although expressed in terms of balancing equivocation and in ambiguity of expression. The letter is in the following terms: 66 66 66 "Sir, "I received yours of July 16. Since you attended me, I contrived the last forceps with shorter handles, on purpose that too great force might not be "used. No doubt, I should perhaps "have been tempted even to use as 66 66 great force as you did when there "was so good a hold; but yet you may "consider how much the soft parts of "a woman must suffer, by the bending "so strong an instrument against them "as the blade you sent me. ""* 66 These appalling descriptions, written almost as the laws of Draco were writ The several professional quotations which are adduced in this Treatise are from the work of Dr. Smellie. ten, happily close the descriptive part of the subject; and truly, as progression was made through them, the Author found "on horror's head horrors accumulate:" yet were such quotations necessary and of value to prove, as they surely must have done, the dangers of instrumental aid, even in the most experienced and skilful hands; whilst in bungling and unskilful hands, they give confession, as well as evidence, of the horrid work they make, insomuch that there needs no further cases to be adduced were there ten thousand, for by this time readers must have "supped full of horrors." CHAPTER VI. O pity and shame, that they who to live well From man's effeminate slackness it begins, Said th' angel, who should better hold his place By wisdom, and superior gifts receiv'd." PARADISE LOST. "Hominis errare insipiensis vero in errore perseverare." THE ease with which even newly-married women reconcile their minds to the idea, and their feelings to the consequences, of having a man-midwife to attend them, is matter for surprise, as it might, very naturally, be expected they would be "Timorous and loath with novice modesty ;" * but the indifference and complacency with which husbands acquiesce in, or themselves make such choice, is perfectly unaccountable: "Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near nobody." OTHELLO. To what can such a state of misplaced implicit confidence be ascribed; except, as before hinted, that medical practitioners have inculcated the belief that women are only safe, or at least are safest, in their hands? 66 Why, man, they did make love to this employment." HAMLET. * "As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion." PROVERBS, xi. 22. It may be remarked that whenever, on coroners' inquests or on any other occasion, medical men give evidence as to the deaths of women in childbed (which from poverty, mismanagement, imprudence, ill-treatment, or even from accidental causes, too frequently occur), they invariably impute blame, if there is the slightest opening for their doing so, to any midwife who may, by any chance whatever, have had any thing to do in the matter; whilst it may equally be noticed, that they never seek to implicate or impugn each other, whatever may be the circumstances attending any such lamentable occurrence. By such arts, and by maintaining thus in public a uniformity of purpose, they have advanced their common interest as to this branch of practice, to the great detriment of female practitioners and, no doubt, of public morals. Having also the most unreserved and constant intercourse with families, as to |