklish _STATE_ of Affairs.
FIRST then, _She_ may know it, principally, by the _Hanging forwards_ and _Thickness_ of the BELLY, or perhaps by the good _Woman’s Information_ of the PLACE, where she chiefly feels the _INFANT_ stirring; for it cannot _move_ but where ’tis _placed_.
HOWEVER yet a prudent _MIDWIFE_ will have no great regard to such _Uncertainties_, but betake herself immediately to _that_ which cannot fail her, the TOUCH; which (in this _Case_) affords her the following certain _SIGNS_; viz.
I. THE _Orifice_ of the WOMB is suspended _higher_ than usual; which _she_ cannot _Touch_, by reaching, without a great deal of _Difficulty_.
II. SHE can only _Touch_ the lower Border of the _Orifice_, and that only as the WOMB hangs more or less _forwards_; and by no means the _upper Edge_, except the _Orifice_ has begun to _fall down_.
III. SHE cannot at all, or very hardly, get her _Finger_ into the opening of the _Orifice_, and because of that Difficulty, it must then also be _crooked_ or _bent_.
IV. SHE will find the _Orifice_ opposite to the _bending_ of the last VERTEBRÆ or the OS SACRUM, and feel it so strongly pressed against the said VERTEBRÆ, when the _Pains_ come on, that it cannot _fall down_: and lastly, she’ll feel the WATERS (if they hang over the _Passage_) in a thin _slender Form_.
UPON _This_ the Skilfull _MIDWIFE_ finding these concurring _SIGNS_, _she_ may be assur’d that the WOMB hangs too much _forwards_; which _Condition_ requires the immediate _Help_ of _Ingenuity_ and _ART_ to correct this ill untoward _Position_, and to promote the _BIRTH_ expeditiously. But then _these Things_ are to be carefully perceived and distinguished in the _Beginning_ of LABOUR, before the PAINS have either closed up, or too much depressed the _Orifice_; yea, in short, even before it sensibly _opens_: since afterwards all those _SIGNS_ are variously chang’d and alter’d, till at last they entirely _vanish_.