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ANd here also we must speake of Hermaphrodites, because they draw the cause of their generation and conformation from the plenty and abun∣dance of seed, and are called so because they are of both sexes, the wo∣man yeelding as much seed as the man. For hereupon it commeth to passe that the forming faculty (which alwaies endeavours to produce
something like it selfe) doth labour both the matters almost with equall force, and is the cause that one body is of both sexes.
Yet some make foure differences of Hermaphrodites; the first of which is the male Hermaphrodite, who is a perfect and absolute male, and hath onely a slit in the Perinaeum not perforated, and from which neither urine nor seed doth flow. The second is the female, which besides her naturall privity, hath a fleshy and skinny si∣militude of a mans yard, but unapt for erection and ejaculation of seed, and wanteth the cod and stones; the third difference is of those, which albeit they beare the ex∣presse figures of members belonging to both sexes, commonly set the one against the other, yet are found unapt for generation, the one of them onely serving for making of water: the fourth difference is of those who are able in both sexes, and through∣ly performe the part both of man and woman, because they have the genitalls of both sexes compleat and perfect, and also the right breast like a man, and the left like a woman: the lawes command those to chuse the sexe which they will use, and in which they will remaine and live, judging them to death if they be found to have departed from the sexe they made choice of, for some are thought to have abused both, and promiscuously to have had their pleasure with men and women. There are signes by which the Physitians may discerne whether the Hermaphrodires are able in the male or female sexe, or whether they are impotent in both: these signes are most apparent in the privities and face; for if the matrix be exact in all its demen∣sions, and so perforated that it may admit a mans yard, if the courses flow that way, if the haire of the head bee long, slender, and soft, and to conclude, if to this tender habite of the body a timide and weake condition of the minde be added, the female sexe is predominant, and they are plainely to bee judged women. But if they have the Perinaeum and fundament full of haires (the which in women are commonly without any) if they have a yard of a convenient largenesse, if it stand well & readily, and yeeld seed, the male sexe hath the preheminence, and they are to be judged men. But if the conformation of both the genitalls be alike in figure, quantity, and effica∣cy, it is thought to be equally able in both sexes: although by the opinion of Aristo∣tle, those who have double genitals, the one of the male, the other of the female, the one of them is alwaies perfect, the other imperfect. * 1.1
Anno Dom. 1486. In the Palatinat••, at the village Robach, neere Heidelberg, there were twinnes, both Hermaphro∣dites, borne with their backs sticking together.
The same day the Venetians and Genoeses entred into league, there was a monster borne in Italy having foure armes and feet, and but one head; it lived a little after it was baptized. Iames Ruef a Helvetian Chirurgian saith hee saw the like, but which besides had the privi∣ties of both sexes, whose figure I have there∣fore here set forth.
Lib. 4. de gener∣anim. cap. 5.