IN this difficult _Case_, the attentive _MIDWIFE_ places her _Woman_ conveniently, as soon as the _Waters_ have flow’d, and sliding her _Hand_ into the WOMB, removes the _String_, and endeavours to bring the _HEAD forwards_ into the _PASSAGE_; which she easily performs, as long as the INFANT is suspended on high, and its _Back_ not too much _bent_, by putting-in her _Hand_ gently up to the _hinder Part_ of the _CHILD_’S _Head_, attracting it gradually _downwards_. But if in this _Condition_ the _BIRTH_ be fallen too _far down_, it is more adviseable _first_ to attract the _FEET_ considerately.
I say _considerately_, because it is not sufficient to penetrate with the _Hand_ to the _FEET_; which however yet, in this _Posture_ is pretty difficult: But also to know exactly in what manner they are to be _drawn down_; since it is no indifferent Matter to understand how that is to be rightly perform’d with Success. Wherefore I shall in this place take upon me to set forth _two different Ways of Turning the INFANT_ in this _Condition_; viz.
I. I would _either_ FIRST pass my _Right Hand_ to the _Left Thigh_ of the _CHILD_, and taking hold of it near the _KNEE_, push it _upwards_ with my _Thumb_, drawing it at the same time _downwards_ with my _Fingers_ placed behind: _Thus_ I would bring _down one KNEE_ to the _Passage_, leaving the FOOT yet above, and then the _other KNEE_ in its Turn; which being done, I would change my _Hand_, and put the _Left_ up to the _INFANT_’s _Belly_ or _Breast_; where, as I _thrust back_ its Body _upwards_, there is presently _Room_ enough: then I would take hold again of _one_ or _both KNEES_, to move the _CHILD higher_, that so the _FEET_ may be more conveniently brought into the _Passage_ one by one, if not _Both_ at once: Or, upon the _LEGS_ being bent with the _Right Hand_, and the _KNEES_ brought into the _Passage_ (as above) I would take hold of them below the HAM, and bring them past the _Orifice_ of the WOMB, till the _FEET_ are before the _Passage_; whereupon I would then readily endeavour to extract the INFANT by the _FEET_. _Or_, SECONDLY,
II. I would put my _Right Hand_ up along the _Belly_ to either THIGH, or KNEE, having at the same time a thin _Bandage_ doubled and dipp’d in _Oil_, upon my _Fingers’ Ends_, in order to be put about the KNEE, that I may attract it gently thereby; which I would draw out again by the _Right Hand_, whilst my _Left_ holds the Ends of the _Bandage_, that they may not move out of their Place: Then I would take the Extremities of the _Bandage_ in my _Right Hand_, attracting it softly thereby, whilst I pass up my _Left_ into the WOMB, to thrust the _CHILD_’s _Belly upwards_. By which ingenious and regular Means, I think, Dr. _Daventer_ first moved the _upper Part_ of the BODY _upwards_, and the FEET _downwards_, because the KNEES are thereby brought nearer to the _Orifice_. Now these, in short, are the only safe, and proper _Methods_ to be taken in this present _Case_, or nice Conjuncture; because, by all _other_ inconsiderate and temerarious _Means_, the _INFANT_’s LOINS may be _twisted_, its HIPS or KNEES _disjointed_, its FEET _lamed_, and itself at last quite lost or destroy’d.