BUT because I have generally observ’d most _Authors_ to treat promiscuously of _BIRTHS_, not only accounting some, which are really _Natural_, to be _Preternatural_; but also both handling and writing of them as _such_, only because attended with some difficult Circumstances: I shall (in this place) take Leave to make an agreeable _Distinction_ betwixt the _different Sorts_ of _Natural BIRTHS_, in order to make every thing the more clear and obvious to the _Conception_ of the READER. Upon which Account therefore, I shall reduce _These_ to _two Heads_, and that under the TITLES of _Natural Easy_, and _Natural Difficult BIRTHS_. THE _FIRST_ of which I include in this _Chapter_; but because in this _Case_ (which I call a _Natural Easy BIRTH_), _Nature_ alone always performs the _Work_, without any Help of _ART_ or _Artful Means_; and because also the MIDWIFE (upon this Occasion) has but little or nothing to do, save only to observe the concluding _Chapters_ of the last preceding SECTION; and upon receiving the CHILD, immediately to manage and provide both for the MOTHER and the INFANT according to their several _Necessities_, as hereafter shall be inculcated in the respective _Chapters_ of the next following SECTION: I say, for these _Reasons_, I have no Room here to insist farther on this present HEAD; wherefore I proceed in course to the _SECOND Sort_ of these _BIRTHS_. Namely—— [Illustration] CHAP. III. _Of Natural Difficult BIRTHS._ THO’ indeed every _difficult Expulsion_ of the _INFANT_, from whatsoever _Cause_ it may proceed, is verily a _Difficult BIRTH_; yet I shall here distinguish a _difficult One_ from a _preternatural BIRTH_; not only that I may thereby, the better avoid the _Confusion_ which others have led themselves into, by treating of BOTH promiscuously, but also that my _Method_ may tend the more to the peculiar Benefit and Advantage of the Ingenious READER. WHEREFORE I call that a _Difficult BIRTH_; where, notwithstanding the _Figure_ and _Dimensions_ of the _CHILD_, answer in all respects to its proper _natural Posture_, in a _Perpendicular_ WOMB, duly situated, yet the _Exclusion_ of the _INFANT_, is retarded, by some certain _Opposition_ or _Difficulty_. From hence proceeds the real _Difference_ between _This_ and the _Natural Easy BIRTH_, forasmuch as _This_ always requires _less_ or _more_ skilful _Assistance_, according to various Circumstances, and _That_ but _Little_ or _none at all_.