| (ix) |
| |
|
pose of forcing birth in natural (but tedious) labours, and saving the
doctor's time; but unfortunately it has done great mischief, even in skilful
hands, sometimes wounding the mother, other times the child, or perhaps
both.
Notwithstanding, as it was used with great secrecy, the cause
of the mischief was kept secret also.
This instrument reached England, where a wide field was opened for
its clandestine use, owing to the artifices of male-midwives, who
contrived (by the assistance of nurses, whom they did not fail to reward)
to make husbands believe, that it was more indecent for them
to be present at the delivery of their wives, than for strange men
to assist thereat; so that by keeping men in ignorance of what they did,
and by telling women, that the mischief done was owing to the original difficulty
of the case, when there was no difficulty, but that which nature would have
over- |
| |
A5 |
come |
|
|
