384 HISTORY OF 



the heart; from whence it is dispatched by a 

 quicker and shorter circulation through the 

 whole frame. 



In this manner the embryo reposes in the womb, 

 supplied with that nourishment which is fitted to 

 its necessities, and furnished with those organs 

 that are adapted to its situation. As its sensa- 

 tions are but few, its wants are in the same pro- 

 portion ; and it is probable that a sleep, with 

 scarce any intervals, marks the earliest period of 

 animal life. As the little creature, however, 

 gathers strength and size, it seems to become 

 more wakeful and uneasy ; even in the womb it 

 begins to feel the want of something it does not 

 possess, a sensation that seems coeval with man's 

 nature, and never leaves him till he dies. The 

 embryo even then begins to struggle for a state 

 more marked by pleasure and pain, and, from 

 about the sixth month, begins to give the mother 

 warning of the greater pain she is yet to endure. 

 The continuation of pregnancy in woman is usu- 

 ally nine months ; but there have been many in- 

 stances when the child has lived that was born at 

 seven ; and some are found to continue pregnant 

 a month above the usual time. When the ap- 

 pointed time approaches, the infant, that has for 

 some months been giving painful proofs of its 

 existence, now begins to increase its efforts for 

 liberty. The head is applied downward, to the 

 aperture of the womb, and by reiterated efforts it 

 endeavours to extend the same : these endeavours 

 produce the pain which all women in labour feel 

 in some degree ; those of strong constitutions the 



