M E D I C A. qgj 
is a fovereign remedy in Egypt in thefe cafes, anil 
I have been told, that women, who had been barren 
for many years, have conceived, by ufing this 
fimple medicine. A midwife, who told me this 
faid, that fhe had often prefcribed it with fuccefs. 
Cairo, December 26th, 1750. 
17. Puerperia. 
I this day procured the following informations* 
concerning the birth of children, amongft the in- 
habitants of the Eaft. (1.) There are both Tur- 
kifh and Greek midwifes here, who have learned 
their art by experience, without being taught by 
any body. (2.) The women here have good times, 
and we feldom hear of difficult labours in 
child-birth, much lefs of women dying in labour, 
efpecially amongft the Turks. "(3.) When the 
child is born, they cut the fixing of the navel, as 
with us, and apply cauterium aftuale, cr a red hot 
iron to it. (4.) The head of the child is fprink- 
led over with the powder of gallnuts and nurmex 
mixed together ; this forms a cruft on the head^ 
^vhich they leave on till it falls off itfelf ; this 
Ufually happens within ten or twelve days, (c ,) 
The mother or nurfe is very foltcitous to bend the 
arms and legs of the child. They bend, for ex- 
ample, the left leg backwards over the loins, and 
take the right arm and lay it ever the back/fo as 
to meet the foot, and in the fame manner the other 
leg and arm. To facilitate this, they anoint the 
joints with fweet oil : I have been affured by fome 
Women, that this is the bell remedy to filence 
children when they cry, and that the child by a 
natural inftindt requires this to be done to it. Mav 
not this be the realon, why the eaftern people are 
j o much more adlive than the Europeans ? The 
^ Greeks 
