nge the form; and when one is born, she must be
speedy in bringing forth the other. And this birth, if it be in the
natural way, is more easy, because the children are commonly less than
those of single birth, and so require a less passage. But if this birth
come unnaturally, it is far more dangerous than the other.

In the birth of twins, let the midwife be very careful that the
secundine be naturally brought forth, lest the womb, being delivered of
its burden, fall, and so the secundine continue longer there than is
consistent with the woman's safety.

But if one of the twins happens to come with the head, and the other
with the feet foremost, then let the midwife deliver the natural birth
first; and if she cannot turn the other, draw it out in the posture in
which it presses forward; but if that with its feet downward be
foremost, she may deliver that first, turning the other aside. But in
this case the midwife must carefully see that it be not a monstrous
birth, instead of twins, a body with two heads, or two bodies joined
together, which she may soon know if both the heads come foremost, by
putting up her hand between them as high as she can; and then, if she
finds they are twins she may gently put one of them aside to make way
for the other, taking the first which is most advanced, leaving the
other so that it do not change its position. And for the safety of the
other child, as soon as it comes forth out of the womb, the midwife must
tie the navel-string, as has before been directed, and also bind, with a
large, long fillet, that part of the navel which is fastened to the
secundine, the more readily to find it.

The second infant being born, let the midwife carefully examine whether
there be not two secundines, for sometimes it falls out, that by the
shortness of the ligaments it retires back to the prejudice of the
woman. Wherefore, lest the womb should close, it is most expedient to
hasten them forth with all convenient speed.

If two infants are joined together by the body, as sometimes it
monstrously falls out, then, though the head should come foremost, yet
it is proper, if possible, to turn them and draw them forth by the feet,
observing, when they come to the hips, to draw them out as soon as may
be. And here great care ought to be used in anointing and widening the
passage. But these sort of births rarely happening, I need to say the
less of them, and, therefore, shall show how women should be ordered