CHAP. XXXVII. _Of an Eleven-Months, and all posteriour BIRTHS._
As to this MONTH, many _Authors_[129] agree to legitimate its _BIRTH_; because of several repeated _Instances_ that really happen’d in their Days: To which I can add _ONE_ of my own proper _Experience_, during my itinerant _Practice_ in the City of _Prague_. Where, as I came recommended to the Acquaintance of some Eminent _Physicians_ of the Place, I happen’d once to be call’d (by _one_ of them) to a _Lady_ in LABOUR; whom I had the good Fortune to deliver immediately, of a fine, lusty, and lively _Girl_. After which, I had the Honour to attend her in _Child-Bed_; I mean, to visit and prescribe for her, by the concurring Advice of my Honoured _Friend_ (the most Learned and Ingenious Dr. _Von Overberg_, who was her near Relation) in order to prevent some _Disasters_ under which she had formerly suffer’d on the like Occasion. Upon This, she was pleas’d to tell me out of her own Mouth, that, before the _Day_ of her DELIVERY, her _Husband_, (who was a _Colonel_ in the Imperial Service) had been gone to the _Army_, then in _Sicily_, TEN MONTHS and _two Days_; so that this _Proculean_ CHILD was born (at soonest) the _Third Day_ of the _Eleventh Month_. And in this _Case_, I dare say, I was no ways mistaken, or impos’d upon; that _Lady_ being endued with no less true _Honour_ and strict _Virtue_, than she was otherways deservedly esteem’d, of a singular good _Character_, and great _Distinction_ in that Place.
UPON which happy Occasion, I was the first Time fully satisfy’d, and convinc’d, as to the due Proportion and Distinction of the _Four controverted Terms_; _viz._ that, by how much the _latter Part_ of the TENTH MONTH is preferable to the _Beginning_ of the NINTH; by so much is the _Beginning_ of the ELEVENTH, preferable to any _BIRTH_[130] happening in the _latter Part_ of the SEVENTH MONTH: So that, upon the whole Matter, I can find no plausible Reason why All _Those_ may not be accounted _Legitimate terms_ of Time in _Child-Bearing_, as well as the _latter Part_ of the NINTH, and _Beginning_ of the TENTH MONTH.
WHICH probable Opinion we may the more readily agree to, and acquiesce in; especially because (if what has been said of the rest of the PLANETS, in the respective _Chapters_ of _This_ and the _First SECTION_, be true) the SUN in this ELEVENTH MONTH returns to take care of the INFANT (yet unborn;) by virtue of whose vivacious _Influence_ and beneficent _Quality_, _BIRTHS_ of this MONTH are accounted no less _vital_ and _successful_, than any _others_ differently time’d.