THEWaterwhich is gather’d in the Time ofGESTATION, between theMembranesinvolving theINFANT, is at last upon the approachingBIRTHeffus’d: For theCHILDhaving broke theAmnion, feels theseWATERStroublesome, and consequently obliges theChorionalso to give way. From whence proceeds naturally acopious Effusionof the sameWaters.
BUTof this naturalFlooding, I am not properly to treat in this Place; only ofthatpreposterousFlux, which happens before the due time ofBIRTH, theimmediate Causeof which proceeds from someProcatarctick Accident: Such as aPerturbation of Mind, an unluckyFall, aLeap, aStroke, or any other Violence.
THISSymptomhappensTwo ways, either by aDisruption, orDilatationof theMEMBRANES: thefirstbyexternal, the other commonly byinternal Causes. In thefirst Case, theFluxcomes suddenly, irregularly, and in a greatQuantity; in thesecond, by little and little, or by degrees, and less inQuantity.
THEfirst Caseis most dangerous, being the infalliblePROGNOSTICKof instantAbortion, if not timely and judiciously prevented. Thesecond Caseis of the following badConsequence, that thisWater, which has hitherto defended theInfantfrom theRigidityof the circumjacentParts, being at last (how leisurely soever) exhausted and spent; theChildis soon sensible of itsLoss, and finding its wontedSeatbecome uneasy, it thereupon being restless or discontented, endeavours tomove and seek for aBetter: By which means (ifAbortiondoes not presently ensue) it falls into apreternatural Situation, which (of course) occasions apreternatural BIRTH. But abstracting fromThis, the bareDeficiencyof theWaters, for moistening thePassagesin time ofLABOUR, is enough to effect the same Unhappiness.
HOWEVER, theCureof thisSYMPTOMdepends chiefly upon a goodRegimenofDIET, andexternal, as well asinternal Corroboratives.
INshort, having thus discuss’d the severalSYMPTOMSof the NineMonths, and such as are most common and familiar to theWomanduring herFoetura, or the whole Time of herCHILD-BEARING; I shall proceed now in the next Place with all dueMethodand peculiarRegardfor herGood.