Chapter VI: WHATEVER happens in the 7th or 9th Month, may be reckon’d a safe

BIRTH_, provided the _Child_ be ALIVE: Whereas if DEAD, it is extremely dangerous. But above _All_, the _Eighth_ MONTH is to be most _dreaded_, not only because of the _Largeness_ of the _INFANT_, but also because of the _pernicious Quality_ of _that_ MONTH; as will hereafter more amply appear in Chap. 34.

WHICH Consideration leads me farther to observe; That, from the Beginning of the _5th_, until the Middle of the _6th_ _Month_, the _INFANT_ is least liable to _Danger_[105]: So next in the _4th_, and from the Middle of the _6th_, until the Close of the 7_th Month_: Then of course it is _safer_ in the _3d_ and _2d_ _Months_, than in the _1st_ or _9th_. For the least _Cause_ may expell the EMBRYO in the _First_, and break the _Mature Ligaments_ of the _INFANT_ in the _Ninth_. But of all the whole Time, as I said before, the _8th_ _Month_ is the _most_[106] _dangerous_, both to _MOTHER_ and _INFANT_: according to which Consideration and Order of TIME, the prudent _Physician_ may, with more or less either _Fear_ on the _one hand_, or _Assurance_ on the _other_, exhibit or prescribe proper _REMEDIES_ for the _Preservation_ or _Recovery_ of his PATIENTS.

FROM whence I come in the next place to offer my serious _Sentiments_ upon the CURE of this _Malady_, and the _Prevention_ of _ABORTION_: Which difficult _Work_ depends chiefly upon the _Preservation_ of both _MOTHER_ and _INFANT_; for when the MISCARRIAGE is once over, the CURE then does not much differ from the _Case_ of a _natural BIRTH_.

HOWEVER in all _Cases_ of this nature, it is an infallible _Maxim_, that it is more easy to prevent MISCARRIAGE, than to relieve or rectify the _Miscarrying Woman_; and more proper to begin that _Prevention_ BEFORE, than AFTER _Conception_: Because the most proper _Remedies_ for obviating many _Causes_ of _ABORTION_, cannot so well be adhibited to the _Woman_ after she is PREGNANT. And besides, as _those Causes_ are very _Different_ and various (as more fully appears from what has been said); so the Manner and Method of _Prevention_ cannot be altogether exactly _Uniform_; every _Cause_ requiring its respective CURE, before a _Prevention_ can be effected.

WHEREFORE, in my humble Opinion, the _first Step_ towards this _Prevention_ is to weigh well and consider carefully the _CONSTITUTION_ of the yet _unimpregnated Woman_; in order to know and discover the _Cause_ or _Causes_ either of BODY, or WOMB, which may or can occasion any future _ABORTION_. Now in this CASE, _Women_ having once _miscarry’d_, or oftner, methinks they may easily find out the CAUSE _Themselves_, by the Help of their _Midwives_; which being done, they should endeavour to have it remov’d, and effectually _cur’d_, before they _conceive_ any more. However, if it chance to be neglected at that time, it may be more prudently undertaken afterwards, with such _Precaution_, as the _Nature_ of the _CAUSE_ and _CONSTITUTION_ of the _Woman_ require: Always remembring, but especially _before_ or _about_ the usual _Time_ of _ABORTION_, to make use of proper _Corroboratives_ for strengthening both the _INFANT_ and _WOMB_; since _Women_, _miscarrying_ from any one internal _Cause_, commonly bear their _Conceptions_ to a certain TIME, which they cannot exceed, unless that _Cause_ be judiciously removed beforehand.