_Preternatural BIRTHS_ took their sole _Rise_ and _Origin_ from the
wrong _Positions_ of the _INFANTS_ only; I come in this place, with all
due Submission, not only to affirm a quite contrary _Opinion_, but also
to lay down a directly opposite MAXIM: Namely, that the most difficult
and dangerous _Preternatural BIRTHS_ proceed merely from the ill
_Situation_ of the WOMB; which I take to be the most common _Cause_ of
the CHILD’s wrong _Posture_. The Truth of which I hope to make evidently
appear, to all such, who know and will consider, that this _Noble Part_
is no less subject to various _Accidents_ and different _Diseases_, than
the _Rest_ of the BODY; which springing from divers _Sources_, may
rationally be suppos’d to occasion _Preternatural BIRTHS_, and _those_
more or less dangerous, according to the _Nature_ of the EFFICIENT: as
for _Instance_,
IN _Case_ of an _Inflammation_, _Exulceration_, _Putrefaction_, or the
WOMB’s being _Schirrous_, _Callous_, or _Hard_; affected with a
CARCINOMA or _Cancer_; an obdurated _Gland_, _Cicatrix_, or any _carnous
Excrescence_; or in _Case_ of the WOMB’s being _Dry_ and _Rigid_, and
the _Orifice_’s being _Hard_ and _Thick_, as commonly happens to WOMEN
_in Years_, especially of their _First CHILD_; I say, from either of
_these_, or any such like _Causes_, a _Preternatural BIRTH_ may ensue,
and _that_ even tho’ the PELVIS and PASSAGE be _larger_, but much more
if _those_ be _narrower_, and the Point of the OS SACRUM bent _Inwards_.
I. IN the _Larger_ PELVIS, the greatest _Difficulty_ of this _BIRTH_
proceeds from too great a _Descent_ of the WOMB; which relaxes the
_Ligaments_ and _Fibres_ of the VAGINA, and so much depresses the
_Bladder_, that an _Incontinency_ of URINE presently follows, which in
this _Case_ is commonly succeeded by a _Falling Down_ of the WOMB or
VAGINA, as already observ’d in _Chap._ XI. where the Diligent MIDWIFE
will find the due _Method_ of preventing such growing _Mischiefs_, and
of opening the _Orifice_ of the WOMB both safely and readily, and
consequently _Delivering_ her _Woman_ more easily and expeditiously,
with good Success as well as Security.
II. IN the _narrower_ PELVIS, the _MIDWIFE_ needs no ways fear the
above-named _Accident_, and therefore is not to be at so much Pains in
_retaining_ the ORIFICE in its proper Place, whatever Trouble she may
have in _opening_ it; which would be no easy TASK, was not the OS
COCCYGIS to be _thrust back_, (as set forth, _Chap._ IX.) And which I
must (for this Reason) recommend once more to all Careful _MIDWIVES_, as
the best and most effectual METHOD of performing this happy _Apertion_.
FROM what is said here therefore, we may now conclude, that a great
_Variety_ of CAUSES may subject the WOMB to a Diversity of ACCIDENTS,
and _those_ of sundry _Degrees_, which may more or less affect its
_Motion_ and _Situation_, as already set forth[171].
AND hence it is that we have so many _Degrees_ of _Preternatural BIRTHS_
on _Part_ of the WOMB, _All_ which to enumerate particularly in this
Place, would be a WORK as _Superfluous_ as _Tedious_: wherefore, to be
brief, I shall here also reduce them to the FOUR following, (as before
mentioned, SECT. IV. _Chap._ 13.) viz. _Preternatural BIRTHS_,
proceeding from an _oblique Situation_ of the WOMB inclining _Forwards_,
or _Backwards_, or to (either _Side_) _Right_ or _Left_: which fourfold
_Situation_ of the WOMB may be rightly and properly compar’d to the
_Four Cardinal Points_ of the COMPASS, as the rest of its _oblique
Positions_ may be analogously adequated to the _Collateral_ and _Middle
Points_: For because, as they decline from the _Meridian_, and derive
themselves from EAST, WEST, NORTH, and SOUTH, as formerly observ’d[172];
so _those_ are less difficult _BIRTHS_, and branch out from the _Four_
mentioned Extremities: since the WOMB, like a _Magnetick Needle_, may
run quite round, and be ill-seated every way, or on every _side_. In all
which _Cases_, the _INFANT_ must absolutely be _Turned_; which
_Performance_ in any _oblique_ WOMB, requires a competent solid
_Knowledge_ and sound _Judgment_, as well as the best adapted and
experienced _Hands_. But of _those_, more particularly hereafter; and
_First_, accordingly——
[Illustration]
CHAP. XIX.
_Of Preternatural BIRTHS, from the WOMB’s inclining Forwards._
IN speaking to this critical _Point_, I shall _first_ give the _Reason_
of such a _BIRTH_, occasion’d by this _Position_; to wit, The _WOMB_
hanging much _forwards_, especially in _Women_ carrying it too _low_ in
the ABDOMEN, the _INFANT_ (betwixt the _Pains_) must needs be forced
upon the OS SACRUM, or the VERTEBRÆ bending _inwards_; which stops the
HEAD that it cannot conveniently or without Obstruction fall into the
PELVIS.
HOWEVER, in this _Condition_ we suppose the _INFANT_ to be _well
turn’d_, I mean (both _here_ and _elsewhere_) _well turn’d_ in respect
of the _WOMB_, with the _Crown_ of the HEAD lying against the _Orifice_;
than which nothing can be more _Right_ or _Natural_ in regard of the
_WOMB_ itself, nor more _Wrong_ and _Preternatural_ in respect of the
_PELVIS_ and _Vagina_ of the _WOMB_, in this _forward Situation_:
Because by reason of this _Posture_, the _INFANT_ falls _transverse_
upon the OSSA PELVIS, especially upon the OS SACRUM or _hindmost_
VERTEBRÆ; upon which it commonly offers itself with the FACE _prone_ or
_turn’d Downwards_, tho’ it is not brought forth, but with the FACE
_Supine_ or _Upwards_. For as it passes, it must be _turn’d round_,
partly in a _Circle_, with its HEAD _prone_, and FEET drawn up under it;
which happens not in the _WOMB_, but only as it passes the _Orifice_
into the _PELVIS_ or _VAGINA_.
NOW what I mean is more plainly _This_, that as soon as the INFANT comes
into the _Turning_ (which it must pass) it necessarily _bends_ and
_crooks_ itself, as it finds its PASSAGE _bent_ or _crooked_; by which
means the FACE is sometimes _turn’d down_, and sometimes _upwards_: And
_This proceeds_ from THAT, in short, as soon as the HEAD begins to enter
the _Orifice_, it presently fixes upon (and sticks fast to) the last
VERTEBRÆ of the _Loins_ standing _forwards_, or to the OS SACRUM; so
that it cannot naturally or possibly go _forwards_, except the HEAD is
_bent downwards_, and the _Neck_ and whole _Body_ be accommodated to
that BENDING.
HENCE it is, that _THAT_ which just now was _situated prone_ upon its
BELLY in the _WOMB_, now passing through the _VAGINA_, is _bent upwards
supine_ upon its _BACK_; and from thence it’s evident, that _That
Inversion_ is not properly in the _WOMB_, but in the _VAGINA_, or (if
you please) in the _Confines_ of BOTH: And, in fine, this _forward
Inversion_ (as it happens) occasions a most difficult _Preternatural
BIRTH_.
BUT _this_, in short, happens to the _Woman_ with _CHILD_, because her
_WOMB hangs forward_, or is _resupin’d_, according to the _Depression_
made on the _WOMB_ by the _Intestines_, forcing it _this_ or _that way_;
or to either _Side_, as will by and by more fully appear[173]. But——
SINCE it is most requisite to know presently in the _Beginning_ of
_LABOUR_, whether the _WOMB_ be placed _forwards_, in order that the
Means of Help may be taken accordingly; I shall in the _second place_
add the _SIGNS_, or _Tokens_, by which the _MIDWIFE_ may know this
_Position_ of the _WOMB_, and what _she_ has best to do in such a nice
ticklish _STATE_ of Affairs.
FIRST then, _She_ may know it, principally, by the _Hanging forwards_
and _Thickness_ of the BELLY, or perhaps by the good _Woman’s
Information_ of the PLACE, where she chiefly feels the _INFANT_
stirring; for it cannot _move_ but where ’tis _placed_.
HOWEVER yet a prudent _MIDWIFE_ will have no great regard to such
_Uncertainties_, but betake herself immediately to _that_ which cannot
fail her, the TOUCH; which (in this _Case_) affords her the following
certain _SIGNS_; viz.
I. THE _Orifice_ of the WOMB is suspended _higher_ than usual; which
_she_ cannot _Touch_, by reaching, without a great deal of _Difficulty_.
II. SHE can only _Touch_ the lower Border of the _Orifice_, and that
only as the WOMB hangs more or less _forwards_; and by no means the
_upper Edge_, except the _Orifice_ has begun to _fall down_.
III. SHE cannot at all, or very hardly, get her _Finger_ into the
opening of the _Orifice_, and because of that Difficulty, it must then
also be _crooked_ or _bent_.
IV. SHE will find the _Orifice_ opposite to the _bending_ of the last
VERTEBRÆ or the OS SACRUM, and feel it so strongly pressed against the
said VERTEBRÆ, when the _Pains_ come on, that it cannot _fall down_: and
lastly, she’ll feel the WATERS (if they hang over the _Passage_) in a
thin _slender Form_.
UPON _This_ the Skilfull _MIDWIFE_ finding these concurring _SIGNS_,
_she_ may be assur’d that the WOMB hangs too much _forwards_; which
_Condition_ requires the immediate _Help_ of _Ingenuity_ and _ART_ to
correct this ill untoward _Position_, and to promote the _BIRTH_
expeditiously. But then _these Things_ are to be carefully perceived and
distinguished in the _Beginning_ of LABOUR, before the PAINS have either
closed up, or too much depressed the _Orifice_; yea, in short, even
before it sensibly _opens_: since afterwards all those _SIGNS_ are
variously chang’d and alter’d, till at last they entirely _vanish_.
WHEREFORE let it be deem’d as a certain _Rule_, that the true _Posture_
of the _WOMB_ is always best discover’d by the TOUCH in the _Beginning_
of the LABOUR: At which time may the _Orifice_ be suspended never so
_high_, the _MIDWIFE_ ought to penetrate so far, until _she reaches_ it;
if not sufficiently with her FINGERS, the _whole Hand_ is to be
judiciously used, and passed up that Length, because this particular
TOUCH is absolutely Necessary for that good End: Insomuch that if any
_Labouring Woman_ be against this _manual Operation_ or opposes it,
_she_ thereby debars her _MIDWIFE_ of an infallible _Method_, of
discovering the true _Posture_ of her WOMB, and consequently of taking
the most immediate proper MEANS for _Her own_ as well as her INFANT’s
Relief.
BUT now supposing, after all, the _MIDWIFE_ to be certain that the WOMB
_hanging too much forwards_, in a prominent BELLY bearing pretty much
out, is deeper depressed than it ought to be; _She_ is obliged then in
this _Circumstance_ to consider accordingly how to correct this
_Preternatural Situation_, and assist both the MOTHER and INFANT for the
best: To which End, _She_ ought FIRST to endeavour that the HEAD may
_fall down_ into the PELVIS, even to the _bending_ of the OS COCCYGIS;
and then, SECONDLY, _She_ is thence to advance the HEAD gradually, that
the _Exclusion_ of the _CHILD_ may be expedited and intirely perfected
at last.
NOW in order that the HEAD, together with the _Orifice_ of the WOMB, may
be so discreetly brought _forwards_ into the PELVIS, the _Woman_ is to
be placed with the _upper part of her Body lower than the inferiour_; I
mean, with _Head and Shoulders bending downwards_, and the _Buttocks
upwards_; by which Means, the _Bottom_ of the WOMB is elevated, and
gives the _Orifice_ an Opportunity of being brought more easily into the
PELVIS.
THEN the parturient _Woman being so placed_, the _MIDWIFE_ (using both
_Hands_) ought to clear the WOMB, together with the _Head_ of the
INFANT, by putting the _one_ up, as far as there’s occasion, into the
VAGINA, and laying the _other_ upon the _Woman_’s BELLY, in manner
following: _viz._——
THE _Hand_ in the VAGINA is (by having two or three of its _Fingers
Ends_ extended to the upper Border of the _Orifice_ of the WOMB) to move
it a little beyond the _Head_ of the _CHILD_, and to direct it into the
_Mouth_ of the PELVIS, so that it may fall the more readily down into
the design’d Place. But in this critical Juncture the _MIDWIFE_ must
always take special _Care_ not to squeeze or press the _Top_ of the HEAD
too much, nor to handle it too hard, lest _She_ should thereby _wound_,
if not also _kill_ the INFANT.
AGAIN the Business of the _other Hand_, used externally, is to _drive
back_ the WOMB, by pressing the _Abdomen_; which must be perform’d also
with great Caution and Judgement, not by drawing the HAND from _above
downwards_, but pressing as much as the _Woman_ can bear it, from _below
upwards_; so that (if possible) the WOMB may be thereby _resupin’d_ or
turn’d _backwards_. Minding always, by the way, that
THIS _Pressure_ of the WOMB is not to be attempted, before the _one
Hand_ is first conveniently placed _within_. But if all _This Menage_
should not yet succeed the _first time_ according to Wish, then it may
be safely repeated again by turns so often, until the _MIDWIFE_ feels
the _Crown_ of the HEAD; that is to say, till _She_ feels the Borders of
the _Orifice_ quite round about _hanging over the Entrance of the_
PELVIS. Upon which happy _Discovery_, she may with reason rejoice in her
_Labour_, and be heartily glad of her good _Success_: Because now the
_Force_ of good depressing PAINS only will effectually perfect the Work.
BUT before Matters are happily brought this prepared _Length_, the
_bearing Woman_ is upon no account to begin her _LABOUR_; since _That_
would not only be in _vain_, and otherways debilitate the Strength of
her Body; but also be of great _Hindrance_ to the MIDWIFE (to whom all
the _LABOUR_ hitherto belongs) who, as _she_ feels the _PAINS_ growing
and rushing in upon the _Woman_, before their proper Time, ought to
charge her strictly, to forbear _working_ along with them, and as much
as possible to abstain from any _co-operating Depression_. And in fine,
as the _MIDWIFE_ by having her _Hand_ diligently apply’d to the
_Orifice_ of the WOMB, by strict Attention, may most commonly observe,
and previously discern the approaching _PAINS_, before the Patient
_Woman_ herself can be sensible of them: So she ought also for her _own
helping Part_, _ex Officio_, to be quiet and attempt nothing till
_Then_, but take her convenient _Opportunities_, always as soon as the
_PAINS_ are over.
THUS by seasonably lending NATURE an artificial _helping Hand_, BOTH
_jointly_ may easily effect, what _neither_ can do _separately_: For as
it sometimes happens, that the _MIDWIFE_ ought to _cease_, while she
perceives (by the PAINS) that _Nature_ is a working, and therefore ought
to _work_ only when the _PAINS_ are past; so it also falls out often,
upon other Occasions, that _she_ is to _work_ along with the _PAINS_,
and when those are _past_, to _cease_. And thus, in fine, according to
different _Circumstances_, the discreet _MIDWIFE_ knows always the
NEEDFULL, _what’s to be done_, or _let alone_.
BUT in this Place, I doubt not, many _MIDWIVES_ will object, and say,
How is it possible for _Us_ to perceive the _PAINS_ coming on before the
parturient _Woman herself_? To which I ingenuously _answer_, that _This_
also is one of the many Advantages of the TOUCH; since by _That_, I can
presently feel a kind of _subtile Motion_, _Contraction_, or
_Compression_ beginning in the _Orifice_ of the WOMB; which is only
observable as the _Muscles_ are affected with a _New Sense_, excited by
a _New Influx_ of the SPIRITS; occasioning a _New Force_ or _Impression_
upon the WOMB, which we commonly call a PANG: So that, in short, by
distinguishing _this Motion_ from _others_, I am always able to foretell
or advise the _Woman_ of what is a-coming, and to admonish her
accordingly of her bounden DUTY, as the _Case_ requires.
MATTERS now being fairly brought thus far, that the _Orifice_ and the
HEAD begin to slide down into the _PELVIS_; the _MIDWIFE_ is at this
Time to study how to succour and assist the _CHILD_, by rendring its
_Passage_ easy. In order to which, _she_ must first observe to raise the
_upper Part_ of the Woman’s Body a little, and give her some short
_Respite_, before she offers to bring the _Orifice_ into the _PELVIS_;
because the _Posture_ above-directed, occasions considerable _Pain_ as
well as great Inconveniency: Which being done, the _Woman_ for the
future is to _sympathize_ with every _PAIN_, and _Labour_ as much as
possible, co-operating mutually with them; since now the PAINS (by the
Assistance of the HEAD) begin to open the _Orifice_, and gradually force
the INFANT forward to its _Birth_.
HOWEVER yet the _MIDWIFE_ ought in this _Case_, to be very careful in
sustaining, and nice in keeping up the _Orifice_ of the _Womb_, lest it
should _fall down_ together with the _Vertex_ or _Crown_ of the _HEAD_
into the _Sinus Sacri_; which is a _Point_ so curious and critical, tho’
an _Accident_ too common, that I dare well say, not one in _Fifty
Practitioners_ in _MIDWIFERY_ understands it thoroughly; otherways I am
confident, and morally certain, that many _fine Women_ would have been
_living Monuments_ of their _Ingenuity_, who are at this day only the
_Dead Remains_ of their _Ignorance_.
THIS I think is past all _Contradiction_, when we consider, how some
_Practisers_ sacrifice the INFANT, first by _opening_, and (as they call
it) _braining_ the HEAD, and then by drawing it forth with their
_Instrument_ call’d _FORCEPS_: How _others_ also esteem themselves
_Masters_ of the greatest _ARCANUM_, boasting that they can, without so
much as _braining_ the _HEAD_, extract the _INFANT_ by their _Tool_
call’d an _EDUCTOR_: How a _Third Set_ again pretending themselves to be
the only _genuine Sons_ of APOLLO, come slily to correct the _Rest_, by
fixing only a couple of HOOKS in the _Eyes_, _Ears_, or somewhere else
in the Child’s _HEAD_; by which means they as wretchedly produce the
_innocent_ dead _Babe_ as any of the _others_: For it can no more be
suppos’d to _survive_ this cruel _Treatment_, than the other mentioned
_Barbarities_; not to speak of the _Anguish_ and _Perplexity_ over and
above, besides the real Danger all the while brought upon the
_distressed Mother_.
UPON this grand Affair of Life and Death, the Desidious and Capricious
_MIDWIFE_ cries at length, GOD knows I have taken all the _Pains_ and
Care I could, but to no _Purpose_, for this or that trifling _Reason_,
falsely alledged. The _SURGEON_ (if he don’t pretend the _CHILD_ to be
already _Dead_) says, Come, it is better to dispense with _one Life_
than _Two_; _One must go_, &c. In consequence of which, he prepares his
_FORCEPS_, _EDUCTOR_, _KNIVES_, _HOOKS_, &c. to draw out the _INFANT
Dead_, or _Alive_, _Whole_ or in _Pieces_, by such disingenuous and
barbarous _Means_ to save the _MOTHER_. Thus behold the excellent _Art_
of _MIDWIFERY_ ignorantly perverted! O Deplorable Woman! O Miserable
Babe! How much abused! when there is no _other Mean_ left to rescue the
tender _Life_ of the poor _Mother_, but by the massacrous _Death_ of her
dearest _CHILD_! This _Case_ indeed would be very _Melancholy_, but
Glory be to _GOD_ who has neither left the _One_ nor the _Other_ to
perish at this untimely or inhuman Rate, excepting it be by _Ignorance_,
or _Wilfulness_, &c. as aforesaid: No, on the contrary he has provided
an _EXPEDIENT_ for every _Extremity_, and a _REMEDY_ for every _Malady_,
as in the present _Case_ will appear farther by what follows, _Viz._——
THAT such _Tragical Events_ may be prudently prevented, I use my
constant and unwearied Endeavours to sustain the _Orifice_, that it may
not come below its proper _Place_; and that having clear’d the _HEAD_ of
the _WOMB_, I may only bring _it_ alone down; which I can much more
easily do, than if it was cover’d about with the WOMB, sticking fast (as
above) in the _SINUS SACRI_. And supposing the _MEMBRANE_ to press
strongly instead of the HEAD, I treat it all one as if it was the HEAD,
taking always Care not to _break_ it, tho’ the _forming_ of the _WATERS_
is not to be obstructed; for which Cause, I upon all Occasions stretch
out my _Fingers_ wide, applying them only to the Edges of the _Orifice_,
not to the _Membrane_: And this I continue doing, until the _MEMBRANE_
spontaneously _breaks_; upon which I manage the _Head_ as aforesaid.
THUS the _Infant’s HEAD_ being excluded with the _Crown foremost_, there
is no more Occasion to be at any Pains in _keeping up the Orifice_;
wherefore I now suffer it, together with the _HEAD_, to _fall down_ past
the _Bending_ of the _OS SACRUM_; which now also, the _major Part_ of it
being bare, more easily happens, than it possibly could whilst it was
cover’d with the _Orifice_. Upon this, that the CHILD may be farther
relieved and brought out, I now again make use of both _Hands_, the
_one_ inwardly, the other _outwardly_, as before: But as the _Condition_
is now much _alter’d_ from what it was at that time, I at present
proceed after a quite _different Manner_, and work along with the PAINS,
_resting_ only as their _Force_ ceases: For thus I not only observe the
PAINS my self, but also at the same time encourage my _Woman_ to
_Labour_, and to persist in her _LABOUR_ with all her Strength; and by
Turns, as the _PAINS_ come on, to conjoin their _Force_ with her own and
my mutual _Endeavours_, in the manner following: namely,
HAVING _One Hand_ in the _Vagina_, with its _Back_ turn’d towards the
RECTUM, I thrust very cautiously the Points of my _Fingers_ as far as I
can under the _HEAD_, where I hold that _Hand_ constantly, until the
_PAIN_ comes on; laying the _other Hand_ upon the _Belly_, about that
Part where the _Bottom_ of the WOMB lies: Then as I perceive the _PAINS_
come on, I begin to work with both _Hands_; to wit, by pressing the
_internal Hand_ gently _downwards_, against the Point of the SACRUM to
remove it _back_ out of the way; whilst by the _external Hand_, I gently
raise the WOMB into a _resupine Posture_, pressing it also softly
_downwards_: I mean _softly_ in Proportion (howsoever) to the _Force_ of
the _PAIN_: for as it gradually _encreases_, and more and more excites
strong LABOUR; so I also by degrees _press down more strongly_.
HOWEVER yet the _External Depression_ ought always to be _Moderate_, as
the _Internal_ ought to be _Strong_ and _Vigorous_: Whereupon _Matters_
being carefully well observ’d, (as laid down in _Chap._ 9.) no _MIDWIFE_
needs be afraid of _hurting_ her _Patient Woman_ in the least; no
rather, on the contrary, the more _Strength_ I use now, the more
grateful and agreeable I prove to _Her_ being thus circumstantiated.
And, in fine, the _upper Part_ of the _CHILD_’s Body being once past
that _Sinuous Bending_ above, it presently breaks out all together, and
comes away so happily into the World. After which the _MIDWIFE_ is only
farther to behave herself with respect to both the MOTHER and the CHILD,
as in the _Natural Case_[174], carefully cleansing, restoring,
contracting, and shutting the WOMB as _Before_. In a Word, with so great
Success at last the _BIRTH_ is accomplished, provided these _Precepts_
be carefully and timely observed.
BUT that the _Ingenious_ may be at no _Loss_ in this momentous Affair
upon any Occasion, we shall now particularly _state_ the CASE, in which
the ordinary MIDWIFE has thro’ Ignorance or Negligence, let _Matters_
come so far, that the _acuminated_ or _lower Part_ of the WOMB is fallen
into the PELVIS; and the _Orifice_, together with the HEAD, is broken
thro’ into the _crooked Sinus_ of the OS SACRUM, and is fixed-up there;
that the MEMBRANE is _broke_; that the _Infant_’s HEAD is but a little
_bare_; that the poor _Woman_ (after the _Fatigues_ of a strong or long
_Travail_) is quite spent and tired; and _finally_, that all these
Things have _happen’d_ before the extraordinary _MIDWIFE_ is perhaps
sent for, or at least before He can conveniently be with the _Woman_.
IN this Pitiful _Case_, the HEAD being yet but a little _bared_, and
sticking fast in the _Sinus_ of the OS COCCYGIS (as abovesaid) the
_CHILD_ cannot possibly make any _Impression_ upon the _Orifice_, so as
to open it; and therefore the _Situation_ of the WOMB is to be alter’d:
In order to which, I first place the _Woman_ on a commodious _Seat_
adapted to the Purpose, such as upon a _Pallet_, or _Low Bed_, or some
_Pillows_ laid on the Ground; that she may lie with her FACE _downwards
upon her Knees_, with her _Head low_; her _Arms_ being supported with so
many _Pillows_ as are requisite to sustain her _Body_ (leaning upon
them) without moving.