III. THE strict _CONFINEMENT_ of its narrow _Lodging_; the WOMB being now too little to accommodate and entertain the well-grown-INFANT: Like to the YOUNG of _Birds_ or _Fowls_; which neither finding sufficient _Aliment_ nor _Room_ in the EGG, restlessly seek for _Both_, and in vain endeavour for _Either_, until at last they break the _Pellicules_: Which as soon as the _Mother_ perceives, she scratches or pecks the _Shell_, and so brings out the oppressed indigent CHICKEN. Thus also in the WOMB, it happens not unlike; for, when the _Membranes_ break, the _Humours_ and _Blood_ flow plentifully; and upon this Occasion various _Pains_ afflict the Woman: Which are always the greater and more severe in the _First BIRTH_; because of the _Coarctation_ of the _Passages_, besides the _Party_’s being unaccustomed to such sorrowful Griefs, and penetrating Pains. NOW the _Reasons_ why WOMEN only, are so much afflicted with dolorous _Pains_ in _BIRTH_ (the rest of the _Creatures_ being in a great measure of Proportion exempted from them) ought, as some _Divines_ would have us believe, to be ascribed only to the _SIN_ of the _First Woman_; GOD resolving (for that Reason) to punish her whole SEX, by subjecting them to those Calamities mentioned in the holy _Scripture_[148]: “_I will greatly multiply thy Sorrow_, _and thy Conception; in Sorrow thou shalt bring forth Children_, &c.”—— BUT besides this _Doctrine_, I conceive there are _Four_ very considerable _natural Causes_ that may be reasonably assign’d for it; _viz._ I. THE _DEBILITY_ of _Human Nature_, which in Time of _Labour_ requires sometimes the whole _Strength_ of the WOMAN, and sometimes that of the _INFANT_ too; and that commonly above what _Either_ can well afford. II. THE dull _Sedentary Life_ which _Women_ generally lead and indulge themselves in; as appears plain from what I have often observed in _Germany_ and _Holland_: For the _Women_ of those _Countries_ generally accustoming themselves to some sort of active _Labour_ and industrious _Exercise_, have much easier _BIRTHS_ than any _Others_ that I know. III. BUT one general and universal _Reason_ of it is, that the _Bone_ call’d OS COCCYGIS, which is loosely join’d to the inferiour Extremity of the _Bone_ call’d SACRUM, bending outwards during the Time of LABOUR; as the _CHILD_ advances, its _Head_ presseth the _Gut_ call’d RECTUM hard against it; which causeth most severe, acute, and extreme _PAINS_. IV. ANOTHER principal and universal _Reason_ of it, is, the BULK of the _Head_ of the _INFANT_; which (according to _Albertus Magnus_) is equal in the time of _BIRTH_, to the rest of the _Whole Man_; causing a violent _Dilatation_ of the WOMB, that is very _strait_ in comparison of this BULK; and _That_ being a very sensible _Membranous Composition_, _This_ must (of Necessity) occasion most grievous and almost intolerable _PAINS_. Whence I come to [Illustration]