Chapter III: HE finally, as the proper, proximous, and immediate CAUSE, or

AGENT, directing _none else_, nor using any _other Assistance_ in the Work, neither being _directed_ nor _assisted_ by any _other_, gives to the organiz’d human FOETUS its greatest Completion; and the _ultimate finishing Stroke_ of consummate _Perfection_, by infusing and communicating to it a _Mind_ in a rational _SOUL_, by which the FOETUS becomes _MAN_.

AND this _Infusion_ comes immediately from, and of HIMSELF, who is (in _Aristotle_’s Words): “The _Form_ and _Former_ of the UNIVERSE, the ultimate _End_, the final and efficient _Cause_ of all _celestial Bodies_, and _created Beings_.”

BUT now, as to the _Time_ of this great Work of ANIMATION, _Naturalists_ agree, that it requires double the _Space_ that FORMATION had from _Conception_: which seems so far probable, because at _that time_, and no sooner, the _Infant_ may be sensibly perceiv’d to move; and _that_ by the _Influence_ of calid and siccid MARS, who (according to _Astrologers_) now takes charge of it in the _third Month_. For by virtue of his _hot Quality_, he perfecteth the _three_ principal Members, separating the _Legs_, _Arms_, and _Head_ (in due proportion) from the _rest_: Wherefore this _auspicious Planet_ is called the AUTHOR of the _Infant’s Motion_. So that, in fine, conformable to what is laid down in the preceeding _Chapter_, the Work of ANIMATION is perfected, at soonest, about the 70th, and at latest, about the 100th Day from _CONCEPTION_. Which being done, I proceed to the next _principal Work_ in constituting the MAN.

CHAP. IX
_Of the MATURATION of the INFANT._

NATURALISTS allow the _Infant_, for its ripening in the _Womb_, and to the legitimate _Time of Birth_, treble the _Space_ that ANIMATION had; as _Physicians_ agree in allowing _this_ treble the Time that the _first Motion_ had from _Conception_: and from hence the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, _&c._ are called _ripening Months_.

IN the _fourth Month, Astrologers_ will have the _Planet_ SOL to reign over the INFANT; whose _calid Quality_ gives it entire LIFE, fully perfecting the _Members_, excavating the _Bones_, and amplifying the _Pores_ and _Passages_ of the Body.

AS, in the _Fifth_, VENUS presides over the INFANT; who, by her _Frigidity_ and _Humidity_, mitigates the _Heat_ and _Siccity_ impressed on it by the _superiour Planets_, absolutely perfecting the _Lineaments_ of the _external Members_. According to which Principles, she, in a word, forms the _Privities_ of both _Sexes_; and adds Beauty and Ornament to the _Nose_, _Mouth_, _Hands_, _Fingers_, and all the rest of the _visible Parts_.

AS also, in the _sixth Month_, MERCURY takes his Turn to assist the INFANT, which puts the last finishing Hand to the _Work_; perfecting the _Organs_ of the _Voice_, enlarging the _Eyes_, _Eye-lids_, _Brows_, and _Nails_; promoting and confirming the _Instruments_ of _Motion_; and at last, absolving and compleating whatever the _others_ have commenced.

I shall only farther _hypothetically_ observe, that, if the INFANT was perfectly _form’d_ about the 35th _Day_, it was _animated_ about the 70th, and consequently will be _born_ about the 210th _Day_, the last of the 7th _Month_.

IF the _Formation_ was perfected about the 40th _Day_, the _Animation_ happen’d about the 80th, and the _BIRTH_ will (unluckily) happen towards the close of the 8th _Month_.

IF _Formation_ happen’d the 45th, _Animation_ follow’d the 90th _Day_, and the _BIRTH_ will succeed about the close of 9 _Months_.

IF _Formation_ was compleated the 50th, _Animation_ follow’d the 100th Day, and consequently the _BIRTH_[21] will appear about the last of 10 _Months_; and so of any other certain _Time_, definite _Day_, or stated _Hour_.

IT is, in all the above-mentioned _Cases_, to be farther animadverted, that the MALE, as he proceeds from the more _calid_, _siccid_, and _spirituous Seed_, arrives sooner to Perfection in _Formation_ and _Animation_; and is consequently _sooner born_ than the FEMALE, whose _Nature_ is more _cold_, _flaccid_, and _weak_, even in the WOMB: Hence an Allowance of a few Days more or less[22], may be justly made, according to the SEX.

CHAP. X.
_Of the NUTRITION and POSTURE of the INFANT_.

THIS is manifest, that the FOETUS is nourished in the _first Months_, by the _Umbilical Vessels_ only: But the several following _Reasons_ engage me to think; that, in the _latter Months_, it is alimented by the _Mouth_ also, and _That_ by a glutinous _limpid Liquor_: Which, being (probably) secreted from the AMNION for that Purpose, is found to surround it.

I. BECAUSE this _Liquor_, which seems very proper for that _Use_, is found not only in the _Mouth_, but also in the OESOPHAGUS and _Stomach_ of the _INFANT_.

II. IT is found _changed_ in the smaller _Intestines_[23]; and being _chylify’d_ in the _Ventricle_, it turns to _Excrements_, call’d MECONIUM, in the RECTUM, or _strait Gut_.

III. WE find a _large_ Quantity of this _Liquor_, surrounding the FŒTUS in the _first Months_, and but _little_ in the _last_; which cannot probably be consum’d any _other_ way, than by the _INFANT_.