ARISTOTLE’S WORKS.
[Illustration:
ARISTOTLE’S MASTER-PIECE.
]
[Illustration]
The Works of
ARISTOTLE
THE FAMOUS PHILOSOPHER
London
PUBLISHED BY THE BOOKSELLERS
ARISTOTLE’S WORKS:
CONTAINING
THE MASTER-PIECE,
DIRECTIONS FOR MIDWIVES,
AND
COUNSEL AND ADVICE
TO
CHILD-BEARING WOMEN.
WITH
VARIOUS USEFUL REMEDIES.
LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS.
ADVERTISEMENT.
At the present time, when so many of the female sex, in the hour of
Nature’s extremity, depend solely upon the skill and practical
experience of the Midwife, we regard every attempt to assist the female
accoucheur in her difficult, and sometimes dangerous operation, as a
blessing conferred upon society.
This treatise enters fully into every department of Midwifery; and lays
down excellent rules, and proposes valuable suggestions for the guidance
of the female operator, which, if acted upon, will not only redound to
the credit of the practitioner, but will be of immense benefit to those
operated upon. Another valuable feature of this work is, that it
contains important directions for the guidance of child-bearing women
during the time of their pregnancy: how they should conduct themselves
with regard to regimen, medical treatment, and other matters, each
month, until the time of their delivery. In short, we venture to assert
that if the counsel and advice given in the Experienced Midwife be
strictly adhered to by all parties interested therein, the travail in
child-birth, instead of being many times difficult and dangerous, will
be safe, speedy, and comparatively easy.
CONTENTS.
THE MASTER-PIECE.
PAGE
The Matrimonial State considered 9
CHAP. I. —False Steps in Matrimonial Alliances 10
„ II. —The original appointment of Marriage 14
„ III. —The happy state of Matrimony 20
„ IV. —Precautionary Hints 29
„ V. —The Vagaries of Nature in the birth of Monsters 34
„ VI. —Of the Womb in general 41
„ VII. —Of the retention of the Terms 43
„ VIII. —Of the overflowing of the Terms 49
„ IX. —Of the Weeping of the Womb 53
„ X. —Of the false Terms, or Whites 54
„ XI. —Of the Suffocation of the Mother 57
„ XII. —Falling of the Womb 62
„ XIII. —Of the Inflammation of the Womb 64
„ XIV. —Of the Schirrosity or Hardness of the Womb 66
„ XV. —Of the Dropsy of the Womb 68
„ XVI. —Of Moles and False Conceptions 70
„ XVII. —Of Conception, and how a woman may know whether she
has conceived or not, and whether male or female 74
„ XVIII. —Of untimely Births 76
„ XIX. —Directions for Pregnant Women 77
„ XX. —Directions to be observed by women at the time of
their falling in labour 80
„ XXI. —In cases of extremity, what ought to be done 82
THE MIDWIFE.
CHAPTER I.
SECT. I. Of the Womb 85
SECT. II. Of the Difference between Ancient and Modern Physicians,
touching the Woman’s contributing Seed for the formation of the
Child 90
CHAPTER II.
SECT. I. What Conception is 93
SECT. II. How a Woman ought to order herself after Conception ib.
CHAPTER III.
SECT. I. Of the Parts proper to a Child in the Womb. How it is
formed there, and the Manner of its Situation therein 104
Of the Secundine, or After-Birth 107
SECT. II. Of the Formation of the Child in the Womb 109
SECT. III. Of the manner of the Child’s lying in the Womb 110
CHAPTER IV.
A Guide for Women in Travail, shewing what is to be done when they
Fall in Labour, in order to their Delivery 113
SECT. I. The Signs of the true Time of Woman’s Labour 114
SECT. II. How a Woman ought to be ordered when the time of her
Labour is come 116
CHAPTER V.
SECT. I. What Natural Labour is 123
SECT. II. Of the Cutting of the Child’s Navel-String 128
SECT. III. How to bring away the After-burden 130
SECT. IV. Of Laborious and Difficult Labours, and how the Midwife
is to proceed therein 131
SECT. V. Of Women Labouring with a dead Child 138
CHAPTER VI.
Of Unnatural Labour 142
SECT. I. How to deliver a woman of a Dead Child, by Manual
Operation 143
SECT. II. How a Woman must be Delivered, when the Child’s Feet
come first 146
SECT. III. How to bring away the Head of the Child, when separated
from the Body, and left behind in the Womb 149
SECT. IV. How to deliver a Woman, when the Child’s Head is
presented to the Birth 151
SECT. V. How to deliver a Woman when the Child presents one or
both Hands together with the Head 153
SECT. VI. How a Woman ought to be delivered, when the Hands and
Feet of the Infant come together 154
SECT. VII. How a Woman should be delivered that has Twins, which
present themselves in different Postures 156
CHAPTER VII.
SECT. I. How a Woman newly delivered ought to be ordered 160
SECT. II. How to remedy those Accidents which a Lying-in Woman is
subject to 162
CHAPTER VIII.
Directions for Nurses, in ordering Newly-born Children 168
CHAPTER IX.
SECT. I. Of Gripes and Pains in the Bowels of young Children 171
SECT. II. Of Weakness in newly-born Infants 173
SECT. III. Of the Fundament being closed up in a newly-born Infant 174
SECT. IV. Of the Thrush, or Ulcers in the Mouth of the Infant 176
SECT. V. Of Pains in the Ears, Inflammation, Moisture, &c. 177
SECT. VI. Of Redness, or Inflammation of the Buttocks, Groin, and
the thighs of the Young Child 178
SECT. VII. Of Vomiting in young Children 179
SECT. VIII. Of breeding Teeth in young Children 180
SECT. IX. Of the Flux in the Belly, or Looseness in Infants 182
SECT. X. Of the Epilepsy and Convulsions in Children 185
PROPER AND SAFE REMEDIES FOR CURING ALL THOSE DISTEMPERS THAT ARE
PECULIAR TO THE FEMALE SEX 186
ARISTOTLE’S BOOK OF PROBLEMS 202
THE SECRETS RELATING TO PHYSIOGNOMY 275
THE MIDWIFE’S VADE-MECUM 307
THE VENEREAL DISEASE 317
ARISTOTLE’S WORKS.
THE MASTER-PIECE.
THE MATRIMONIAL STATE CONSIDERED.
The subject of Matrimony is one of deep interest to both sexes: and it
behoves every one before marriage to study it with the most serious
attention, and ponder over it with an earnest desire to acquire a full
knowledge of its duties, responsibilities, and enjoyments. It is an
attractive subject to both male and female, except those who subscribe
to the principles of Malthus; and old bachelors and old maids are looked
upon with contempt and scorn by the generality of young people. Celibacy
is regarded now with different views from that with which it used to be
some centuries back; and this change is perceptible in some portions of
the Romish church. The celibacy of the priesthood is not now insisted on
with that strictness which was the case in former times. Marriage is
considered the legitimate and proper order of things: husband and wife
the relative condition of male and female, and celibacy ought to be, if
possible, avoided.
It is our intention to examine the subject in regard to the prejudicial
influence which arises from the false steps which are often taken in
matrimonial alliances; the original appointment of marriage; and the
happy state of matrimony when in strict accordance with that which was
originally appointed; with other subjects connected with Love and
Marriage.
CHAPTER I.
FALSE STEPS IN MATRIMONIAL ALLIANCES.
When we peruse the yearly returns which are furnished by the Registrar
General of the marriages which have taken place in our own country, we
are forcibly struck with the many false steps which have been taken by
both males and females, even in one year. Parties joined together of the
most unequal ages—May and December—plainly declare that there are other
motives actuating the one or the other, in the step taken, than the one
that should always be predominant at the hymeneal altar.
Another list in the Registrar’s Return will show us what numbers enter
the marriage state long before they have come to the age of maturity. In
Oriental countries the custom is to marry at an early age; but there the
climate, it is said, has an influence on the human frame which earlier
developes the state of puberty than is the case in our own northern
clime; and that in those countries human decay commences earlier than it
does in Europe. Still we hesitate not to say, that early marriages even
in hot climates, are injudicious. We are not advocating marriages taking
place between the sexes when the vigour and stamina have begun to decay;
on the other hand, we would say, that early marriages are preferable to
those contracted when the bloom of youth has passed away. But when those
are joined together who are not physiologically prepared for the
requirements and enjoyments of the matrimonial state, they attempt that
for which nature has not fitted them, and impair their physical organs,
debilitate their vital powers, and exhaust their strength. We would,
therefore, caution our readers not to marry too young.
Another false step taken by those who enter the marriage state is one
that requires great discrimination and judgment to avoid: we allude to
the bodily or mental disqualification of the one or the other for the
true enjoyment of that state. What misery has been experienced by
thousands for want of a thorough knowledge of each other bodily and
mentally before the knot was tied. The Divorce Court has been, and is,
crowded with applicants for redress, who are the victims of their own
folly, and who rushed into the connubial state without having a clear
and perfect understanding of each other’s qualifications for rendering
the marriage state one of enjoyment.
Again, much misery is often productive of the want of a thorough
knowledge of the temper and disposition of each other before the
consummation of marriage. The lover finds in the object adored, all
perfection; and neglects to view this object in its true light, until
the irrevocable vow is uttered, and wedded life reveals the unwholesome
truth that the temper and disposition of the one, or the other, or both,
are of such a nature as to render the domestic hearth any thing but
pleasant.
Again, a common error committed by those wishing to enter the marriage
state, is that of being dazzled and decoyed by the beauty of the object
sought. The beauty of the face is not among women one of universal
agreement, as is generally supposed. Voltaire has said, “Ask a toad what
is handsome, and he will answer, ‘My mate, with his big eyes and slimy
skin.’” The negro’s type of beauty, no doubt, consists in a blackness
equal to his own; but is there no specific and positive state of
perfection, regularity, harmony, organization, in each species? Have not
all their ideas of beauty, independent of the preferences or
prepossessions of others? The face of a woman is a mirror of the
affections of her soul, as has been often remarked, but the fact has not
yet been promulgated, that the different features of a face indicate a
particular species of affection.
Again, an error frequently committed by those anxious to enter the
matrimonial life is that of seeking for wealth, not the true enjoyment
of domestic happiness. Alas! what numbers have made fatal shipwreck by
being dashed to pieces, like Sinbad, on this loadstone rock! The man
that wishes to find the true enjoyment of married life should not look
for a large dower along with the partner of his life, but for a woman of
a virtuous, well-educated, and amiable disposition. Such a partner will
be of more value than all the gold that has been discovered in
California, Australia, and all the other El Dorados yet heard of. But
although the lover should not be actuated by an inordinate craving after
wealth, still there should be a due foresight exercised to provide for a
proper maintenance before entering the marriage state. Many couples get
united together before they have provided a home of their own wherein to
dwell, and are therefore compelled to be dependent upon others, for a
habitation. This is a sad state of things; and has frequently been the
cause of embittering the married life of those who would otherwise have
enjoyed much of its sweets.
Again, another error which is often committed by those entering the
married state, is that of an utter disregard for the tastes and
inclinations of each other. For want of due appreciation of the unity of
feeling on this subject much unhappiness has been experienced by husband
and wife. The husband, perhaps, has a taste for a particular class of
literature, and takes a delight in perusing his favourite authors,
whilst the wife takes a pleasure in reading works of quite a different
description altogether, and persists in maintaining her judgment in
opposition to that of her husband, hence unpleasant bickerings and
recriminations take place. And as their tastes disagree in regard to the
food for the mind, so also they disagree in regard to the food for the
body. What she likes, he dislikes, and what he likes, she dislikes. It
behoves every one, entering the matrimonial state to have a perfect
understanding, and a reciprocity in taste and inclination with each
other.
Again, another error into which many fall who are entering the wedded
life, is a departure from that candour and uprightness which ought to
govern and actuate mankind in every transaction of daily life but more
especially in the important one now under consideration. What lamentable
consequences have resulted from the deception and subterfuge which have
been practised by both male and female, when about to be joined together
in the holy bands of wedlock! The man who would deceive the partner whom
he vows to cherish and comfort, or the woman who would practice
deception on him whom she vows to honour and obey, deserve to taste the
bitter fruit of their own sin and folly. It should ever be known by
those who are about to become man and wife, that every matter which they
are anxious to conceal before marriage, will, very probably, be
disclosed at one time or another; and perhaps disclosed in such a way so
as to make the secret appear of ten times more importance than it really
is. Unbosom every secret, confide in each other; and be assured that,
whatever may be the consequence, a clear conscience, truth, and
uprightness will comfort and sustain you in every trouble.