A lecture introductory to the theory and practice of midwifery: including the history ... of that science ... delivered the 4th of October 1773 / [John Leake].

  • John Leake
Date:
[1776]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A lecture introductory to the theory and practice of midwifery: including the history ... of that science ... delivered the 4th of October 1773 / [John Leake]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Midwifery has indeed often been degraded by the ignorance and unworthinefs of many who practifed it; and fomfctimes has been made a fubje£t of levity by the licentious vulgar. Some of the medical profeffion there are, who, with more vanity than folid fenfe, think it below their dignity to exercife a manual art, or endeavour to fave the life of their fellow creature by any other means than that of dire&ing medicines or feeling the pulfe ;—means too often vague and ineffe&ual, without the interpofition and afliftance of nature herfelf. But let it be re¬ membered, that learned men in all ages have not only ftudied this art themfelves, but alfo recommended it to the attention of others, as a curious branch of naturalphilofophy, which will afford the highefl: entertainment to a contemplative mind, and as a thing of the utmoft importance to the community. It is not, indeed, neceffary that a phyfician {hould pra&ife Midwifery ; but if he is utterly unacquainted with that fcience, he is lefs entitled to the name, which implies a general and extenfive knowledge of the healing art. < Among the ancients, that venerable parent of phyfic, Hip¬ pocrates , not lefs illuftrious for focial virtue than his profound knowledge of philofophy, wrote feveral books profeffedly on Midwifery, and the difeafes incident to women ; and Ariftotle^ who was Tutor to Alexander the Great, and by his order am-