Chapter VI: ALL nauseous STINKS, on the one hand, and odoriferous SMELLS, &c

on the other, being _both_ disagreeable and dangerous.

THOSE, and many other _trifling Matters_, such as the SMELL of an _extinguished Light_, or _Candle_, are known (too often) to be the _Reason_ and _Cause_ of _ABORTION_: which made (that great _Naturalist_) _Pliny_[99] justly take occasion to deplore the FRAILTY of Man.

“HE bewails and is asham’d (as he expresseth it) to think how _frivolous_ the _ORIGIN_ of the _proudest of Creatures_ is; such a mere TRIFLE (as is mentioned) being frequently the _Cause_ of his _FATALITY_. And the _Philosopher_ most pertinently adds, that _He_ who now glories in so many _VANITIES_, trusting in the _Strength_ of his _Body_, vaunting in the _Riches_ of his _Possessions_, and upon every _Smile of Fortune_, believes himself to be a GOD, _&c._ little considers how many ways he might have _miscarried_ in coming into the World, or how many ways he may yet, even to-day, go out of it, and come to his _last GASP_, as _Anacreon_, the wanton _Lyrick Poet_, did, who was suddenly choak’d with the STONE _of a Grape_; or as _Fabius_ (that noble _Dictator_ of ROME) dy’d, who was immediately strangl’d by a _HAIR_ in a _Draught of Milk_.”

I say, _He_ little considers, how many _Trials_ and _Hardships_ he was expos’d to, before he had BEING: or, how many ways he might have been _stifled_ before he had BREATH, and have been _dead_ even before he was BORN.

WHICH Consideration leads me to the Thought of _another Cause_ of _ABORTION_, mentioned by the holy Prophet[100]_Hosea_, where he says: “_Because they have deeply corrupted themselves, and separated themselves unto that Shame at_ Baalpeor, (i. e. defiled themselves at the _Statues_ of PRIAPUS) _their Glory shall fly away like a Bird, from the_ Womb, _from the_ Conception, _and from the_ Birth; _dry Breasts, and a miscarrying_ Womb _shall be given them_, &c.”

AND having thus far briefly defin’d and descanted upon _ABORTION_, and the _Nature_ of its _Efficients_, I come now, in the next place, to shew by what _DIAGNOSTICK SIGNS_, every _Woman_ may infallibly know an approaching or instant _MISCARRIAGE_, either in _herself_ or _another_: As also to set forth, by what _PROGNOSTICK SIGNS_, she may know the _Danger_ she is threatned with upon that Occasion.

WHICH Undertaking, I hope, may prove _conducive_ to the Welfare of that tender SEX; it being too common for _Women_ to neglect the _proper Means_, through a supine _Ignorance_ of the _Nature_, and _Danger_ of their _CONDITION_. But This, however, is generally owing to indiscreet OLD WOMEN about them; (as I have often observ’d, and oft’ner had Occasion to hear) who either keep the _PATIENT_ in _Suspence_, wheedling and telling her idle Stories, that the CASE is not so _dangerous_, the _Pains_, _Floodings_, &c. will go off in good Time, and the like: Or afterwards (upon appearance of more severe growing SYMPTOMS) they extenuate the _Danger_, telling her to submit with _Patience_, the common MISFORTUNE cannot possibly be prevented, _&c._

TO which usual _Suggestions_, I answer; that as the _one_ is an ignorant and imprudent _Insinuation_, the _other_ is a downright _Falsity_: For in the _first CASE_, the _Woman_ is diverted by foolish _Hopes_ from applying for proper ADVICE, until perhaps it is past all REMEDY; and in the _second_, she is misled very often to her utter _RUIN_: Since whatever hath not yet _happen’d_, may peradventure be happily _prevented_; and even upon the _last Extremity_ of the most _violent Occasion_, the _Severity_ of the CASE may possibly be averted by good Management, and the _Danger_ entirely compounded for by proper Conduct.

WHEREFORE, I cannot but think, it is worth any _Woman_’s while to know the MARKS of an _approaching_ and _instant ABORTION_: Whereof the _DIAGNOSTICKS_ are as follow, _viz._

I. A sudden EXTENUATION and _Falling_ of the BREASTS[101]; sometimes only of _One_, but more commonly of _Both_: That of _One_ denoting the _Woman_ to bear TWINS, of which she is about to lose _One_; and which, if the _right_ BREAST falls, is a MALE; but if the _left_, a FEMALE.

II. A WATERY MILK flows[102] in Abundance from those _FALLEN BREASTS_, discovering the future Danger.

III. PALPITATIONS of the _Heart_, frequently accompany’d with a _Coarctation_ of the _Sides_ and _Upper Belly_, very much incommoding the PATIENT.

IV. A _GRAVITY_ or _Heaviness_ of the _Loins_, and _Thighs_; _Gnawing_ of the _Stomach_, _Pains_ of the _Head_ and _Eyes_.

V. A _TREMOR_, or _Trembling_ and _Quaking FITS_, attended with a _Frigidity_ of the exteriour _Limbs_.

VI. A _Rigor_ and Stiffness, or a _Vibration_ and Concussion of the _SKIN_ and _MUSCLES_ of the whole Body, with a concomitant _Chilness_.

VII. HORROUR, _Fevers_, _Faintings_, _Swoonings_, and sometimes _Convulsions_, _Cramps_, &c. all foreboding the coming _Malady_. These are the usual and principal Marks of an _approaching ABORTION_: Which when _Instant_, and the _Time_ at Hand, then the

VIII^{th} _DIAGNOSTICK_ plainly appears; which is a _corrupt WATER_ flowing _first_, next a _bloody WATER_, then _pure_ BLOOD, after that small _Clods_ of BLOOD, and at length, the INFANT itself (_form’d_ or _inform’d_) follows of Course.

HENCE I proceed to the usual _Prognosticks_ of _ABORTION_; which take as follow in their proper Order, _viz._

I. ALL _Women_ are more endanger’d in a MISCARRIAGE, than in a _Natural Birth_: because THAT happening at a _preternatural Time_, is of greater _Violence_ than THIS. For like as _ripe Fruit_, whose _Stalk_ is so loose in its Season from the _Tree_, that the _Fruit_ falls of its own Accord: So it is in a _Natural Birth_, for the _Vessels_ and _Ligaments_, by which the INFANT adheres to the WOMB, easily loose and break spontaneously; which in an Abortion, must needs happen by a more dangerous painful _Force_ and _Violence_.

II. THO’ _Women_ (in this _Case_) may frequently escape with their _Lives_, yet their _Natural Constitution_ is thereby too often broke at least, and debilitated, or thereupon subjected to one or other heavy _SYMPTOM_ or _DISEASE_; if not also rendred quite _BARREN_.

FOR sometimes, because of the _Pains_, _Flux_, or _Putrefaction_ of the retain’d BLOOD, _Fevers_, and other _Distempers_ generally ensue: Sometimes by the violent _Disruption_ of the _Vessels_, great _Floodings_ and Loss of BLOOD happen; upon which _Faintings_, _Swoonings_, _Convulsions_, and at length DEATH it self follows: But, in fine, _Convulsions_ happening[103] either _at the Time_, or _after ABORTION_, the _Case_ is most _dangerous_; for then the PATIENT seldom escapes.

III. THE _first MISCARRIAGE_ is most _dangerous_ to all; because the _Genital Parts_ are more streight or constricted, and less acquainted with such severe distending _Pains_: And besides the ORIFICES of the _Vessels_ being so violently dilacerated, the _Party_ often continues afterwards _Sterile_ or _Barren_ the rest of her Life[104].

IV. LEAN and _tender Women_ are much endanger’d in _ABORTION_, by Reason of their _Debility_ and _Infirmity_: As Women too fat are, on the other Hand; because of the great _Astriction_ and _Narrowness_ of the PASSAGES.

V. THE _younger_ the ABORTIVE _Production_ happens to be, the less the _Woman_ is endanger’d; because the _larger_ the INFANT is, it gives the greater _Pains_ and _Ruption_ of the _Vessels_.