SECT. V.
CHAP. I.
Of BIRTH.
MAN’s appointed Time may as reasonably allude to his BIRTH, as to his DEATH: His Days and his Months (mentioned by holy Job[[158]]) being as much determin’d, naturally speaking, in the One, as in the other Case.
THE INFANT thus being thoroughly ripen’d, and arrived to full Perfection of Maturity, the Hour approaches, in which it scorns any longer Confinement to such narrow Bounds. For the Animal Spirits being discontented, for want of due Liberty and free Motion; the Vitals, for want of Refrigeration and Refreshment; and the Natural Spirits, for want of sufficient Respiration and Nutrition: They all concur to make a Commotion, and (as it were) a victorious Revolt or an Effort pushing for CONQUEST.
THE INFANT being thus irritated, immediately shakes off its Fetters, breaks the Ligaments, rents the Membranes, thrusts through the Enclosures, and makes its most vigorous Attempts to enlarge itself from the Prison of the Womb, into that of the World.
WHICH Enlargement depends very much indeed upon NATURE, but more particularly on the Strength and Vigour of the INFANT, seconded by a peculiar Faculty of the Womb, that by degrees is drawn-in to Consent, and Endeavour to dislodge and expel its troublesome and obstreperous GUEST.
NOW the INFANT, during the whole Time of Gestation, adhering to the WOMB, by the Umbilicals, as the Fruit does to the Tree by the Stalks, upon this Occasion distends the WOMB, and having valiantly turn’d itself, breaks the Membranes, and dissolves the Acetabula: When also the Orifice of the WOMB is competently open’d; and That (in Avicenna’s memorable Words[[159]]) at the Command of the great God. Upon This the Waters flow; the Umbilicals parting from the WOMB and their proper Vessels, and the Veins and Arteries of the SECUNDINE severing themselves, in like manner; As ripe Fruit, or the Leaves of Trees in Autumn fall-off naturally, or break from their proper Stalks.