CHAP. VIII. Of the motion and scituation of the Infant in the wombe, which are Animall faculties.
THE Soule being an 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or act of an Naturall organicall body, doeth not nor cannot performe her functions without a conuenient organ or in∣strument. Wherefore in the first monethes the tender Infant by reason of the weaknes of the Brayne and softnesse of the sinewes is not able to moue his members. But when the bones begin to gather strength, and the nerues, membranes and ligaments, which before were full of a mucous and slimy humour begin to dry, then the Infant kicketh and moueth.
The first beginning of this motion sayeth Hippocrates in his Booke de Natura pueri, and de morbis Mulierum, is in Male children at the third moneth, in Females at the fourth: so that there is a certaine and definite proportion of the conformation and the motion of the Infant, and a double time comming betweene them. Male children therefore because they haue their conformation the thirtieth day doe mooue the ninetieth, now the 90. day maketh vp the third moneth. Females because they haue their conformation the two & fortieth day, they are mooued the hundered and twentyeth, which fulfilleth the fourth moneth.
This motion of the Infant is not Naturall but voluntary, as beeing perfourmed by the helpe of the Muscles contracting themselues. The muscles are contracted because the Soule so commaundeth. This commaundement is carryed by a corporeall Spirite and conuayed thorough the Nerues; which Spirte is daylie generated in the Sinus of the Braine or in his substance of the Vitall, which the Infant receiueth from the vmbilicall Ar∣teries.
To this moouing faculty wee must also referre the scituation or position of the Infant in the wombe. For so Hippocrates in his Prognostickes referreth the position or manner of lying of the sickeman, eyther prone that is downeward, or supine that is vpward or on either side, to the weaknes and strength of the mouing faculty.
The Naturall scituation of the Infant is thus described by Hippocrates in his Booke de Natura pueri. The Infant as he is placed in the wombe hath his hands at his knees, and his head bent downe to his feete. Wherefore he sitteth in the wombe crumpled, contracted or bent round, holding his knees with his hands and bending his head betweene them, so that each eye is fixed to the thumbe of either hand, and his nose betwixt his knees.
This Figure though it bee not exquifitely the meane or middle position as wee call it, that is so Naturall as that all the partes are in their due position; yet it commeth nearest thereunto, and therefore is neither paynfull nor wearisome to the Infant; and for the mo∣ther very conuenient because thus the Infant taketh vp the least roome, and beside riseth not so high that it should presse or beare vp the midriffe or the stomacke, as we see in some women vvhen their burthen lyeth high they are short breathed and much more vnvvealdy as vve vse to say.
Moreouer this position is most fit for the easie birth of the Infant, for lying thus vvith his head betvvixt his legges, vvhen he seeketh meanes to get out, he is sooner turned vvith his head dovvnevvard to the orifice of the vvombe, vvhich manner of trauell is of all other the easiest and most secure, both for the Infant and the mother, as shall better appeare in the next Chapter.