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SECT. VIII. Of difficult births, whether they pro∣ceed from Causes external or inter∣nal.
DIfficult births from external causes may be either, first, from excessive heat, dis∣solving the strength of the women; or se∣condly, excessive cold, condensing the womb; or thirdly, from sweet things, often applied to the nostrils of the woman, that by smelling to sweet things she may recover her strength and faintings; for sweet smells do attract the womb upwards, and so render the birth more difficult.
Difficult birth from internal causes may be either, first, from the woman; secondly, from the womb; thirdly, from the infant; fourthly from the membranes of the womb. 1. From the woman, as when she is too an∣gry, too fearful, or too modest; or if she be in age above 40 years, from whence the mus∣cles of the womb may be concluded to be dry, and so the less extenfible; or when she is so thick and fat, that the passages be narrow: