COURSE
OF 
LECTURES 
UPON 
MIDWIFERY. 
WHEREIN 
The Theory and Practice of that Art 
are explain’d in the Clearest Manner. 
MORE PARTICULARLY, 
The Structure of the Pelvis and Uterus, 
Of the Fœtus in Utero, and after Parturition. 
The Management of Child-bearing Women, during, 
Pregnancy, in Time of Labour, and after Delivery. 
The Manner of Delivering Women, in all the Variety of 
natural, difficult, and preternatural Labours, perform’d 
on different Machines made in Imitation of real Wo- 
men and Children.
By Mr. SMELLIE.
Printed in the Year MDCCXLII.

CONDITIONS. 
THAT Midwifery may be taught to the 
best Advantage, and become of more general Use 
to People of all Degrees, the following Condi- 
tions are proposed to those who desire to learn, or be far- 
ther instructed in the Knowledge of that Art. 
I. The Course is divided into Twelve Lectures, and 
no more than four Persons can attend at once, each pay- 
ing Two Guineas at the First Lecture. 
II. They who come on purpose from the Country, and 
cannot wait ’till the Number of Subscribers is complete, 
pay Three Guineas. 
III. The Expence of being present at a real Labour, is 
One Guinea; but such as contract for Two Courses and 
Four Labours, pay only Five Guineas, and perform the 
last Delivery themselves. 
IV. Pupils who engage for a Year pay Fifteen Guineas, 
and are intitled to attend all the Courses and Labours of 
that Time, whereby they will have the Opportunity of 
Seeing and Performing in several difficult Cases. 
V. By paying Twenty Guineas they are admitted to 
this Course, with all the forementioned Advantages, for 
Two Years. 
N. B. The Men and Women are taught at different 
Hours. 
HEADS





HEADS
Of the several 
LECTURES 
Contain’d in this COURSE. 
LECTURE I. 
OF the several Authors that have written on 
MIDWIFERY, and the different Improve- 
ments that have been made in it from time to 
time.
A Description of the Bones of the Pelvis, viz. the 
Os sacrum, Coccyx, Ossa inominata divided into three 
Bones, Ilium, Ischium and Pubis; the Connexion of the 
Bones, and Form of the Pelvis. 
The Shape, Dimensions, and Situation of these Bones, 
demonstrated by proper Machines. 
Of a distorted Pelvis, with several useful Remarks. 
The Difference betwixt a Male and Female Skeleton.
A2 By

[4] 
LECTURE II. 
By wet and dry Preparations, and other artificial Con- 
trivances, plac’d in different Machines, are shewn the fol- 
lowing Parts. 
The Vagina, with its Connexion to the Uterus, and 
outward Parts. 
The Meatus Urinarius, and Bladder. 
The Anus, Rectum, and Situation of the Intestines and 
other Viscera  in the Abdomen. 
The Situation, Bulk, and Form of the Uterus, before 
and at different Times of Pregnancy. 
The Os Tincœ, Neck, internal Orifice of the Neck, 
and Fundus Uteri. 
The Fallopian Tubes, Ovaria,, the broad and round 
Ligaments, their different Connexions to the Womb, 
amongst themselves, and to the neighbouring Parts. 
The Increase of the Ovum, and Fundus Uteri, after 
Conception. 
The gradual Opening of the Orifice, and the Stretch- 
ing of the Neck of the Womb. 
The Bigness, Weight, and Names of the Ovum and 
Child, at different Periods of uterine Gestation. 
Of Abortions, Molas, and false Conceptions. 
Of the Placenta, Funis Umbilicalis, the Chorion and 
Amnios, their Connection, Structure, and Use. 
LECTURE III. 
The Method of Touching before and after Pregnancy, 
both on the Machines, and Women, at their different 
Times of being with Child. 
The Touching in time of Labour, the gradual Open- 
ing of the Os Tincœ, the Forming of the Membranes and 
Waters. 
The

























[5] 
The Side-Openings of the Os Uteri. 
Several Cautions and Remarks. 
LECTURE IV. 
Of the Child’s Situation in the Womb during the dif- 
ferent Times of Pregnancy. 
To know by the Touch, both before and after the 
Membranes are broke, what Part of the Child’s Head 
presents to the Os Tincœ: Whether the Face is turn’d to 
the Mother’s Back, Belly, or Side; also when the Face, 
Ear, or Forehead presents. 
The Touches of the Shoulder, Back, Belly, Knees, 
Breech, Elbows, Hands and Feet. 
LECTURE V. 
The Method of managing Women during their being 
with Child, and also in time of Labour. 
To know the false from the true Pains, and how to 
carry off the First, and bring on the Last. 
Each Pupil on a Machine delivers a Child coming 
in the natural Way, inclosed in the Uterus, and sur- 
rounded with its Membranes and Waters. 
The Method of tying the Navel-String, after which 
they bring the Placenta, either as it is more or less diffi- 
cult to fetch, by its being loose, or adhering, or close 
kept by the Contractions of the Fundus Uteri. 
The Way of ordering a lying-in Woman and Child af- 
ter the Delivery. 
LECTURE VI. 
The Method of Assisting with the Hand, Forceps, or 
Fillet, when the Child’s Head, though it presents fair, 
sticks too long in the Passage; occasioned either from the
Rigidity

[6] 
Rigidity of the external Parts, or from the Danger that 
both Mother and Child may be in from a violent Flood- 
ing, real Weakness, or other Accidents that carry off the 
necessary Pains. 
LECTURE VII. 
The Division of Preternatural Labours into three dif- 
ferent Classes. 
The First: How to deliver a Child when the Feet or 
Anus presents, with the Child’s Face turn’d towards the 
Mother’s Back, Belly, or Side. 
Some new and curious Remarks on these Deliveries, 
found out by seeing the Inside of the Uterus in time of 
these Operations. 
LECTURE VIII. 
The Second Class of Preternatural Labours: How to 
deliver a Child before the Membranes are broke; there 
being an absolute Necessity to perform that Operation as 
soon as possible, from the following Circumstances; 
A violent Flooding coming suddenly; 
From being certain that the Child is not right turn’d. 
Some Remarks and Histories. 
LECTURE IX. 
The Third: How to deliver a Child after the Mem- 
branes are broke, and the Waters all gone. 
When the Head does not present fair. 
When the Child lies across, but presents with the Fore- 
parts to the Os Tincœ, Mother’s Back, or Side. 
The Feet, Hands, or Navel-String presenting.
LECTURE

























[7] 
LECTURE X. 
The Delivery when the Back of the Child is turn’d to- 
wards the Os Tincœ or Mother’s Back, either lying up and 
down, or cross the Uterus. 
When the Face presents with the Chin turn’d towards 
the Os Pubis, Ischium, or Coccyx. 
The Method of Assisting with a Noose in those diffi- 
cult Cases. 
The Management of both Mother and Child after such 
severe Deliveries. 
LECTURE XI. 
The delivering Twins, whether they come right or 
wrong, and the fetching their Placentas. 
Of Monsters, with the Methods of delivering them, 
according to their different Adhesions or Bulk. 
When the Head is too large to pass the Pelvis, or when 
the Pelvis is distorted and too narrow. 
Of the Cœsarean Operation. 
LECTURE XII. 
The Signs of a Child’s being dead when in the Uterus. 
How to deliver the Head, when separated from the 
Body, and left in the Womb; either with the Net, Hand, 
or Crotchet. 
A Recapitulation of the Heads of the former Lectures.
An

An Explication of the 
TERMS of ART 
Used in this SYLLABUS. 
ABdomen, The Belly.
Abortion, A Miscarriage. 
Amnios, The inner Membrane that with the Chorion surrounds 
the Waters and Child. 
Anus, The Fundament. 
Chorion, The Membrane that surrounds the Amnios. 
Coccyx, The Rump-Bone. 
Embryo, The Child from Conception to the third Month. 
Fallopian Tubes, The Canals that go from the Womb to the 
Ovary, call’d the Trumpets. 
Fœtus, The Child from the third to the ninth Month. 
Funis Umbilicalis, The Navel-String. 
Ilium, The Haunch-Bone. 
Ischium, The Hip-Bone. 
Ligamenta lata rotunda, The broad and round Ligaments. 
Meatus Urinarius, The Passage for the Urine. 
Os inominatum. 
Os sacrum. The Bone that forms the back Part of the Pelvis, 
Os Tincæ or Uteri, The external Mouth of the Womb. 
Ova, The Eggs. 
Ovarium, The Ovary. 
Pelvis, The Bason. 
Placenta, The After-birth or Cake. 
Pregnancy, Being with Child. 
Pubis, The Share-Bone. 
Rectum, The Straight Gut. 
Uterus, The Womb. 
Vagina, The Sheath, or Entry to the Womb. 
FINIS.