CHAP. IV.
Of False Conceptions.
HAVING already also particularly defin’d the real or true Conception in Sect. III. Chap. I. I come now in like manner to the Reverse of that Case, properly call’d a false Conception. But that I may, in this Point, be well understood,——
A False Conception, in my Opinion, is nothing else, but a Protuberancy of the Woman’s Belly, attended with some, if not with most, of the Symptoms of the Months of Gestation: which however, is no ways occasion’d by a humane FOETUS, but (on the contrary) either by Water and Winds, or Wind and Water vitiously mixed; which is also pertinently call’d a Dropsy of the Womb: Or then, by a corrupted Viscid, or pituitous Matter collected in the Womb; and that either proceeding from weak and vitious Seed, or from some extraordinary Intemperature of the Womb, which may hinder the Elaboration of the Seed and Blood, and consequently the Accomplishment of the Conception: Or the same may also finally proceed from the Impurity of the Menstrua, which may corrupt the Seed, and convert it to Aqueous, purulent, or other Humours.
THIS false Conception is attended (besides the common Symptoms of a true Conception) with inordinate Fevers, Pains of the Head, Neck, Loins, Groins, Back, and Belly: Which Belly swells sooner than in the Condition of real Conception; and which, if struck with the Hand, gives a Sound like a Drum whence ’tis also call’d a Tympany: The whole Body is hence discoloured; the Feet, and sometimes the Face swells; and only a little (if any) watery Milk is found in the Breasts. THE Cure of the Case depends entirely upon proper Evacuations, peculiar to the Quality of what is to be evacuated. Whence I come to treat of the Conception of Moles.