SECT.III.
CONCEPTION, in a word, isTwo-fold; True andNatural, or False andPræternatural. It is call’dTrue, in opposition to aFalse Conception; andNatural, because it answers to theInstitution of Nature. Wherefore I shall begin withThis, and conduct theWoman, who has truly and naturallyconceiv’d, thro’ the differentStagesof Life she is to pass; describing plainly, and laying before her the many variousScenesof every respectiveStage, which can any ways affect her Person.
INthis nice Affair, like a faithfulPilot, in anarrow Channel, I shall not only point out theBarrsandRocks, on which she may beShipwreck’d; but also direct and prescribe herCourse, by which she maysailsafe into her wish’d-forPort: Where when I have duly secur’dHerselfand herCargoto the Best of myCapacity, I shall thereafter proceed in their Order, to treat of the differentPreternatural Conceptions; as I shall in this place now discourse only of theNatural.
THISNatural Conceptionthen, is the first principalAction, and peculiarFunctionof theWomb, in duly commixing and fomenting the retain’dSeedsofManandWoman: Since as theSeedofPlantsrequires the Matrix of theEarth, to nourish it well, and safely defend it; so dothThatSeminalVirtueofMen, theWomb, in thisActofCONCEPTION.
BUTas to theTimeofCONCEPTION, I cannot but differ fromThose, who protract and put it off till theseventh Dayfrom the firstSeminal Retention, for I am clearly of Opinion withLud. Mercatus[52], that if theSeedbe retain’dseven Hours, theWomanhathConceiv’d: Neither can I find sufficient Reason to thinkNatureone MomentIdle, much lessseven Days. ThereforeCONCEPTIONought to be reckoned, from the veryDay[53]of theFirst Retention.
HOWEVERyet, it is certain that, if theDebilityof theSeed, orWomb, orBoth, happen to hinder or impugn the Work,Natureejects theGenitura, orThing conceiv’d, on theseventhDay; which Time is the commonCrisisof allDiseases, andMorbifick Accidents: Whereas if no suchEffluxionhappens about that Time,CONCEPTION[54]is certain, andFormationgoes on.
THISTrue CONCEPTIONis likewise known by many variousSigns; whereof I shall mention aFew, not out of any vain Curiosity, but meer Necessity: Because, supposing aWomanto labour under any dangerousacute Disease, it is of the greatestImportance, to be certain, whether she hath conceiv’d, or not; by reason that the Means of herfuture Reliefmust (of Necessity) be adapted to herpresent Condition.