IN Case of TWINS, or more _Children_, every one has its proper _NAVEL-STRING_; the chief Use of which is, to convey the _Maternal Blood_ and _nutritious Juices_ by the _Veins_ to the FOETUS, for its _Aliment_: The _Arteries_ carrying back that which is unfit for this _Use_, to the _Placenta_; whilst the _Fœtus_ is still supply’d with more by the _Vein_: So that there’s a _continual Circulation_, or Communication, between the MOTHER and her INFANT. [Illustration] [Illustration] SECT. II. [Illustration] CHAP. I. _Of the SYMPTOMS peculiar to the State of MAIDEN-HOOD._ SUCH _Distempers_ as are incident to this SEX in _Childhood_, are generally common to the _Other_; wherefore I shall take another Opportunity to treat of them more _particularly_, and conduct the _Child_, whether MALE or FEMALE, thro’ all the _Indispositions_, to which its tender _Age_, or flexile _Nature_, may subject it, from the Moment of _Birth_, until the Time of _Puberty_: At which _Age_, the more delicate _Constitution_ of FEMALES, takes a quite different _Turn_ from That of the _other Sex_. AT this _Crisis_, or Juncture of Time, the _Imbecility_ of their _natural Dispositions_ begins to display itself, by various and different _SYMPTOMS_; to which, some are more, and some less, expos’d from Henceforward; very few being altogether exempted from what is so peculiar to their _State_: Wherefore (in the first place) I shall undertake to lay down the _Causes_, the _Symptoms_, the _Degrees_ of Danger, and the respective _Methods of Curing_ such _Diseases_ as are incident to VIRGINS: Which leads me previously to define the VIRGIN-STATE, in [Illustration] CHAP. II. _Of VIRGINITY._ VIRGINITY is an entire _State of Nature_ in this Point; and nothing else, than the _Integrity_ of the _Muliebrian Parts_ from the Violence of _Virile Congress_. TOUCHING the real _Signs_ of _VIRGINITY_, many learned _Controversies_ have risen; particularly as to the _Membrane_, call’d HYMEN: _Some_ great _Anatomists_ and _Physicians_[25] strenuously denying its _Existence_, and representing it as some _preternatural Production_; and _Others_[26] as vigorously maintaining the contrary Opinion. Upon which _Contention_, if I may humbly offer my _Sentiment_; the _later Authorities_ are so commonly receiv’d, that (I think) this _Dispute_ sufficiently decided.