History of Monsters 57

The fifth type of unnatural birth occurs when the infant moves toward the exit with both feet and arms bent. In this case, once the fetus has been pushed back upward, the patient should remain lying down until the child is restored to a more favorable position. Alternatively, a skilled midwife, with her hand anointed with oil of white lilies, should join both feet together and, if possible, draw the arms down to the sides, guiding the infant toward the birth canal in this safest possible manner.

In the sixth type, the infant approaches the opening of the womb with both knees, while its hands are extended to the sides. In this situation, the midwife should insert her right hand and push both knees upward until the feet begin to emerge. At that point, using her other hand while keeping the arms held against the thighs, she must encourage the fetus toward the exit. However, if this method does not seem safe, the mother should be reclined on the bed and prompted to move frequently until the infant assumes a more suitable position. All of this is clearly displayed in the following figures.