FIRST the _Causes of ABORTION_, proceeding from the _Constitution_ of the MOTHER, are _Three-fold_, and respect either her _whole Body_, her WOMB only, or its _neighbouring Parts_. THOSE respecting her _whole Body_, are,
I. THE _four Intemperatures_ of the Body; as the CALID, which, by its _Hot Quality_, exhausts the _Humours_ (that are naturally necessary) to the Prejudice and Loss of the INFANT.
II. THE FRIGID; which, by its _Cold Quality_, vitiates and attenuates the INFANT’S _Aliment_, to a starving Condition.
III. THE SICCID; which, by its _adust dry Quality_, scorches and consumes the _Ligaments_, that they break, like so many _Strings_ that snap before the _Sun_: Upon which the INFANT (being deprived of those _Mediums_, through which NATURE has appointed its _Sustenance_) corrupts and decays, like a _PLANT_ in _Arid Sandy Ground_.
IV. THE HUMID _Intemperature_; which, by its _moist Quality_, debilitates the _Retentive Faculty_, hinders the _Ligaments_ to consolidate and close firmly, and opens the shut _Orifice_ of the WOMB. But besides all This also, by filling the _ACETABULA_ with _superfluous Humours_, it may suffocate and stifle the _INFANT_.
V. A _nimious_ and too great an _Obesity_ or _Fatness_, and too great a _Gracility_ or _Leanness_ of the _Woman_’s Body: For the _One_ converts the _CHILD_’s _Nourishment_ to itself; and the _Other_ starves the _INFANT_ for want of its _natural Requisites_.
VI. A _PLETHORY_, or too great a _Repletion_ of BLOOD in her Body; which frequently choaks and suffocates the _INFANT_.
VII. ALL _Corporeal Causes_, exagitating the _Spirits_ and _Humours_; which have the same _Effect_ and _Force_ to irritate the _Expulsive Faculty_.
VIII. ALL _Diseases_ incident to the Body, whether they be _Acute_, _Remiss_, or _Diuturnal_; which may easily effect _ABORTION_. But
SECONDLY, The _Causes_ on the part of the WOMB, are not to be lightly or slightly considered; because if it be not both naturally well _constituted_, and carefully well _dispos’d_, it can neither foment, cherish, nor retain the INFANT. For the least _Flaw_ of its _morbifick Causes_, stimulates to a great Degree the _expulsive Faculty_: which _Causes_ are, in my Opinion, as follow; viz.