FOURTHLY, There is a great Variety of Procatarctick Causes, distinct from all those above-mentioned, which most frequently occasion ABORTION: And Those are Two-fold, INTERNAL and EXTERNAL. Of which the Internal are as follow, in my Judgment.
I. THE Passions of the Mind (mentioned in Sect. I. Chap. 5.) because such immoderate Affections too much excite the Humours, and incense the Spirits.
II. VICTUALS; if taken too much at a time, suffocate the INFANT; if too little, it is starved, and the MOTHER brought to a very low Condition of Life; and if improper, or of ill Concoction, the CHILD is thereby either much weaken’d, or (which is worse) it dies of course.
III. DRINKING immoderately, extinguisheth the natural Calidity of the Womb and the INFANT; as certainly strong or hot Liquors impress a vitious Intemperature upon Both.
IV. WATCHINGS a-Nights, too much exhaust and dissipate the Spirits; as too much Sleep, on the other hand, dulls, lessens, and obtunds the natural Heat.
V. ALL inward disorderly Causes dissolving the Uterine Acetabula, Ligaments, or Vessels, by which the INFANT attracts its Nourishment.
VI. ALL Venenated, Cathartick, and Diaphoretick MEDICINES, Acrimonious Clysters, Venæ-Sections, Baths, &c: Which partly by exagitating the Spirits and Humours, and partly by diminishing the Aliment, occasion frequent ABORTIONS. Again
THE external Procatarctick Causes are These, which ensue in their due Order.
I. ALL inclement Constitutions or bad Influences of the Weather, Winds,[[98]]and Air; such as Cold, which pinches; or as Heat, which intercepts the Breath, and stifles the INFANT, &c.
II. SMELLING or Touching, Sitting, or Treading upon some Sorts of pernicious Herbs.