The trial of a cause between Richard Maddox, gent., plaintiff, and Dr. M----y [Morley] defendent, physician, and man-midwife, before Sir Michael Foster, Knt. ... at Guildhall, London, March 2, 1754 ... In an action upon the case, brought by the plaintiff against the defendant for ... not performing his ofice as a man-midwife in the delivery of the wife of ... plaintiff ... To which will be added, some extraordinary cases in midwifery; extracted from the writings of ... Dr. Deventer, of Leyden / [Richard Maddox].

  • Maddox, Richard
Date:
[1754]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The trial of a cause between Richard Maddox, gent., plaintiff, and Dr. M----y [Morley] defendent, physician, and man-midwife, before Sir Michael Foster, Knt. ... at Guildhall, London, March 2, 1754 ... In an action upon the case, brought by the plaintiff against the defendant for ... not performing his ofice as a man-midwife in the delivery of the wife of ... plaintiff ... To which will be added, some extraordinary cases in midwifery; extracted from the writings of ... Dr. Deventer, of Leyden / [Richard Maddox]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    due and fkilful Execution of it. Ignorance or wilful Negled in the Difcharge of this Office is often at- tended with the moft fatal Confequences. How of- ten is a tender Hufband deprived of a beloved Wife, and his Hopes defeated in the Increafe of his Offspring, by the perverfe Obftinacy or unfkilful Management of a Midwife ? How often is a poor unhappy Woman held in the moft excruciating Pains for Days together by an injudicious Operator, from which perhaps fhe might have been delivered in an Heur or two, had fhe fell into the Hands of a Perfon of Skill and Judgment ? Ignorance in this Profeflion is hardly excufa- ble, becaufe it is an Affair of fuch Importance, that no one ought to undertake it who is not con- icious of a fufficient Ability to perform it ; yet fome Allowances may be made to thofe who ho- neftly endeavour to improve their Minds and en- large their Knowledge in this difficult Art. I call it difficult, becaufe it is hardly ever perfectly at- tained y for Cafes frequently happen that puzzle the moft fkilful Artift, and put his Judgment to the Teft in what Manner he fhall beft proceed to fave the Lives that are entrufted to his Care. B u t if Ignorance in a Midwife, Man or Wo* man, be fcarce pardonable, becaufe the utmoft Skill is required for the faithful and moft dexter* ous
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