ON GENERATION. 437 



to be born, when it makes the turn, and is forced down- 

 wards, relaxes and opens the os uteri ; but coming down 

 he will stick fast, and scarcely be brought forth if he chance 

 to abut upon the point of the os coccygis, and immediately the 

 case is one not without danger both to the child and mother. But 

 nature's intention was obviously to relax and soften all the parts 

 concerned ; and the attendant knows that when the uterine 

 orifice is discovered in a soft and lax condition, by the finger 

 introduced, it is an infallible sign that the delivery is at hand 

 even though the waters have not broken. Indeed and I do 

 not speak without experience if anything remains in the 

 uterus for expulsion, either after delivery or at any other time, 

 and the uterus make efforts to get rid of it, the orifice both 

 descends lower and is found soft and relaxed. If the uterine 

 orifice recedes, and is found somewhat hard after delivery, it is 

 a sign of the woman's restoration to health. 



Taught by like experience, I assert that the ossa pubis fre- 

 quently become loosened during labour, their cartilaginous 

 connexion being softened, and the whole hypogastric region 

 enlarged in the most miraculous manner, not, however, by any 

 pouring out of watery fluids, but spontaneously, as ripe fruit 

 gapes that the included seed may find an exit. The degree in 

 which the coccyx may impede delivery, however, is apparent 

 among quadrupeds having tails, which can neither bring forth, 

 nor even discharge the excrement from their bowels, unless the 

 tail be raised; if you but depress the tail with your hand, you 

 prevent the exit of the dung. 



Moreover, the most natural labour of all is held to be that 

 in which the foetus and afterbirth, the waters inclusive, or the 

 ovum, is expelled entire. Now if the membranes have not 

 given way, and the waters have not escaped, it comes to pass 

 that the surrounding parts are more than usually distended 

 and dilated by the labour pains, in consequence, to wit, of the 

 entire and tense state of the membranes, by which it happens 

 that the foetus is produced more speedily, and with a less 

 amount of effort, although with more suffering to the mother. 

 In cases of this kind we have known women who were suffering 

 much in their travail in consequence of the too great disten- 

 sion, immensely relieved by the rupture of the membranes 

 and the sudden escape of the waters, the laceration being 



