I. THE WOMB’s _Præternatural SIZE_, either in _Magnitude_, or _Exiguity_: The _one_ giving room for the _Infant_’s too much tumbling or too frequent Motion; and the _other_ restraining the _CHILD_ too much, even to the _suppressing_ and _stifling_ of it.
II. ITS _præternatural_ _CONSTRICTION_ or _Coarctation_; which may resist its necessary due _Extension_, for containing the growing INFANT.
III. ITS _præternatural_ _DENSITY_; which may not only hinder the requisite _Distention_, but also prevent the SECUNDINE[95] from being firmly connected to the _Vessels_.
IV. ITS _LAXITY_ of the _Orifice_, or _Lavity_ of the interiour _Surface_; proceeding from _pituitous_[96] or _viscous Humours_, which slacken the _Ligaments_, and give way to the FOETUS.
V. THE WOMB’S too _frigid_ and _siccid Intemperature_; which Qualities are the greatest Enemies to _Nature_ and all the _Actions_ of _Female LIFE_.
VI. ITS _frigid_ and _humid Intemperature_; which (abounding with _Mucosities_ or _slimy Humours_) so relaxes the _Ligaments_, that they cannot hold or detain the _INFANT_.
VII. ALL obdurated and confirmed _Tumours_ and _Ulcers_, all _Erysipelas_ and _Inflammations_ of the WOMB: Which often prove the _Causes_ of the same _Effect_.
VIII. A _præternatural Situation_, or an _oblique Position_ may become the _8th_ and _last Cause_ of _ABORTION_, which I shall mention on part of the WOMB.
FROM hence I come, _Thirdly_, in a due Method, to _Those Causes_ respecting the _neighbouring Parts_; which I humbly conceive to be as follow.
I. ALL _Diseases_, _Pains_, and what _Causes_ soever of those _Parts_, may tend much to deject or affect the _Spirits_, and stir up the _Humours_ with unusual Alteration.
II. ALL _Causes_ and bad _Affections_ compressing the _lower Belly_, and exagitating or straining its MUSCLES.
III. A _præternatural Site_ and inapt _CONFORMATION_[97] of the _Umbilical Vessels_, for their due Operation.
BUT then again, _Secondly_, It also often happens that, tho’ the _pregnant Woman_ labours under no _Disease_ or _Misfortune_, either in BODY, WOMB, or _neighbouring_ PARTS, yet notwithstanding the _Expulsive Faculty_ is irritated to EJECTION by several _Causes_ of the _Constitution_ of the _INFANT_ itself, as follow; _viz._