A short time ago I published a popular treatise on The Diseases of Woman, in the non pregnant state, and in that work I announced my intention of shortly publishing a similar one on Pregnancy and its diseases. This book is the fulfilment of that promise.

Being the first popular, and yet strictly scientific and practical book on Midwifery ever published, its preparation has necessarily been a work of great labour and difficulty. Everything had to be simplified; familiar explanations had to be given of complicated processes, and illustrations had to be designed that could be understood by my readers. Little or no assistance could be obtained from other works on the subject, because they were either designed for professional men; and therefore too technical, or else were too general in their explanations, and too unsystematical, to be of any practical use. I therefore had to write every part afresh myself, and plan a new arrangement; and so difficult was this to do, satisfactorily, that I have twice before completed the whole work, and then commenced at the beginning again, before I was satisfied with my own production.

As it now stands, I trust this treatise answers the purposes for which it was intended. I have taken care to make it so complete, and scientific, that a medical student may take it for his text book; and at the same time I have endeavoured to so simplify it that any female, of ordinary capacity, can fully understand both its explanations and practical directions. All purely technical words have been avoided, or, when absolutely necessary, they have been carefully explained. Every topic connected with the main subjects has been discussed, and the latest information given on every point, and from every source.

Such a work as this has long been needed. Females have been kept in shameful ignorance, of everything connected with their own systems, and of the wonderful phenomena in which they play so important a part. That ignorance has led to untold evils, which can never be corrected till they become more enlightened respecting themselves. Fortunately many of them begin to see this, and they request, in behalf of themselves and their sisters, that such knowledge be no longer withheld. I have been now, for a long time, engaged in this pleasing task of female instruction, both by my Lectures and books, and in my daily communion with them as patients; I am therefore aware both of their great lack of proper information, and of their strong desire for it, and I flatter myself I also know, from experience and careful observation, the best mode of imparting it to them. In fact, I have made it a matter of careful study, not only to render my subject plain, but also pleasing and unobjectionable; so that the most unreflecting shall feel an interest in it, and the most sensitive be able to study it without pain or repugnance.

The object of this book is not to make every woman a professional Midwife, nor to induce her to dispense with proper assistance in her hour of difficulty, but simply to explain to her the nature and manner of child-birth, and the means by which she is to be assisted. This will disabuse her mind of many pernicious errors—make her more patient under her unavoidable difficulties and pains—more docile to what is required of her, since she will see the reason for it—and it will also enable her to avoid much positive suffering, and to render great help, in many cases, to her attendant.—In a case of emergency also, when other assistance cannot be procured time enough, or not at all, it will teach one female how to assist another in delivery, which every one of them ought to be able to do. Very often it happens that a case of this kind occurs, and the Females around, instead of knowing how to help the sufferer, are utterly useless, and even make her worse by their evident terror and ignorance. I have known women die in child-bed, for want of the most trivial assistance, which even a child could understand how to give, though there were elderly females, mothers themselves, around her; but they knew not what to do. Such a state of things is disgraceful to the boasted intelligence of the age, and should be remedied as speedily as possible. Every Adult female, or at least every married one, should be instructed in these things, so that she may know how to regulate her own conduct and how to render useful assistance to others in case of need. Ill informed women are generally as apprehensive of danger as they are incapable of avoiding it; and as regardless of proper advice as they are ignorant of the reason for it.

The time, I trust, is fast coming, when every female will be taught, as of paramount importance, everything which concerns her own welfare; and when ignorance will no longer be considered necessary to propriety and virtue, nor useful knowledge incompatible with the most refined delicacy and the strictest morality. I consider it my duty to assist in hastening that time, and I feel much pleased that my previous efforts have been so much commended. This book I hope will be equally acceptable, and, if possible, more useful, than those which have preceded it.

F. HOLLICK, M. D.,

New York