[Illustration: _Cunicularii_
_or_
_The Wise men of Godliman in Consultation_]
_They held their Talents most Adroit_
_For any Mystical Exploit_
A _The Dancing Master or Præternatural Anatomist._
B _An Occult Philosopher searching into the Depth of things._
C _The Sooterkin Doctor Astonish’d._
D _The Guilford Rabbet Man Midwife._
E _The Rabbet getter._
F _The Lady in the straw._
G _The Nurse or Rabbet Dresser._
A SHORT
NARRATIVE
Of an Extraordinary
Delivery of Rabbets,
Perform’d by
Mr. _JOHN HOWARD_
Surgeon at _Guilford_.
Published by Mr. _St. Andrè_ Surgeon and Anatomist
to his Majesty.
The SECOND EDITION.
[Illustration]
_LONDON_,
Printed for JOHN CLARKE, at the _Bible_ under
the _Royal-Exchange_. MDCCXXVII.
The Account of the Delivery of the eighteenth Rabbet, shall be Published
by way of Appendix to this Account.
[Illustration]
_A Short Narrative of an Extraordinary Delivery_, &c.
Whatever may be the Fate of this Account, I think my self indispensably
obliged to relate the Facts that I saw, and transacted my self, as also
the Reasons which first induced me to enquire into the Truth of such an
Extraordinary Event; but I here declare that I take on me no other Part
of this Narration, than that in which I was actually concerned.
As Mr. _Howard_ himself intends shortly to publish the whole Account,
and prove every Circumstance of it, by such Evidences as will put this
Matter out of all possibility of Doubt, I must refer to him for several
Particulars here omitted.
And as it will be impossible to judge impartially of this Fact, till the
Evidences abovemention’d are produced, it cannot be doubted but all such
Persons as are not governed by Prejudice, or some worse Motive, will
suspend their Judgment till these Facts come to their Knowledge by a more
certain way, than by flying Reports and Conjectures.
The first Intelligence I received of this Matter, was on the 5th Instant,
when I saw a very particular[1] Account of a Woman living at _Godlyman_
lately delivered of five Rabbets by Mr. _John Howard_, Surgeon at
_Guilford_ in _Surrey_, a Man of known Probity, Character, and Capacity
in his Profession, who has practis’d Midwifery for above these thirty
Years.
This Account was again confirmed by two [2]Letters from the said Mr.
_Howard_, the first dated _Nov._ the 6th, 4 a Clock in the Afternoon;
the Substance of which is, That from the 4th Instant to the 6th he had
deliver’d the Woman of three more Rabbets; that the last of them had
leap’d in her Belly, for the space of eighteen Hours, before it dy’d, and
that the Moment it was taken away, another was perceiv’d to struggle for
Birth.
The second is dated _Nov._ the ninth, and is here transcribed _verbatim_,
viz.
SIR,
Since I wrote to you, I have taken or deliver’d the poor Woman
of three more Rabbets, all three half grown, one of them a dunn
Rabbet; the last leap’d twenty three Hours in the _Uterus_
before it dy’d. As soon as the eleventh Rabbet was taken away,
up leap’d the twelfth Rabbet, which is now leaping. If you
have any curious Person that is pleased to come Post, may see
another leap in her _Uterus_, and shall take it from her if he
pleases; which will be a great Satisfaction to the Curious: If
she had been with Child, she has but ten Days more to go, so I
do not know how many Rabbets may be behind; I have brought the
Woman to _Guilford_ for better Convenience.
_I am_, SIR,
_Your humble Servant_,