SECT.V.
MAN’s appointed Time may as reasonably allude to hisBIRTH, as to hisDEATH: HisDaysand hisMonths(mentioned by holyJob[158]) being as much determin’d,naturallyspeaking, in theOne, as in theother Case.
THEINFANTthus being thoroughly ripen’d, and arrived to fullPerfectionofMaturity, theHourapproaches, in which it scorns any longerConfinementto such narrow Bounds. For theAnimal Spiritsbeing discontented, for want of dueLibertyand freeMotion; theVitals, for want ofRefrigerationandRefreshment; and theNatural Spirits, for want of sufficientRespirationandNutrition:Theyall concur to make aCommotion, and (as it were) a victoriousRevoltor anEffortpushing forCONQUEST.
THEINFANTbeing thus irritated, immediately shakes off itsFetters, breaks theLigaments, rents theMembranes, thrusts through theEnclosures, and makes its most vigorousAttemptsto enlarge itself from thePrisonof theWomb, into that of theWorld.
WHICHEnlargementdepends very much indeed uponNATURE, but more particularly on theStrengthandVigourof theINFANT, seconded by a peculiarFacultyof theWomb, that by degrees is drawn-in toConsent, andEndeavourto dislodge and expel its troublesome and obstreperousGUEST.
NOWtheINFANT, during the whole Time ofGestation, adhering to theWOMB, by theUmbilicals, as theFruitdoes to theTreeby theStalks, upon this Occasion distends theWOMB, and having valiantly turn’d itself, breaks theMembranes, and dissolves theAcetabula: When also theOrificeof theWOMBis competently open’d; andThat(inAvicenna’s memorable Words[159]) at the Command of the greatGod. Upon This theWatersflow; theUmbilicalsparting from theWOMBand their properVessels, and theVeinsandArteriesof theSECUNDINEsevering themselves, in like manner; As ripeFruit, or theLeavesofTreesinAutumnfall-off naturally, or break from their properStalks.
THUStheWOMB, exerting its extensive and expulsiveFaculties, excludes the LegitimateINFANT: To which greatWorkalso, thePainful Labours, andLabouring Pangsof theMOTHER(in the manner they happen with the contractedSpirits, depress’dMidriff, and compress’dMusclesof theAbdomen) contribute not a littleHelp. And, in short, this stupendousWorkorActionis calledBIRTH; and is nothing else, but anExclusionof themature CHILD.
WHICHBIRTHproceeds either fromCausesof theINFANT, or fromCausesof theWOMB: Of theINFANT, because through the strictConfinementof a narrow Place, and Defect[160]ofAliment, andRefrigeration,It kicks and spurns for itsExit: Of theWOMB, because about thatTime, being overloaded and aggrieved by theBulkandWeightof theChild, it endeavours, by its own expulsiveFaculty, to disburthen itself, and propel or drive it forth to the utmost of its Power. For——
ASit is the properFunctionof theStomach, to eject thenoxious Humoursby Vomit, and deject theNatural Excrementsinto theINTESTINES; as it is also theOfficeof theRECTUMto evacuate theFæces; as likewise theProfusion of the Urineis theActionof theBladder; as again theExtrusionof allfuliginous Mattersis theWorkof theHeartandLungs; and as, at last, theEffusionof theGenitalSeed(inVenery) is theOperationof theVirileTesticles: So theExclusionof theMature FOETUSis theEighth[161]and last properActionof theWOMB; which is justly deem’d the onlyPrimary AgentandActive CauseofBIRTH, as the excludedFOETUSis thePassive.
BUTthisBIRTHis not alwaysUniform; for as it differs inTime, so it does also inManner: From hence we have with respect to theTime,LegitimateandIllegitimate BIRTHS, which being already discuss’d[162], I shall resume nothing by way ofRepetitionin this Place: And with respect to theManner, we have also two generalSorts, namely,NaturalandPreternatural BIRTHS; which together with their particularBranches, I am now to enter upon, without any farther Digression.