III. THE THIRD Function of the Womb, is the Copulation and mutual Conjunction of the Seeds of both Parents; which it prepares and perfects by its innate Power, constricting itself in all Parts: And this Action, I do not (in this place) call a Permistion of these Seeds, as it is generally term’d, because a Mixture is properly perform’d only by the concording Qualities and mutual Actions of two or more miscible Copulatives, without any Assistance of the Thing Containing.
IV. THE FOURTH Office of the Womb, is an Effusion of the Menstruous Blood upon the aggregated Seed, from a Relaxation of the little Orifices of the Veins terminating in its interiour Surface.
V. THE FIFTH Action of the Womb, is, the Retention of those three conjoin’d Bodies; to effect which Work, the Womb contracts itself on all sides, and shuts up all its Orifices, even to the sensible Animadversion of the Woman.
VI. THE SIXTH Function of the Womb, is to excite the Virtue of the Torpent Lifeless Seed, and rouze it up from Idleness to Activity; as the latent Virtue of Physick in the Body is excited to Operation by the natural Heat of the Viscera.
VII. THE SEVENTH Office of the Womb, is (after the Foetus is Form’d and Organiz’d) the Attraction of the Blood from the Maternal Veins, into the Umbilical Vessels, for its Nutrication and Growth.
VIII. THE EIGHTH and last Function of the Womb, is Birth, which I shall remember to speak more particularly of in its proper Place.
FROM all which we may easily collect the sundry proper Uses of the Womb, and readily comprehend that it is not only destin’d by Nature to admit the Seed, and receive the impregnated Egg from the Ovarium and the Fallopian Tube; but also to contain the Organizing Matter, and all necessary Principles (Active and Passive) for constituting the Conception; fomenting the receiv’d Seeds, by its natural Calidity, preserving the same, and preparing the Maternal Blood by its inherent Temperament, for the Use of the Foetus: Which Foetus it surrounds and defends from external Accidents, by its Substantial Corpulency; containing and nourishing the Infant, about the Space of 9 or 10 Months, by its Faculties of Extension and Attraction; and at last forcing it into the World, by that of Expulsion.
UPON which Occasion, that the MIDWIFE may the better discharge her Duty, and assist the Labouring Woman more effectually, without Fear or Danger, and without committing any Blunder or Mistake; as I have already taught her in what Place the Womb is seated, to what Parts it tends, and how it is annexed, &c; so I shall now proceed to describe its Qualities and Faculties, so far as is necessary, and absolutely requisite in the Practice of MIDWIFERY. And, First, then——
