ought not to be communicated, because such descriptions may frighten women; it is answered that it should be no task of the Author of this Treatise to unfold "the secrets of the prison house," if it was in such extreme cases only, and under actual necessity alone, which so seldom happens, that such fearful and terrible incidents took place. But when it is considered that it is the fear, (vain fear!) the alarming apprehensions which interested parties induce, and strive to augment extend and perpetuate in conviction throughout the sex, which has contributed to establish, and now chiefly maintains, the vicious practice of manmidwifery; can any reasonable objection exist against placing the subject in its true light, palpable shape, and terrible circumstances, before the public, in seeking to disabuse as well the one sex as the other? There is no occasion for this treatise to be read by those women who have not hitherto, and do not in

tend to employ a man-midwife; except that they may derive a knowledge of the comforting fact, that could each woman by possibility become the patient in a thousand instances, perhaps only in one of them, or probably not in one, would she need the assistance of a man-midwife, or rather of a surgeon; and as to such women as have employed, or may be led to have resort to them, it is proper that they should, one and all, be apprised of the risks and imminent hazards they incur, not alone in a moral point of view, but of being injured by instruments, perhaps irreparably, or even of vital consequence. The present chapter relates more immediately to the latter danger. if there existed no other objection against men officiating in the mysterious temple of Lucina, if in fact they were, as appurtenant to a seraglio or harem, mere eunuchs in attendance upon the women, still their partiality to the use of instruments should make women pause, and

consider well the liabilities before they resolve to have recourse to them for assistance rather than to midwives. Knowing how to hasten the birth, nay to force it prematurely, hurried in their engagements, sparing of their time, and impatient of the gradual, or perhaps slow progress which nature herself is making, they too often put in practice a knowledge which proves unhappy in its frequent consequences.

In a preceding chapter has been disclosed the course of practice usual in lingering cases; suggestions have also been made as to the probable effect of a man's mere presence, as producing a revulsion of progress or constringency in the labor, so as to retard its due course and change it into one of a lingering character; it may now also be stated, that in lingering cases, recourse is often had to a drug called, " orgeate of rye," of such a powerful nature, that if administered in excess, the very vitals

could scarcely be retained! but when moderately administered, it saves the time and the patience of the practitioner, whatever, otherwise, may be its effect upon the patient.

It is a very prevailing idea, that the forceps is but seldom used, and never but in cases of emergency. The next page or two will, however, dispel the illusion; and prove that the dread instrument to a woman, oft-fatal appliance to offspring, but most convenient aid, it may be presumed, to the manmidwife, is, "like Satan to the wicked," never far off; and is used in numberless instances in which, of a verity, no suspicion existed of the fact. Can a woman count her pains, or distinguish the character of them? assuredly she cannot be accurate as to either; and as to monthly nurses, they are by circumstances so verily the slaves and creatures of the men-midwives, depending on them for occupation, being frequently

recommended by them from place to place; that their presence, whatever may occur, is of no consideration with the operator. As the D-1 thought it prudent to go very covertly to work when he intended to deceive Eve, so do menmidwives proceed most covertly in deceiving mesdames the femmes-convert, Eve's prolific daughters.

Then let me not let pass Occasion which now smiles; behold alone The woman, opportune to all attempts."

To prove this, and place the modus operandi in its true light, the directions given by the practised "physician-accoucheur" to the tyros of the "art and mystery!" are again availed of,

"Clown. Pray, sir, by your good favour, do

you call, sir,

Your occupation a mystery?

Abhorson. Ay, sir, a mystery."

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

It proceeds thus,

"The woman being