The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. VI. Of monsters caused by defect of seed.

IF, on the contrary, the seed be any thing deficient in quantity, for the conformation of the infant or infants, some one or more members will be wanting, or more short and decrepite. Hereupon it happens that na∣ture intending twinnes, a childe is borne with two heads, and but one arme, or altogether lame in the rest of his limbes.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monstrous childe, by reason of the defect of the matter of seed.

Anno Dom. 1573. I saw at St. Andrewes Church in Paris, a boy nine yeeres old, borne in the village Parpavilla, sixe miles from Guise; his fathers name was Peter Re∣nard, and his mother, Marquete: hee had but two fingers on his right hand, his arm was well proportioned from the top of his shoulder almost to his wrest, but from thence to his two fingers ends it was very deformed, he wanted his leggs and thighes, although from the right but∣tocke a certaine unperfect figure, having onely foure toes, seemed to put it selfe forth; from the midst of the left buttock two toes sprung out, the one of which was not much unlike a mans yard, as you may see by the figure.

In the yeere 1562. in the Calends of November, at Villa-franca in Gascony, this monster, a headlesse woman, whose figure thou heere seest, was borne, which figure Dr. John Altinus the Physitian gave to mee when I went about this booke of Mon∣sters, he having received it from Fontanus the Physitian of Angolestre, who seri∣ously affirmed he saw it.

[illustration]

The figure of a monstrous woman without a head, before and behind.

A few yeeres agone there was a man of forty yeeres old to be seene at Paris, who although he wanted his armes, notwithstanding did indifferently performe all those things which are usually done with the hands, for with the top of his shoulder, head and necke, hee would strike an Axe or Hatchet with as sure and strong a blow into a poast, as any other man could doe with his hand; and hee would lash a coach-mans whip, that he would make it give a great crack, by the strong refraction of the aire: but he ate, drunke, plaid at cardes, and such like, with his feet. But at last he was ta∣ken for a thiefe and murderer, was hanged and fastened to a wheele.

Also not long agoe there was a woman at Paris without armes, which neverthe∣lesse did cut, sew, and doe many other things, as if she had had her hands.

We read in Hippocrates, that Attagenis his wife brought forth a childe all of flesh * 1.1 without any bone, and notwithstanding it had all the parts well formed.

[illustration]

The effigies of a man without armes, doing all that is usually done with hands.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monster with two heads, two legs, and but one arme.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sect. 2. lib. 2. epidem.