344 OF THE GROWTH, &c. 



nation, deftroys the produ^i; of conception, and 

 refumes its ordinary courfe ? 



The pains of child-bearing are principally 

 occafioned by this adion of the blood ; for, it 

 is well known, that they are equally violent in 

 abortions of two or three months, as in ordinary 

 births; and that many women feel, without ha- 

 ving conceived, very acute pains, whenever the 

 menftrual flux is about to appear. Thcfe pains 

 are of the fame kind with thole which accompany 

 abortions or births. Ought we net, therefore, 

 to afcribe them to the fame caufe ? 



It appears, then, that the periodic revolution 

 of the menftrual blood has great influence in 

 child-bearing, and that it is the caufe why the 

 terms of delivery in women are more various 

 than in other animals which are not fubjcdl to 

 this difcharge, and which always bring forth at 

 the fmie times. It is alfo apparent, that the 

 revolution occafioned by the action of the men- 

 ilrual blood is not the only cauTe of birth : The 

 a^ion of the foetus itfelf contributes greatly to 

 this end; for tliere are infl;anccs of children ha- 

 ving made tlieJr efcape from the uterus after the 

 death of the mother, which could only happen 

 from an exertion peculiar to the foetus. 



The terms of gefl:ation in cows, flieep, and 

 other animals, are always the fame, and no liae- 

 morrhage attends their delivery. May vvc not, 

 therefore, conclude, that the bleed difcharged 

 by women after dcliverv is the menftrual 



blood. 



