ce of the womb. When these waters come thus
away, then the midwife may be assured the birth is very near, this being
the most certain sign that can be; for the _amnios alantois_, which
contained these waters, being broken by the pressing forward of the
birth, the child is no better able to subsist long in the womb
afterwards than a naked man in a heap of snow. Now, these waters, if the
child comes presently after them, facilitate the labour by making the
passage slippery; and therefore, let no midwife (as some have foolishly
done) endeavour to force away the water, for nature knows best when the
true time of birth is, and therefore retains the waters till that time.
But if by accident the water breaks away too long before the birth, then
such things as will hasten it, may be safely administered, and what
these are, I will show in another section.

SECT. II.--_How a Woman ought to be ordered when the time of her labour
is come._

When it is known that the true time of her labour is come by the signs
laid down in the foregoing, of which those most to be relied upon are
pains and strong throes in the belly, forcing downwards towards the
womb, and a dilation of the inward orifice, which may be perceived by
touching it with the finger, and the gathering of the waters before the
head of the child, and thrusting down the membranes which contain them;
through which, between the pains, one may in some manner with the finger
discover the part which presents itself (as we have said before),
especially if it be the head of the child, by its roundness and
hardness; I say, if these things concur and are evident, the midwife may
be sure it is the time of the woman's labour, and care must be taken to
get all those things that are necessary to comfort her at that time. And
the better to help her, be sure to see that she is not tightly laced;
you must also give her one strong clyster or more, if there be occasion,
provided it be done at the beginning, and before the child be too
forward, for it will be difficult for her to receive them afterwards.
The benefit accruing therefrom will be, that they excite the gut to
discharge itself of its excrements, so that the rectum being emptied
there may be the more space for the dilation of the passage; likewise to
cause the pains to bear the more downward, through the endeavours she
makes when she is at stool, and in the meantime, all other necessary
things for her labour should be put in