Print version

Book 4: Childbirth and breastmilk (De partu et lacte)

What is parturition/childbirth and why woman is the only female who has an uncertain date to give birth (Quid partus et cur sola mulier incertum habeat pariendi tempus)
When does natural childbirth occur and when should a correct calculation begin? (Quod tempore contingat naturalis partus et a quo legitima computatio sit ineunda)
Different definitions of month; it is also spoken of the legitimate childbirth according to the opinion of Hippocrates (Variae mensis acceptiones; enarratur etiam de legitimo partu Hippocratis sententia)
The opinion of Hippocrates on the birth of the human being is elucidated a little further; it is shown that the full force of the days and of the weeks in childbirth depends on the action of the sun and the moon (Hippocratis de partu hominis sententia ulterius elucidatur: totamque dierum ac hebdomadarum uim in partu, a solis ac lunae actione pendere ostenditur)
The opinions of astrologers and mathematicians on the time of parturition (Astrologorum, arithmeticorumque de tempore partus opiniones)
Why are infants of seven and eight months not infrequently born and why those born at seven months are viable and those born at eight are not (Cur septimestres, octimestresque non raro edantur et cur septimo mense nati uitales sint, octauo uero minime)
The correct form and position of expulsion at parturition (De partus exeundi modo ac debita figura)
By what signs is parturition anticipated and on the evacuation of the lochia (Quibus signis partus cognoscatur et de lochiorum expurgatione)
On breastmilk: what it is, what is its mode of production, what are its parts, its conditions and its qualities (De lacte, quid illud, generationis modus, partes, conditiones, ac qualitates)
Why does nature attribute whiteness to breastmilk and if this happens by concoction, and other information worth knowing (Cur lacti albedinem natura tribuat, et an illud per concoctionem fiat, aliaque scitu digna)
On the thickening, lumps and coagulation of breastmilk (De crassamento, grumefactione et caseatione lactis)
That it is more convenient for the mother to breastfeed her own child; and if this is impossible, what wet-nurse should be chosen (Matrem ipsam infantem lactare convenientissimum esse, sin minus id fieri possit, qualis sit nutrix eligenda)
If small or large breasts are better for producing milk, and whether livid wet-nurses should be chosen (Paruaene an magnae mammae ad conficiendum lac commodiores sint, et an liuidae nutrices eligendae)