IT is indeed indifferent whether Men or Women practise
this A R T, so the Practisers be properly
adapted, and duly qualified for the Purpose of so great a WORK.
As for Instance, in France, MEN only profess
this Business; in Italy, and Germany, MEN
and WOMEN promiscuously; in England, Scotland,
Holland, &c. MEN are stiled Extraordinary
MID-WIVES, being seldom
or never call'd but in extraordinary Cases of difficult and preternatural
BIRTHS. Wherefore, upon this Account, I shall first
observe and denote the Qualifications most requisite and absolutely
necessary for WOMEN practising this ART.
NOW as all Arts and Sciences require Instruction,
Application, Pains, and Time, for qualifying any Person
to become a MASTER in the
Practice of them; so the ART of Midwifery
requires not the least Regard, Attention, and Information. Wherefore it
is quite wrong for any Persons, who have not a Body and
Mind particularly adpted to this Business, to spend their Time
in qualifying theselves for, and applying themselves to
the Performance of this good Office. For such as These ought to
leave This Province to THOSE Persons,
whom Nature has more signally mark'd out for the Purpose.
AND that I may the better distinguish upon what I have here propos'd,
I shall first speak in the Negative, and then in
the Affirmative Sense of the Affair; Or first, of her Natural,
and then of her Acquir'd Qualifications.
