DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0134
1'14 THE CRUEL MIDWIFE, &,C.
himself with water, at no greater quantity in a clay
than an ordinary man would use for common drink; and
at the same time took particular care that it should not be
possible for his guest to supply himself with any other
food; yet after that space of time he found no alteration
in his vigour or visage.
THE CRUEL MIDWIFE, WITH HER HORRIBLE PUNISHMENT,
In the year 16'73, an eminent midwife in Paris had, by
her great skill in her profession, obtained the favours of
the greater part of the inhabitants—the genteeler of
whom she delivered at their own houses; but for those,
whom either inclination, or a worse cause, made it neces-
sary to be secretly delivered, she had provided accom-
modations at her own house, to which great numbers
resorted.
It happened that a gentleman who lived next door to
the midwife had observed, that although many pregnant
women went to be delivered at her house, yet very few
children were brought out, and his suspicions of foul play
towards the infants increasing daily; he at length con-
sulted with some of his neighbours, who joined him in
requesting a warrant from a magistrate to search for some
plate, which they pretended to have lost. In order, how-
ever, not to alarm the midwife, they began their sham
search at the distance of nine or ten houses from her’s.
When they came, however, to her abode, she affected
the utmost unconcern, desiring the gentlemen not to
hurry themselves, but to proceed in their search, with all
possible circumspection;—they did so—and on their
coming to the necessary-house, they put down a hook,
which they had brought with them on purpose, and took
up the body of a child newly destroyed. They con-
tinued the search, till they had found no less than sixty-
two
himself with water, at no greater quantity in a clay
than an ordinary man would use for common drink; and
at the same time took particular care that it should not be
possible for his guest to supply himself with any other
food; yet after that space of time he found no alteration
in his vigour or visage.
THE CRUEL MIDWIFE, WITH HER HORRIBLE PUNISHMENT,
In the year 16'73, an eminent midwife in Paris had, by
her great skill in her profession, obtained the favours of
the greater part of the inhabitants—the genteeler of
whom she delivered at their own houses; but for those,
whom either inclination, or a worse cause, made it neces-
sary to be secretly delivered, she had provided accom-
modations at her own house, to which great numbers
resorted.
It happened that a gentleman who lived next door to
the midwife had observed, that although many pregnant
women went to be delivered at her house, yet very few
children were brought out, and his suspicions of foul play
towards the infants increasing daily; he at length con-
sulted with some of his neighbours, who joined him in
requesting a warrant from a magistrate to search for some
plate, which they pretended to have lost. In order, how-
ever, not to alarm the midwife, they began their sham
search at the distance of nine or ten houses from her’s.
When they came, however, to her abode, she affected
the utmost unconcern, desiring the gentlemen not to
hurry themselves, but to proceed in their search, with all
possible circumspection;—they did so—and on their
coming to the necessary-house, they put down a hook,
which they had brought with them on purpose, and took
up the body of a child newly destroyed. They con-
tinued the search, till they had found no less than sixty-
two