The expert midwife, or An excellent and most necessary treatise of the generation and birth of man. Wherein is contained many very notable and necessary particulars requisite to be knovvne and practised: with diuers apt and usefull figures appropriated to this worke. Also the causes, signes, and various cures, of the most principall maladies and infirmities incident to women. Six bookes compiled in Latine by the industry of Iames Rueff, a learned and expert chirurgion: and now translated into English for the generall good and benefit of this nation.

CHAP. V. How the Infant is conditioned and in what state he is, the fift, sixt, seventh and eight Moneth, and also the difference of the Sex and formes.

AFter the third and fourth Moneth, the In∣fant useth more plentifull, and copious nourishment, and doth prosper, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and in∣crease more and more with it, untill 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time of birth and deliverance shall come 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we must know,* 1.1 when he shall be born 〈…〉〈…〉 not able to retaine life 〈…〉〈…〉 (although he be distinctly and propound 〈◊〉〈◊〉 formed) yet hee hath not attained to his just perfection. But if he bee borne the seventh month,* 1.2 hee shall live most easily, because hee is perfect enough then. But that they which are borne in the eight moneth, are most seldome able to live, when some borne in the seventh moneth, doe, for the most part, remaine alive, doth come to passe, not without good reason. For in the seventh moneth, the Infant is alwaies moved to the birth, at which time, if he shall be

of that force and strength, he commeth forth to the birth; If he be not, hee remaineth in the wombe, untill hee shall be able and strong enough, that is to say, the other two moneths. If after that motion of the seventh moneth hee proceed not to birth, he removeth himselfe from thence into another place of the womb, & is so debilitated & effeeblished by that moving,* 1.3 that if he come forth to birth the eight moneth fol∣lowing, hee cannot live at all, because of that motion. For neither is the Infant weakned with this moving alone, but with a double motion even unto death. First,* 1.4 when he is borne the eight moneth after his moving in the seventh, as we said of late. Next, because (in respect of the Planets) every seventh moneth bringeth forth a motion hurtfull and dangerous to any Feature. The Sun, I say, at that time remaining in an op∣posite Signe, and because the eight moneth is proper to Saturne, an enemy of all things which receive life.

Also we must know,* 1.5 that male-children are conceived in the right side of the Matrix by plentifull seed, issuing out of the right testicle or stone of the man: but female-children in

the left side, by the seed of the left testicle. For the right side, because of the Liver, is hotter, but the left side is colder. But principally the more copious and plentifull heat is a cause of ingendring and procreating of male-children.

* 1.6That also children doe sometimes answer and agree to their parents in likenesse of forme, that thing is caused by the vertue and power of the seed, that the Infant is most like to him or her in forme and shape, whose seede doth most exceed and excell in power and vertue. But in this case,* 1.7 the motion of the Starres is suppo∣sed to prevaile some thing, that when the seed is conceived under good aspects of the Planets, this causeth an excellent shape; but when it is conceived under evill aspects, in like case it procureth an ugly shape. And so much hi∣therto.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Infant home the sixt moneth can∣not live.
• * 1.2

  Why the In∣fant borne the seventh month may live.
• * 1.3

  The Infant borne the eight moneth cannot live.
• * 1.4

  Two deadly motions of Infants.
• * 1.5

  The diffe∣rence of sex, and the cause thereof.
• * 1.6

  The simili∣tude of forme with the pa∣rents, is from the power of the seed.
• * 1.7

  Motion of the starres suppo∣sed a cause.