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.
I ONCE had an accidental Opportunity of being fully satisfied of the Veracity of this Case, in a Woman of good Note in the City of Dresden; who miscarried fourteen Times in less than eight Years; being never able to go beyond the tenth Day of the fourth Month, and commonly losing the Foetus about the last of the Third.
AT my Arrival in that Place, I found my Credit, for my necessary Supplies, upon a certain Merchant; who (with great Concern) gave me this melancholick Account of his Spouse, desiring my good Offices, if possibly any Means could be of Service. Upon which, I first made it my Business to discover, that internal Cause, wherein she, and her ordinary Midwives, had been so often mistaken; this being done, I happily performed the Cure, tho’ (as a Traveller) I had not the Satisfaction of staying there to see the Consequence. But, however, by my last Advices from the grateful Husband, I find she is now Mother of two pretty Boys and a fine Girl.
THE Cause of Abortion then being duly and discreetly first discovered, if it proceeds from any Intemperature either of the Body or the Womb; the same may be prevented chiefly by introducing the contrary Temperament, according to Hippocrates’s[[107]] Judgment, that Contraries are the Remedies of Contraries.
IF it proceeds from too much Fatness, her Body is to be reduced; if it comes from too much Leanness, a convenient Diet and good Regimen, &c. will help to restore her.
IF it happens from a PLETHORY, the too much abounding BLOOD is to be circumspectly lessened: As the Humours are to be judiciously evacuated, if it arises from a Cacochymy; and all Causes affecting the Spirits and Humours are to be carefully removed and avoided.
DISEASES of the whole Body are to be prevented as much as possible, by a Regularity of proper DIET and REGIMEN of Health; but whenever These are incident, they ought to be cured, as the Nature of the DISEASE and CONSTITUTION of the Woman will prudentially permit.
IF ABORTION happens from any Cause on the part of the Womb, that must absolutely be removed before CONCEPTION, and resisted afterwards during the FOETURA, by the discreet Use of proper Means.
IF it arises from any Cause of the Neighbouring Parts, that is to be carefully managed or avoided, and prevented more easily than cured.