§1## ΠΕΡΙ ΕΓΚΑΤΑΤΟΜΗΣ ΕΜΒΡΥΟΥ.
1.
On the excision of the fetus. 1.
Περὶ δὲ τῶν μὴ κατὰ τρόπον κυϊσκομένων, ἀλλ’ ἐγκατατεμνομένων οὕτως·
Regarding those fetuses that are not carried in the natural manner, but are excised in the womb, proceed as follows.
πρῶτον μὲν ἐπὶ τὴν γυναῖκα σινδόνα ἐπιβαλὼν, κατάζωσον ἀνωτέρω τῶν μαζῶν, καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν κατακαλύψαι χρὴ τῇ σινδόνι, ὅκως μὴ ὁρῶσα φοβῆται ὅ τι ἂν ποιήσῃς.
First, throw a linen cloth over the woman, bind her above the breasts, and cover her head with the cloth, so that she does not see and become frightened of whatever you may do.
Ἢν οὖν ἐξίσχῃ τὴν χεῖρα τὸ ἔμβρυον πλάγιον παραπεσὸν, τῆς χειρὸς ἐπιλαβόμενος προάγειν ἔξω ἐπιχείρει ὡς μάλιστα, παραδεῖραι δὲ τὸν βραχίονα, καὶ ἀποψιλώσας τὸ ὀστέον, ἰχθύην περίδησον περὶ τοὺς δακτύλους τῆς χειρὸς τοὺς δύο, ὅκως μὴ ἀπολισθάνοι ἡ σάρξ·
If, then, the fetus is wedged transversely and protrudes its hand, take hold of the hand and try to draw it outwards as much as possible; strip the skin off the upper arm, expose the bone, and wrap a fish-skin around two fingers of the hand so that the flesh does not slip off.
μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα τὸν ὦμον περισάρκισον καὶ ἄφελε κατὰ τὸ ἄρθρον·
After this, strip the flesh around the shoulder and remove it at the joint.
ἔπειτα· τὴν κεφαλὴν κατὰ φύσιν παρώσας, ὑπεξάγειν ἔξω τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ ἐμβρύου· τῷ δὲ δακτύλῳ τὸ ἔμβρυον εἴσω ἀπῶσαι·
Then, pushing the head into its natural position, gradually draw out the head of the fetus, and with a finger push the fetus back inside.
ἢ μαχαιρίῳ διὰ τῶν πλευρέων ἢ διὰ τῆς κληῗδος, ὅκως τὴν φῦσαν ἀφῇ καὶ ξυμπέσῃ τὸ ἔμβρυον καὶ ἡ ἔξοδος αὐτέῳ εὐπετεστέρη ᾖ·
Or, with a small knife, pierce through the ribs or the clavicle, so that it may release the air and the fetus may collapse, making its exit easier for it.
τὴν δὲ κεφαλὴν, ἢν μὲν δύνησαι κατὰ φύσιν ἔξω ὦσαι· ἢν δὲ μὴ, ξυμφλάσαι, καὶ οὕτως ὑπεξαγαγεῖν ἔξω τὸ ἔμβρυον.
As for the head, if you can, push it out in the natural way; if not, crush it, and thus gradually draw the fetus out.
Ἔπειτα θερμῷ πολλῷ καταχέας καὶ ἀλείψας ἐλαίῳ, κατακεῖσθαι κελεύειν ἐπαλλάξασαν τὼ πόδε, καὶ μεταπῖσαι οἶνον γλυκὺν καὶ λευκὸν κεράσας εὐζωρότερον, καὶ ῥητίνην, μέλιτι διατρίψας, μίξας τῷ οἴνῳ, διδόναι πιεῖν·
Afterwards, pour plenty of warm water over her and rub her with olive oil, then order her to lie down with her legs crossed, and give her to drink sweet white wine mixed somewhat strong, along with resin rubbed with honey and mixed into the wine.
τὰ δ’ ἄλλα θεραπεύειν ὥσπερ λεχὼ, κατὰ τὰ εἰρημένα.
Treat her in other respects as a woman in childbed, according to what has been said.
§22.
2.
Ὅταν δὲ τῇ τικτούσῃ γυναικὶ πλάγιον παραπέσῃ τὸ ἔμβρυον, γίνεται δὲ ὁκόταν στρέφηται τοιόνδε, ὁ ὀμφαλὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον περιελίσσεται καὶ ἐπίσχει τὴν ἔξοδον τοῦ ἐμβρύου, καὶ ἐς τὸ ἰσχίον ἐπεμβάλλει τὴν κεφαλὴν, καὶ ἡ χεὶρ ὡς ἐπιτοπουλὺ ἔξω γίνεται.
When the fetus is wedged transversely in a woman giving birth, this happens during its turning as follows: the umbilical cord winds around the neck and hinders the exit of the fetus, forcing its head against the hip, and the hand is usually protruded.
Ἢν μὲν οὖν ἤδη τεθνηκὸς ἔξω γένηται, τοῦτο προσημαίνει·
If, therefore, the hand protrudes when the fetus is already dead, this indicates it beforehand.
ᾗσι δὲ μὴ ἔξω ἡ χεὶρ τοῦ ἐμβρύου, ὡς ἐπιτοπουλὺ ζῇ τὸ ἔμβρυον κίνδυνος δὲ καὶ οὕτως.
But in women where the hand of the fetus does not protrude, the fetus is usually alive, though even so there is danger.
§33.
3.
Ἔνιαι δὲ καὶ τὰ λόχια πρὸ τοῦ ἐμβρύου ἀφιᾶσιν, ὥστε ἀναγκαῖον τὴν ὠδῖνα ξηρὰν εἶναι καὶ ἐπίπονον ὅσαι δὲ τὰ λόχια μὴ προκαθαίρονται, ῥᾷον ἀπαλλάττουσιν ἐν τῷ τόκῳ.
Some women discharge the lochia before the fetus, so that the labor is necessarily dry and painful; but those who do not discharge the lochia beforehand get off more easily in childbirth.
§44.
4.
Ἀνασείειν δὲ δεῖ ὧδε· σίνδονα ὑποστορέσαντα, ἀνακλῖναι τὴν γυναῖκα, καὶ ἑτέρην ἐπιβαλεῖν ὅκως ἂν τὸ αἰδοῖον κεκρυμμένον ᾖ, καὶ περικαλύψαι περὶ ἑκάτερον τὸ σκέλος τὴν σίνδονα καὶ περὶ ἑκάτερον τὸ γυῖον·
Succussion should be performed as follows: spread a linen cloth beneath, lay the woman down, and throw another cloth over her so that her private parts are hidden, and wrap the cloth around each leg and each arm.
γυναῖκας δὲ δύο λαβέσθαι τοῦ σκέλεος ἑκατέρου, καὶ τῆς χειρὸς ἑκατέρης ἑτέρας γυναῖκας δύο· ἔπειτα διασείειν λαβούσας ἐγκρατέως, μὴ ἔλασσον ἢ δεκάκις·
Let two women take hold of each leg, and another two women of each arm; then shake her vigorously, holding her firmly, no less than ten times.
ἔπειτα δὲ ἐς κλίνην ἀνακλῖναι τὴν γυναῖκα ἐπὶ κεφαλήν· τὰ δὲ σκέλεα ἄνω ἔχειν, καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας πάσας λαβέσθαι τοῖν σκελέοιν, ἀφείσας δὲ τὰς χεῖρας·
Then lay the woman on a bed with her head downwards; keep her legs up, and let all the women take hold of her legs, letting go of her arms.
ἔπειτα σείειν πολλάκις ποιεῖν τὰς γυναῖκας ἐπὶ τοὺς ὤμους, ἀναβολὰς ἐπὶ τὴν κλίνην, ὅκως ἐς τὴν εὐρυχωρίην ἐπανασεισθὲν τὸ ἔμβρυον στραφῇ καὶ δύνηται ἐπὶ φύσιν ἰέναι.
Then have the women shake her repeatedly towards her shoulders, throwing her upwards on the bed, so that the fetus, being shaken back into the wider space, may turn and be able to proceed in the natural way.
Καὶ ἢν ἔχῃ δίκταμνον κρητικὸν, μεταπῖσαι δός· εἰ δὲ μὴ, κάστορος ἐνεψῆσαι τῷ οἴνῳ χίῳ.
And if you have Cretan dittany, give it to drink mixed in wine; if not, boil castoreum in Chian wine.
§55.
5.
Ἢν δὲ αἱ ὑστέραι ἔξω χωρέωσι, ἤν τε ἐκ πόνου, ἤν τε ἐκ τόκου, ἢν μὲν οὖν παραλάβῃς νεωστὶ παθούσα, ἄξιον ἐπιχειρεῖν· εἰ δὲ μὴ, ἐῇν.
If the uterus prolapses outward, whether from exertion or from childbirth, if you take charge of the patient when she has newly suffered this, it is worth attempting to treat it; otherwise, let it be.
Ποιέειν δὲ χρὴ ὧδε· ἐπιταμὼν τὸν ὑμένα τῆς ὑστέρης κατὰ φύσιν καὶ κατὰ πλάγιον, τρῖψαι ὀθονίῳ ὡς φλεγμαίνῃ, κᾆτα ἀλείψας φώκης ἐλαίῳ ἢ πίσσῃ, καταπλάσας ἅμα κυτίνοισι, καὶ μαλθακοὺς σπόγγους οἴνῳ ῥήνας, προσθεὶς, ἀναδῆσαι ἐκ τῶν ὤμων·
Proceed as follows: make incisions in the membrane of the uterus both longitudinally and transversely, rub it with a linen cloth to make it inflame, then smear it with seal-oil or pitch, apply pomegranate flowers, and, applying soft sponges moistened with wine, bind her up from her shoulders.
καὶ ἀνακείσθω ὡς ἀνωτάτω τὰ σκέλεα ἔχουσά, ἐσθιέτω δὲ σιτία μέτρια.
Let her lie down with her legs as high as possible, and let her eat moderate amounts of food.