The art of midwifery reduced to principles: in which, are explained the most safe and established methods of practice, in each kind of delivery; with a summary history of the art: translated from the French original: to which is added an appendix by the translator; containing illustrative remarks on conception and pregnancy: and on those particulars, taught by Dr. Astruc, which vary from the methods adopted by the best accoucheurs here / [Jean Astruc].

  • Astruc, Jean, 1684-1766
Date:
1767
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The art of midwifery reduced to principles: in which, are explained the most safe and established methods of practice, in each kind of delivery; with a summary history of the art: translated from the French original: to which is added an appendix by the translator; containing illustrative remarks on conception and pregnancy: and on those particulars, taught by Dr. Astruc, which vary from the methods adopted by the best accoucheurs here / [Jean Astruc]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    305/468 (page 217)
    ANSWER. THE council are of opinion, that the ques¬ tion propofed carries great difficulties with it. Divines lay it down, on one hand, as a prin¬ ciple, that baptifm, which is a Spiritual birth, fuppofes firft a natural one. It is proper to be born in the world, in order to be born again in ChriSt, as they teach. Saint Thomas lays down this dodtrine as a conftant truth. One cannot, faid this holy dodtor, baptize children which are inclofed in the wombs of their mothers. Nulla modo, infantes *, in maternis uteris exiftentes, bap- tifari poffunt. And he founds it on this, that fuch children are not born, nor can be reckon¬ ed among mankind. From whence he con¬ cludes, that they cannot be the objedt of an ex¬ terior adtion, to receive, by their miniftry, the Sacraments neceffary to Salvation. Pueri in ma¬ ternis uteris exiflentis nondiim prcdierunt in lucem, ut cum aliis hominibus vitam ducant; unde non poffunt fubjici actioni humanut per eorum mini- fterium. Sacrament a recipiant ad falutem. The rituals ordain in pradlice, what the divines have eftabliffied, on the Same fubjedl: and they, in kn uniform manner, forbid all perfons whatever, to baptize children inclofed in the womb of their mother, if Some part of their body do not appear. This conformity of the divines, with the ri¬ tuals, which are the regulations of diocefes, ap¬ pears to conftitute an authority that Should de¬ termine the prefent question. Nevertheless, the council of conscience, confidering, on one hand, that the reafoning of divines, is only found-