THE _INFANT_ thus being thoroughly ripen’d, and arrived to full _Perfection_ of MATURITY, the _Hour_ approaches, in which it scorns any longer _Confinement_ to such narrow Bounds. For the _Animal Spirits_ being discontented, for want of due _Liberty_ and free _Motion_; the _Vitals_, for want of _Refrigeration_ and _Refreshment_; and the _Natural Spirits_, for want of sufficient _Respiration_ and _Nutrition_: _They_ all concur to make a _Commotion_, and (as it were) a victorious _Revolt_ or an _Effort_ pushing for _CONQUEST_. THE _INFANT_ being thus irritated, immediately shakes off its _Fetters_, breaks the _Ligaments_, rents the _Membranes_, thrusts through the _Enclosures_, and makes its most vigorous _Attempts_ to enlarge itself from the _Prison_ of the WOMB, into that of the WORLD. WHICH _Enlargement_ depends very much indeed upon _NATURE_, but more particularly on the _Strength_ and _Vigour_ of the _INFANT_, seconded by a peculiar _Faculty_ of the WOMB, that by degrees is drawn-in to _Consent_, and _Endeavour_ to dislodge and expel its troublesome and obstreperous _GUEST_. NOW the _INFANT_, during the whole Time of _Gestation_, adhering to the _WOMB_, by the _Umbilicals_, as the _Fruit_ does to the TREE by the _Stalks_, upon this Occasion distends the _WOMB_, and having valiantly turn’d itself, breaks the _Membranes_, and dissolves the _Acetabula_: When also the _Orifice_ of the _WOMB_ is competently open’d; and _That_ (in _Avicenna_’s memorable Words[159]) at the Command of the great GOD. Upon This the _Waters_ flow; the _Umbilicals_ parting from the _WOMB_ and their proper _Vessels_, and the _Veins_ and _Arteries_ of the _SECUNDINE_ severing themselves, in like manner; As ripe _Fruit_, or the _Leaves_ of TREES in _Autumn_ fall-off naturally, or break from their proper _Stalks_. THUS the _WOMB_, exerting its extensive and expulsive _Faculties_, excludes the Legitimate _INFANT_: To which great _Work_ also, the _Painful Labours_, and _Labouring Pangs_ of the _MOTHER_ (in the manner they happen with the contracted _Spirits_, depress’d _Midriff_, and compress’d _Muscles_ of the ABDOMEN) contribute not a little _Help_. And, in short, this stupendous _Work_ or _Action_ is called _BIRTH_; and is nothing else, but an _Exclusion_ of the _mature CHILD_. WHICH _BIRTH_ proceeds either from _Causes_ of the _INFANT_, or from _Causes_ of the _WOMB_: Of the _INFANT_, because through the strict _Confinement_ of a narrow Place, and Defect[160] of _Aliment_, and _Refrigeration_, It kicks and spurns for its EXIT: Of the _WOMB_, because about that _Time_, being overloaded and aggrieved by the _Bulk_ and _Weight_ of the CHILD, it endeavours, by its own expulsive _Faculty_, to disburthen itself, and propel or drive it forth to the utmost of its Power. For——