force grows up by degrees and secretly inereasing comes to maturity CHAP. IV. A serious discourse of the Soul of Man How it comes not from the Parents Seed but is infused by God and can neither dye nor corrupt and what day of Child-bearing it is infused of the Immortality thereof and Certainty of the Resurrection THE Soul of Man is of so divine a nature and excellency that man himself can in no wise comprehend it it being the insused breath of the Almighty immortal and incomprehensible but by him that gave it it being as it well may be termed a part of himself for Moses by Holy Inspiration relating the Original of Man tells us That God breathed into his Nostrils the breath of Life and he became a living Soul Now as for all other Creatures at his Word they were made and had life but the Creature that God hath appointed to let over his works was favoured with the more immediate hand of the Almighty forming him out of the dust of the Earth and secondly condescending to breath into his Nostrils the breath of Life which implies that there was more care and if we may so term it labor used about man than about all other Creatures or created things he only partaking and participating with the divine Nature being made in his likeness bearing the Image of God that is in innocence and purity whilst he stood firm but in his Fall that lively Image was defaced yet such was the insinite love of God towards him that alto ' he rebelled against him he would not altogether cast him off but found a way to restore him Nay so much in esteem was he thought not deserving the least favour that the Son of God the second Person in the glorious Trinity when the fulness of Time was come laying aside his Crown of Stars left the right-hand of Glory Majesty the bright effulgence that adorned him and descending took upon him our nature O infinite unspeakable love Nay more indured shame reproach scourging buffetting spitting on and the death of the Cross that he might bruise the head of the Serpent and deliver beloved man from the jaws and brink of inter ruine and the better to confirm his love towards us is ascended on high leading Captivity captive where he is so far from forgetting us that he is become our Mediator and makes daily Intercession for us to the Father whose offended Justice he has satisfied as to the Original Sin but to come nearer to my purpose If a man would understand the excellency of the Soul as far as it is capable of comprehending it self let him after serious Recollection descend into himself and search diligently his own mind and there he shall find so many admirable Gifts and excellent Ornaments that it must needs strike him with Wonder and Amazement as Reason Understanding true Choice agility of Wit Memory and divers other Faculties that absolutely approve the Soul to be more admirable than that any should imagine it to be finite or subject to Annihilation yet by reason of its many Offices and Operations whilst in the Body it is specified under sundry denominations For at St. Augustine saith when it enlivens the Body it is called the Soul when it gives it knowledge the judgment the mind when it recalls things past the memory whilst it discourserh discerneth Reason whilist it contemplates she Spirit whilst it is in the sensitive parts of the senses and these are the principal Offices whereby the Soul declares its Power and performs its Actions for placed in the highest part of the Body and nearest Heaven it diffuseth or disperseth effectually its force into every Member not proceeding from the Parents seed nor mixed with gross matter but the infused breath of the Almighty immediately proceeding from him never passing from one to another as fond and absurdly the Pithagorians have insinuated in their Opinions about the Transmigration of the soul and so vain were they that they did not only imagine the souls of deceased men passed into new born Infants but into Beasts also and from thence it was they forbid the eating of Flesh and abstained themselves from so doing lest as they fondly fancied they might as Tertullian records it Eat their Grandfather in a Calf but such frivolous and superstitious Notions are to be rejected by Christians and those true ones observed which are both reasonable and agreeable to humane Capacities fot Orthodox Divinâ—â— conclude in general that the Soul is given to every Infant by Infant by Infusion when he or shâ— is perfected in the Womb which happenâ—â— about the 45 day after Conception especial all for Males that in likelihood will be born at the end of nine Months but that Females who are of a weaker Constitution and not so soon formed and perfected through the defect of heat have not their Souls till the fiftieth day And altho' this day in all cases cannot be perfectly set down yet Hypocrates has undertaken to give his absolute opinion when the Child has its perfect form when it begins to move and when born if in due season for in his Book of the nature of Infants he affirmeth That if it be a Male and he be perfect on the thirtieth day move at the â—â—tieth he will come forth at the seventh Month but if he be perfectly formed on he 35 day he will move on the 70th and be born in the 8th Month again if he be perfectly formed on the 45th day he will move on the 90th day and be born in the ninth Month. Now from these passings of â—ays months it plainly appears that the day of Forming being doubled makes up he day of moving and that day 3 times â—â—ckoned makes up the day of Birth As for Example where 35 perfect the â—orm if you double it it makes 70 the â—ay of motion and three times 70 amounts â—â— 206 days or 7 months allowing 30 days â—â— one month so you must consider the rest But as for a Female it is longer perfecting in the Womb and the Mother ever goes longer with a Boy than a Girl so that there is difference in the Accompt for a Female formed in 30 days moves not till the 70 day and is born in the 7 Month when she is formed in the 40 days she moves on the 80 day and is born in the 8 month but if she be perfectly formed on the 55 day she moves on the 90 and is born in the 9 month but she that is Formed on the 50 day moves on the 100 day then will she be born in the 10 month And thus have I more largely demonstrated it to the Reader that he may know the reasonable Soul is not in the Parents Seed but is infused by God when the Child hath its perfect Form and is exactly distinguished in its Lineaments for the Soul is not preent in the first month the Child begins to be formed but the faculty of the Matrix and
discovered by many Symptoms as when Nature fringes the obscure parts and their Terms flow at the time appointed which is usually in the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Year of their Age when as the Seed increaseth in some sooner and in others later according to their Habits or Constitutions And the Blood which is no longer taken to augment their Bodies abounding incites their Minds and Imaginations to Venery And by the Retention of the Seed many times it falls out that they are cruelly afflicted with fainting Fits and strangling of the Mother for all learned Physicians are of Opinion that more harm comes by the Seed corrupting than by their Courses being unseasonably obstructed for the Seed derogates to a venomous quality and from the effects thereof arise the Swarth and weasel Colour in Maids when they begin to be in Love and desirous of Copulation as also their short Breathings Tremblings and Pantings of the Heart The Expulsive Faculties being moved to cast out the superfluous Humour But if they happen to be Married to their own Content these afflictions vanish and their native Beauty returns more gay than before nor is their eager gazing desiring to associate themselves with Men a lesser sign that Nature prompts them to desire what she ordain'd Their due of which sometimes being by obdurate Parents debarred in a lawful way breaking the bounds of modesty rather than enduring such violent Agitations and Conflicts within themselves they satiate their desire in unlawful Love The same may in all Particulars be observed in young brisk Widows whom Death that Enemy of sweet Conjugal Love has separated from the Bosom of their Husbands At fourteen Years of Age commonly the Terms in Virgins begins to flow and then they are capable of Conceiving and so continue generally till forty four at what time for the most part the Eflux being stayed they are no longer capable of Generation unless such as are exceeding healthful strong of body and have used themselves to Temperance who have appear'd to be delivered of Children till fifty five Years but such Prodigies rarely happen although the Terms extend sarther in some Women than in others but many times such Eflux proceeds not from any natural cause but by reason of some violent straining or other violence and does often endanger the life of the Party And therefore young Men that marry Women surmounting the Age aforesaid if they expect Children unless by Miracle must labour against the Wind though if an old Man that is not worn out by Diseases and Incontinency marry a brisk lively Lass there is hopes even to threescore and ten and some that are extraordinary lusty till fourscore Hypocrates that Famous and Learned Physician is of Opinion that a Youth at 16 years or between that and 17 having much vital strength may be capable of getting Children and that force and heat of Procreating matter continually increases till 45 50 65. and at the end of the latter begins to flagg the Seed by little and little becoming unfruitful the natural Spirits being extinguished and the humours dried up and in general most Physicians at this day do observe it but as to particulars as I have before mentioned it often happeneth otherwise nay 't is reported by a credible Author that in the Reign of Erecus King of Sweedland a Man was married at a Hundred years old to a Bride of Thirty and had many Children by her but looked so fresh that such as knew him not took him not to exceed half that Age. In Campania where the Air is temperate serene and calm men of 80 years usually marry young Virgins and have Children by them which argues that Age in men hinders not Procreation unless they be exhausted in their Youth and their Members shriveled up If any ask why a Women is sooner barren than a Man I answer the Cause is the natural Heat which is more predominant in the latter than in the former for since a Woman is more moist than a Man as her Courses do most evidently demonstrate as also the softness of her Body 't is also apparent that he doth exceed her in Native heat and as for that heat it is the chief thing that concocts the Humours and changes them into the substance of the Seed which Aliment the Woman wanting grows fat when a Man by reason of that heat melts his fat by degrees and his Humours are dissolved but by the benefit thereof they are elaborated into Seed and this may for the better Confirmation of what I propose be added That the Woman is not so strong as a Man nor so wise and prudent nor hath so much reason nor is so ingenious in contriving her Affairs whereby the Faculties are hindered in their operation And so I conclude my Assertion CHAP. II. General and particular Rules laid down by Learned Physicians how to proceed in getting a Male or Female Child and of the Embrio and perfect Birth and the Season sittest for Copulation WHen a young likely Couple have entred the holy State of Wedlock are desirous of mutual enjoyment for Generation sake which is the chief end for which Wedlock was ordain'd and rather covet to be blessed with one Sex than another let them know first for certain that the Success of such things depends upon Divine Providence tho' secondary causes must be actual and instrumental therein and those are especially two First the Genital Humour which proceeds partly from the Brain and partly from the Liver the Fountain of Blood then the spirit that is conveyed by Arteries from the Heart by force whereof the Yard is erected and made capable to eject the Seed and partly it flows from the whole Body without exception To which may be added the Appetite and desire to Copulation which fires the Imagination with unusual Fancies or by the sight and feeling a brisk charming Beauty whose wit and liveliness may much incite and more inflame the Courage but if Nature be infeebled then are there fit artificial Remedies to restore it viz. such meats as most conduce to the affording such aliment as proves to make Seed abound and restore the decaies of Nature that the Faculties may freely opporate for as Dung and well manuring restores Ground that is worn out and heartless even so seasonable and proper Diet opporates to the restoring the faint heart weak spirit coldness and dryness of the Genital Parts and reduceth the weakness of the Nerves to their Temperament and removes Impediments obstructing the Procreation of Children Then since the Diet may and will alter the evil state of the Body to a better it is necessary that such as are subject to Barrenness should eat such meat only as tend to render them fruitful and among such things as are inducing and stirring up thereto are all meats of good juice that nourish well and makes the body lively and full of sap of which Faculty are all hot moist meats for according to Gallen the substance of Seed is
matter of the Skin Nails that are very smooth do come and by degrees harden she had instead of Nails a thin Skin or Film as for her Toes there was not the least appearance of Nailes about them by reason they wanted the heat that was communicated to the Fingers from the nearness of the Heart These and the like weighty matters being considered and above all one Gentlewoman of quality that assisted affirming that she had been the Mother of 19 Children and that divers of them had been born and lived a 7 Months they without favour to any party made their report that the infant was a Child of 7 Months and so must be accounted though it was born within the seventh Month for that in such cases the revolution or circute of the Moon ought to be observed which perfects it self in 4 bare weeks or somewhat less then 28 days in which space of her revolution the Blood being agitated by the Moons force the Courses of the Woman flow from them which being spent and the Matrix cleansed from the Menstrual Blood which happens on the 5th day then if on the 7th day a Man lye with his Wife the copulation is most natural and the conception best and a Child then gotten may be born in the 7th Month and prove very healthful so that upon this report the supposed Father was pronounced innocent upon proof that he was a hundred miles distance all that month in which the Child was begot own as for the Mother she strongly denied that she knew the Father being forced in the dark and that through fear and surprize was left in ignorance though Physitians are of opinion that if a Woman prove with Child it cannot be accounted a Rape for unless she cast forth her Seed to commix with the Man which imploys a willingness in her to be a Copartner in the Act the Child cannot be formed but my opinion is that poor silly Girls strugling to defend themselves in case of such violence and not in such fear and perplexity regarding the nicety of containing their Humour the Seminary Vessels by an natural proneness will open and the Seed in such cases whether they desire it or not will flow to commix with the Man 's in the Matrix and by coagulating with the Blood that descends to nourish it will form the Child and thus much for these particulars For for Copulation it ought not to be had unless the Parties be in health lest it turn to the disadvantage of the Childen so begotten creating in them through the abundant ill humour divers lingering and languishing Diseases wherefore Health is no where better to be discerned than by the Genitals of the Man wherefore Midwives and other skilful Women in former days were wont to see the Testicles of Children thereby to conjecture or guess at their temper and state of Body and young men may know thereby the Signs or Symptoms of life and death for if the cases of the Testicles be loose and feeble and the Cods fall down it denotes the natural faculties and vital Spirits whichare the props of Life are fallen but if the Secret parts be wrinkled and raised up the Yard at any occasion so requiring standing stif it is a Sign all will be well but that the Event may exactly answer the Prediction it is necessary to consider what part of the Body the disease possesseth for if it chance to be the upper part that is afflicted as he Head or Stomach then will it not so well appear by the Members which frequently are unconcerned with such grievances but the lower part of the body exactly sympathizing with them their liveliness on the contrary makes it apparent for Natures force and the Spirits that have their intercourse first manifest themselves therein which occasions Midwives often to feel the Genitals of Children to know in what part the grief is resident and whether life or death be portended thereby the Symptom being strongly communicated by the Vessels that have their intercourse with the principal Seats of Life CHAP. IX The cause of the Green sickness in Virgins with its Symptoms and Directions for its cure Together with the chiefest occasion of Barrenness in Women and by what means to remove the Cause and render them fruitful THE sormer of these ill conveniencies is too apparent in Virgins especially such as are of a Flegmatick Complexion evidently shewing it self by discolouring the Face in making it look green pale or of a dusky yellow which proceeds from raw undigested humours nor only does it appear to the Eye but sensibly afflicts such as it possesses with difficulty of breathing pains in the Head Palpitation of the Heart unusual beating and small throbings of the Arteries in the Temples Neck and Back many times casting them into Fevers if the humour be very vicious also loathing of meat and distension of the Hypocondrick part by reason of the inordinate reflux of menstruous Blood to the greater Vessels and by reason of the abundance of humour the whole body is often troubled with swelling or if not at least the Thighs Legs and Ankles all above the Heels Now this affliction proceeds from crude raw and undigested Humours arising from the suppression of the monthly Courses by reason of the natural narrowness of the Vessels or their accidental Contraction by violent motion but oftner through eating Chalk Oat-meal Tobacco-pipes Loame Starch Nutmegs and drinking of Vinegar for thereby an ill Concoction in the Bowels is occasioned and the Humours moreover contracted into the habit of the body become habitual and concordant with it many of these Afflictions happen through the long Retention of the Seed when Virgins are ripe for the Act of Generation which vitiating the Vessels spread it into evil Humours Therefore the first thing necessary to eradicate the Cause is matrimonial Conjunction and such Copulation as may prove to the satisfaction of her that is afflicted for by that means the Humours being diffused and dispressed they will soon wast themselves and then no more matter being administred to increase them they will vanish and a good temperament of Body will return but in case such a Conjunction cannot be had so soon as necessity requires then let the Damsel blood in the Heel and if she be about 16 you may do it likewise in the Arm though sufer her not to bleed overmuch especially if any pure blood come forth for then the vitiated Humour clinging to the Veins will stay behind and that bloods loss render her less capable to oppose them If the diseases be of any continuance then is itto be eradicated by purgation preparation of the Humour being first considered which may be done by the Virgins drinking decoction of Guaicum with Dittany of Creet but the best Purge in this case ought to be made of Aloes Agrick Juice of Lavin Succorrina and for the unobstructing of the Humour take prepared Steel Bazoar-stone the Root of Scorzonera and Oyl of Christal
that the Seed has no free passage then the cause must be enquired into and this often happens the which is known by the small desire to Venery and the little or no pleasure or satisfaction received thereby a settling in the Courses and a slimy Fâ—â—gmatick matter mixed therewith as also by their inordinate flowing occasioned by the plenty of humours collected in the Womb which by reason of the abundant of windy Vapours contracted therein causes obstruction to which may be added the cruditie and wateryness of the Seed which debars the pleasure in ejection and from hence it is that sudden paleness arises in the face c. To remedy this the party must alter her Diet not eating any cold raw Flegmatick substance but rather such things as are apt to stir up Cholerick hot humours in the Body as Anniseeds or Carraway-seeds in her Bread Store of Peniroyal in her Broth let her likewise each morning for a week together make a Posset in which she must boil the Roots of Birthwort Angelico Sage Rosemary Cinamon and Burrage The takeing the Male Herb Mercury Dittany Centaury Marygolds Cubeds Safron Mugwort and Clovegilly-flowers of each a handful boil them in white Wine and eject the Concoction by little and little at sundry times as the cold or obstruction can be perceived Anointing the Belly and Reins of the back one day with Oyl of Cinamon the next with Oyl of Nutmeg or Mace and the 3d. with Oyl of Myrrh and so continuing to do for a month together When the Woman lies down Nature will be wonderfully restored and recover such force as to remove to Obstructions Barrenness is likewise caused through want of due proportion of Seed in either party to remedy which let their Diet be such as I have prescribed in the former part of this Book Chap. II. Many there are that conceive Barrenness is frequently caused by inchantation but those opinion s are altogether frivolous and vain If the Womb be defective in attracting the Seed ejected Men frequently labour in vain in such a case the Woman must avoid Sorrow Anger or much Sleep Eating new Cheese Milk and raw food especially Lettis Endive Spinage Beets Nuts Cherries Purstain Oynions Garlick and the like They all being hurtful to Generation nor must she drink nor use Vinegar nor eat the Fat of Meat too frequently but the Womb must be cleansed from the over abundant moisture with the decoction of Hearts Tongue a Herb so called Cummin Fenel and Anniseed and strengthned with the Sirup of Wormwood and for a gentle opperative Purge in this case take half an ounce of Laudanun Bees-wax Sheeps Suet and Agarick of each a like quantity melt and bruise them after which make them up into little Pills and take 3 in a morning and next to them take of this conception to the bigness of an Nutmeg viz. The shavings of Ivory Ash Keys Yellow and wild Rape-seed Siler Montanus with red and white Behen of each one Dram Cinaman Galinga Long-pepper Cloves and Mace Balsam-wood Rosemary Flowers Blatiae Bezaria Gentle Marjorum and Pennyroyal of each 4 Scruples Balm Bogluss Cittern Reils of each two Scruples Pearl disolved or beaten to power one Scruple Musk two Grains White-Sugar one pound and a half bruise them and seeth them over a gentle fise in as much Malmsey as will make them into a Confection This Confection is indeed a most singular and approved one in all cases of Barrenness where cold or obstructions of the Vessels do occasion weakness in the Womb. Other causes of Barrenness there are when the Woman grows far so that the Caul swelling and bearing beyond its Bounds with its fatness obstructs the Passage into the Womb to prevent which the Woman must not sleep over much especially in the day time nor feed riotously but exercise her self in walking or moderate Exercises and often use Purgation and strong Glysters made of such Herbs and Drugs that are hot and dry which will in a short time remove such Obstructions But a more dangerous cause of Barrenness than yet I have named are the Whites which are contracted by an inordinate Eurudition of an excrementitious Humour collected through the Vitiousness of the Blood incident to Yonng and Old at such times as they are capable of Generation and therefore the Cure must be hastned by reason that in short time it derides Art and renders Women inevitably barren occasioning Leanness Consumption Melancholly Dropsie falling of the Womb swooning Convulsions which renders it difficult and dangerous in long continuance though in the beginning it may be easily removed In the Cure of this let Phlebotomy or Blood letting be avoided for as much as the bad Humour must be by no means recalled to defile the Blood the Disease it self being a sufficient weakning of the Body and vital Spirits First then to discuss the Humour in order to its Expurgation take two ounces of Guaicum the like quantity of China and Lentick-wood decoct them in Water and Honey drinking a pint fresh made each morning then to dry â—p the Contraction of the Vessels or Humour that lodged there take the Root of â—ilipendula beat it to powder and drink it in White-wine Morning and Evening as also for Astringents use Bones burnt and beat to powder likewise the ashes of Capons Dung ejected after a long time steeping in fair water the Patient must likewise avoid sleeping upon her Back lest the Humour descend and contract in the Vessels of the Womb but let her be rubbed often to disperse them that they settle not in any one place Sometimes this occasion of Barrenness happens through the violent attraction of the VVomb and then appears signs of afflictions of the Womb the Fiux not being so great to cure which Suffumarions are the most proper and those may be made of Frankinsence Laudanum Santalum or Mastick the Woman upon such occasion having great regard to her self that she take not cold or proceed to intemperate Diet. Many women there are whose violent lust contracts a heat that destroys the Seed and renders it incapable of coagulating and mixing with the Blood which very sparingly on such occasions flow from the several parts to the womb In this case 't is requisite to avoid hot Air soft lying hot Meats and Spices and requisite to bleed in the Basilick Vein and Purge moderately with Electuary hâ—m de Epithijmo and juice of Roses each two drams and a half Whey half a pint mix them together and drink them fasting in the morning and so continue 4 hours after or for want of the former you may take Triphera Sarasenicia and Rhuberb of each half a dram pulverized and mixed with 2 ounces of Syrup of Roses Violets or Endive but the most excellent restorative to cool and moderate the Temper in this case is a Diet drink made as followeth viz. Take Pistacho Pingles and Eringoes of each half an ounce of Saffron a Dram Lignum Alloes Gallinga Caryophillata Mace red
injuries unless so fenced by nature so Womens Stones being internal and less subject to casualty are covered with one Tunicle or Membrane the which though it closely adhere to them yet are they likewise half covered with the Peritonaeum The different or Ejaculatory Vessels are two obscure passages one on either side nothing differing from the Spermatick veins in substance rise they do on one part from the bottom of the Womb not reaching from their other extremity either to the Stones or any other part but shut up and unpassable adhearing to the Womb as the Colon does to the blind Gut and winding half way about the Stones are every way remote to them yet though they touch them not they are tyed to them by certain Membranes resembling the Wings of a Batt or Flutter-mouse through which certain Veins and Arteries passing from the Stones end in these beginning or may be termed here to have their passages proceeding from the corners of the Womb to the Stones and are accounted the proper Ligaments by which the Stones and the Womb are united and strongly knit together and these Ligaments in Women are the Cremesters in Men Of which I shall speak more largely when I come to describe the Masculine parts conducing to Generation CHAP. XV. A Discourse of the Vse and Action of the several Parts in Woman appropriated to Generation c. THE Externals commonly called the Privy Member re designed to cover the great Orifice and that to receive the Yard and give passage to the Birth and Urin. The use of the Wings and Knobs like Mirtle-berries are for the security of the internal parts shutting the Orifice and Neck of the Bladder and by their sweliing up cause Titulation and Defire in those parts and also to obstruct the unvoluntary passage of the Urine The Action of the Clytoris is like that of the Yard viz. Erection where Erection is for motion and attraction of the Seed The action and the use of the Neck of the Womb is equal with that of the Yard viz. Erection occasioned divers ways First in case of Copulation it is erected and made strait for the passage of the Yard to the Womb. Secondly whilst the Passage is repleated with Spirit and vital Blood it becomes more strait for embracing the Yard as for the conveniency of Erection it is twofold First for as much as if the neck of the Womb was not erected the Yard could have no convenient Passage to the Womb. Secondly the Affrication which occasions the Seed to issue forth could be no other ways nay to this we may add that it hinders any hurt or damage that might ensue through the violent Concussion of the Yard during the time of Copulation As for the Vessels that pass through the neck of the Womb their Office is to repleat it with Blood and Spirit that still as the moisture consumes by the heat contracted there in Copulation it may by those Vessels be renewed and the menstruous Blood at unseasonable times for its Efflux be kept back nor are these all their Offices for they contribute Nutriment towards the Child when in the Womb. The Womb it self has many properties attributed to it as First Attraction of the Seed by Familiar Sympathy Secondly It retains it which is properly called Conception Thirdly It cherishes and changes the Seed continuing so to do till it by the help of Nature frames the Child and brings it to perfection and then it strongly operates in sending forth the Birth when the time of its remaining there is expired dilating and spreading it self in a wonderful manner and indeed is the Field of Mans Generation being designed for no other purpose and so aptly removed from the Senses that nothing of Injury can proceed from thence retaining in it self a power and strength to operate and cast forth the Birth unless by accident or the like it be rendered deficient When to strengthen and inable it besides the helps of Nature sundry Remendies are to be applied by skilful hands Direction For which shall be hereafter mentioned The Utility of the preparing Vessels are taken from their Original and from the incertion of the right vein proceeding from the hallow and the left from the emulgent vein as in men that hot and pure Blood may more abundantly flow from the right vein for the Procreation of Males and that serous and watery Blood may proceed from the emulgent vein for the procreation of Females The Vessels in this kind are much shorter in Women than in Men by reason of their nearness to the Stones which defect is yet lengthened and made good by the many Intricacies or Windings to which those Vessels are subject for in the middle way they derive themselves into two branches though different in magnitude for one being greater than the other passes to the Stones conveying matter for composition of Seed and the lesser to the Womb scattering there such Nutriment as it extracts from other parts of the Body as for the Arteries they afford the Blood which is more full of Spirit to perfect the Seed The Stones in Women are greatly useful for where they are defective Generation is at an end by reason they operate in preparing the Seed as those in Men and by reason the Woman is colder than the Man therefore are they seated within that they should have the more heat to cherish them and for that cause are they covered only with one Tunicle that the heat may have the easier access though by reason of their softness they cannot perfect so substantial a Seed as those of Men as being cherished with less heat that the remainder might supply the inferiour parts Their figure is not exactly round but depressed that the small meanders of the veins dispersed through the Members from the Stones to the different Vessels might have more room to be inserted for the attraction of the Seed by the Substance of the Stones the inequality contributing to the longer stay of the Seed in those meandring Vessels nor is rugedness or unevenness of them less conducing thereto CHAP. XVI Of Conception and the infallible Signs thereof as also whether it be a Male or Female that is conceived or both at once commonly called Twins THE next thing convenient to be observed in this Treatise and as it falls in course is Conception and its Symptoms very material and worthy of note not only by Midwives but all young Women Now the signs of Conception 3 or 4 days after convenient and satisfactory Copulation are Pains in the Head Virtigo and dimness of the Eyes the Aples of the Eyes decrease the Eyes themselves swell and become of a dull or dark colour their veins waxing red and shut with Blood Again if the Eyes sink the Eybrows grow loose various colours appear in the Eyes and little red Pimples suddainly arise in the Face and almost as suddainly disappear Thirdly if the Veins between the Eyes and Nose are exteuded with Blood the Veins