102 Observations on the Natural History 



corporeal sensation. It would have been great gratifica- 

 tion to all biblical scholars, had the Doctor dilated a lit- 

 tle more on the general sense of the text, and given us 

 a full commentary on " I will greatly multiply thy sor- 

 row and thy conception; in sorrow shalt thou bring forth 

 children." Perhaps it would have appeared, in the course 

 of his discourse, that woman, in consequence of her de- 

 fection, had become more prolific ; for to multiply " con- 

 ception," is without doubt to increase fertility. 



What can be inferred from u I will greatly multiply 

 thy conception," &c? Nothing, but that the whole is 

 incorrect, and a stupid blunder of the translator. The 

 Doctor says, that it was not a punishment for transgres- 

 sion, but the mere result of accident or civilization. 

 And yet the very version, and every other version, on 

 which he offers his annotation, expressly declares, " be- 

 cause thou hast done this." 



The tonic and clonic powers of the uterus, together 

 with the contractions of the abdominal muscles and 

 diaphragm, are the only actions alleged and recogniz- 

 ed, by the concurrent authority of accoucheurs, as con- 

 tributing their agency to the expulsion of a child from 

 the gravid uterus. If there be others, I am unacquaint- 

 with them. All voluntary effort is both useless and im- 

 proper. 



THE TONIC POWER. 



It appears to be understood among accoucheurs, yet 

 not with the full and expressed consent of anatomy, that 

 there is in the uterus a double set of fibres ; the one 



