slide up her hand and presently
direct it towards the infant's breast, which she will find very near,
and then let her gently thrust back the body towards the bottom of the
womb, leaving the feet in the same place where she found them. And then,
having placed the woman in a convenient posture, that is to say, her
buttocks a little raised above her breast (and which situation ought
also to be observed when the child is to be put back into the womb), let
the midwife afterwards take hold of the child by the feet, and draw it
forth, as is directed in the second section.

This labour, though somewhat troublesome, yet is much better than when
the child presents only its hands; for then the child must be quite
turned about before it can be drawn forth; but in this they are ready,
presenting themselves, and there is little to do, but to lift and thrust
back the upper part of the body, which is almost done of itself, by
drawing it by the feet alone.

I confess there are many authors that have written of labours, who would
have all wrong births reduced to a natural figure, which is, to turn it
that it may come with the head first. But those that have written thus,
are such as never understood the practical part, for if they had the
least experience therein, they would know that it is impossible; at
least, if it were to be done, that violence must necessarily be used in
doing it, that would probably be the death both of mother and child in
the operation. I would, therefore, lay down as a general rule, that
whenever a child presents itself wrong to the birth, in what posture so
ever, from the shoulders to the feet, it is the way, and soonest done,
to draw it out by the feet; and that it is better to search for them, if
they do not present themselves, than to try and put them in their
natural posture, and place the head foremost; for the great endeavours
necessary to be used in turning the child in the womb, do so much weaken
both the mother and the child, that there remains not afterwards
strength enough to commit the operation to the work of nature; for,
usually, the woman has no more throes or pains fit for labour after she
has been so wrought upon; for which reason it would be difficult and
tedious at best; and the child, by such an operation made very weak,
would be in extreme danger of perishing before it could be born. It is,
therefore, much better in these cases to bring it away immediately by
the feet, searching for them