AND hence it is that we have so many _Degrees_ of _Preternatural BIRTHS_ on _Part_ of the WOMB, _All_ which to enumerate particularly in this Place, would be a WORK as _Superfluous_ as _Tedious_: wherefore, to be brief, I shall here also reduce them to the FOUR following, (as before mentioned, SECT. IV. _Chap._ 13.) viz. _Preternatural BIRTHS_, proceeding from an _oblique Situation_ of the WOMB inclining _Forwards_, or _Backwards_, or to (either _Side_) _Right_ or _Left_: which fourfold _Situation_ of the WOMB may be rightly and properly compar’d to the _Four Cardinal Points_ of the COMPASS, as the rest of its _oblique Positions_ may be analogously adequated to the _Collateral_ and _Middle Points_: For because, as they decline from the _Meridian_, and derive themselves from EAST, WEST, NORTH, and SOUTH, as formerly observ’d[172]; so _those_ are less difficult _BIRTHS_, and branch out from the _Four_ mentioned Extremities: since the WOMB, like a _Magnetick Needle_, may run quite round, and be ill-seated every way, or on every _side_. In all which _Cases_, the _INFANT_ must absolutely be _Turned_; which _Performance_ in any _oblique_ WOMB, requires a competent solid _Knowledge_ and sound _Judgment_, as well as the best adapted and experienced _Hands_. But of _those_, more particularly hereafter; and _First_, accordingly—— [Illustration] CHAP. XIX. _Of Preternatural BIRTHS, from the WOMB’s inclining Forwards._ IN speaking to this critical _Point_, I shall _first_ give the _Reason_ of such a _BIRTH_, occasion’d by this _Position_; to wit, The _WOMB_ hanging much _forwards_, especially in _Women_ carrying it too _low_ in the ABDOMEN, the _INFANT_ (betwixt the _Pains_) must needs be forced upon the OS SACRUM, or the VERTEBRÆ bending _inwards_; which stops the HEAD that it cannot conveniently or without Obstruction fall into the PELVIS. HOWEVER, in this _Condition_ we suppose the _INFANT_ to be _well turn’d_, I mean (both _here_ and _elsewhere_) _well turn’d_ in respect of the _WOMB_, with the _Crown_ of the HEAD lying against the _Orifice_; than which nothing can be more _Right_ or _Natural_ in regard of the _WOMB_ itself, nor more _Wrong_ and _Preternatural_ in respect of the _PELVIS_ and _Vagina_ of the _WOMB_, in this _forward Situation_: Because by reason of this _Posture_, the _INFANT_ falls _transverse_ upon the OSSA PELVIS, especially upon the OS SACRUM or _hindmost_ VERTEBRÆ; upon which it commonly offers itself with the FACE _prone_ or _turn’d Downwards_, tho’ it is not brought forth, but with the FACE _Supine_ or _Upwards_. For as it passes, it must be _turn’d round_, partly in a _Circle_, with its HEAD _prone_, and FEET drawn up under it; which happens not in the _WOMB_, but only as it passes the _Orifice_ into the _PELVIS_ or _VAGINA_.