shall hereafter shew, that they ought not to practise till
they can manage preternatural cases, as nature does not always
pursue her usual process.
I wish these few hints may have their due effect,
on those women who have courage and good sense enough to think for themselves,
and will not be slaves to popular absurdity, and interested sophistry;
I shall conclude this introduction nearly in the words of Dr. Buchan*.
‘As matters stand at present, it is easier to cheat a woman
out of her life than of a shilling, and almost inpossible either
to detect or punish the offender. Notwithstanding this, people still
shut their eyes, and take every thing upon trust that is done by any
PRETENDER to midwifery, without daring to ask him a reason for
any part of his conduct. Implicit faith, every where else the
