The Word is a mere Stranger in our Language. It seems to be one of those Exoticks imported by the Dictionaries ; and never taken notice of but by themselves.
This may happen at any time of Pregnancy; but is before the second Month after Conception, it is properly call'd a false Conception. See CONCEPTION.
We have Instances of Abortions by the way of the Mouth, the Anus, the Navel, &c. See FOETUS, EMBRYO, &c.
F. Jerom Florentius has an express Treatise of the Baptism of Abortives, or abortive Children. His Aim is to shew that an Abortive may, and ought to be baptiz'd, at what Time or Term soever it come into the World ; by reason the precise Time when the Fœetus begins to be animated is not known. There are several curious and uncommon Things in this Work, which is intitled