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If the woman's labour be hard and difficult, greater care must be taken
than at other times. And, first of all, the situation of the womb and
her position in lying must be across the bed, and she must be held by
strong persons to prevent her from slipping down or moving during the
surgeon's operations. Her thighs must be put as far apart as possible,
and held so, whilst her head must rest upon a bolster, and her loins be
supported in the same manner. After her rump and buttocks have been
raised, be careful to cover her stomach, belly and thighs with warm
clothes, to keep them from the cold.
When the woman is in this position, let the operator put up his or her
hand, if the neck of the womb be dilated, and remove the coagulated
blood that obstructs the passage of the birth; and by degrees make way
gently, let him remove the infant tenderly, having first anointed his
hand with butter or some harmless salve. And if the waters have not come
down, they may then be let out without difficulty. Then, if the infant
should attempt to come out head foremost, or crosswise, he should turn
it gently, to find the feet. Having done this, let him draw out one and
fasten it with ribbon and then put it up again, and by degrees find the
other, bringing them as close together and as even as possible, and
between whiles let the woman breathe, and she should be urged to strain
so as to help nature in the birth, that it may be brought forth.
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