OF THE FOETUS. 



335 



the ninth month are more frequent than thofe 

 which exceed that term. 



It is generally believed, that children born in 

 the eighth month cannot live, or, at leaft, that 

 more of them die than of thofe who come into 

 the world in the feventh month. This opinion 

 appears to be paradoxical ; and, if we confult 

 experience, I believe it will be found to be er- 

 roneous. A child born in the eighth month is 

 more perfectly formed, and confequently more 

 vigorous and lively, than one who is born in the 

 feventh. This opinion, however, is very com- 

 monly received, and is founded on the authori- 

 ty of Ariftotle : ' Caeteris animantibus ferendi 

 ' uteri unum eft tempus, homini vero plura funt ; 



* quippe et feptimo menfe et decimo nafcitur, 



* atque etiam inter feptimum et decimum pofitis ; 

 ' qui enim menfe odavo nafcuntur, etji minus, 



* tamen vivere poffunt *.' The beginning of the 

 feventh month is the earlieft term of delivery. 

 If the foetus be reje<Sted fooner, it dies, and is 

 denominated an abortion. Thus the time of 

 geftation is more various in the human fpecics 

 than in other animals ; for it extends from the 

 -^th to the luth, and, perhaps, to the eleventh 

 month. 



We are aflured by women who have had ma- 

 ny children, that females remain longer in the 

 womb than males. If this be true, it is not fur- 

 prifmg that female children fliould fometimes be 



born 



* Vide dc Gcnerat. anim. 1. 4. c. uk. 



