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CHAP. XXXII. Of superfoetation.
SUperfoetation is when a woman doth beare two or more children at one time in her wombe, and they bee enclosed each in his seve∣rall * 1.1 secundine: but those that are included in the same secundine, are supposed to bee conceived at one and the same time of copula∣tion, by reason of the great and copious abundance of seed, and these have no number of daies between their conception & birth, but all at once. For as presently after meat the stomacke which is naturally of a good temper, is contracted or drawn together about the meate, to comprehend it on eve∣ry side, though small in quantity, as it were by both hands, so that it cannot rowle neither unto this or that side; so the wombe is drawne together unto the conception about both the seeds, as soone as they are brought into the capacity thereof, and is so drawne in unto it on every side, that it may come together into one body, not per∣mitting any portion thereof to goe into any other region or side, so that by one time of copulation the seed that is mixed together, cannot engender more children than one, which are devided by their secundines. And moreover, because there are no such cells in the wombes of women, as are supposed, or rather knowne to bee in the * 1.2 wombs of beasts, which therefore bring forth many at one conception or birth. But now if any part of the womans wombe doth not apply and adjoine it selfe closely to the conception of the seed already received, lest any thing should be given by nature for no purpose, it must of necessity follow that it must be filled with aire, which will alter and corrupt the seeds. Therefore the generation of more than one infant at a time, having every one his severall secundine, is on this wise. If a woman conceave * 1.3 by copulation with a man as this day, and if that for a few daies after the conception, the orifice of the wombe be not exactly shut, but rather gape a little, and if shee doe then use copulation againe, so that at both these times of copulation there may be an effusion or perfect mixture of the fertile seed in the wombe, there will follow a new conception, or superfoetation. For superfoetation is no other thing than a certaine second conception, when the woman already with childe, againe useth copulation with a man, and so conceiveth againe, according to the judgement of Hippocrates. * 1.4 But there may be many causes alledged why the wombe which did joyne and close doth open and unlose it selfe againe. For there bee some that suppose the wombe to be open at certaine times after the conception, that there may be an issue out for cer∣taine excrementall matters that are contained therein, and therefore that the woman that hath so conceived already, and shall then use copulation with a man againe, shall also conceive againe.
Others say that the wombe of it selfe, and of its own nature is very desirous of seed or copulation, or else being heated or enflamed with the pleasant motion of the man moving her thereto, doth at length unclose it selfe to receive the mans seed: for like-wise it happeneth many times that the orifice of the stomack being shut after eating, is presently unloosed again, when other delicate meats are offered to be eaten: even so may the wombe unclose it selfe againe at certain seasons, whereof come manifold issues, whose time of birth and also of conception are different. For as Pliny writeth, * 1.5 when there hath bin a little space between two conceptions, they are both hastened, as it appeared in Hercules and his brother Iphicles; and in her, which having two children at a birth, brought forth one like unto her husband, and another like unto the adulterer. And also in the Procomesian slave or bond-woman, who by copula∣tion on the same day brought forth one like unto her master, and another like unto his steward: and in another who brought forth one at the due time of childe-birth, and another at five moneths end. And againe in another, who bringing forth her burthen on the seventh moneth, brought forth two more in the moneths following. But this is a most manifest argument of superfoetation, that as many children as are in the wombe (unlesse they bee twinnes of the same sexe) so many secundines are