Aristotle's master-piece, or, The secrets of generation displayed in all the parts thereof ... very necessary for all midwives, nurses, and young-married women.

CHAP. V. Of Monsters, and monstrous Births, and the reason thereof, according to the Opinions of sundry Learned Men, with serious Conside∣rations, whether Monsters are endued with reasonable Souls.

THAT many monstrous Births have happened, contrary to the course of Nature, is evident, not only in this, but in former Ages; wherefore I shall take some pains, for the satisfaction of the Reader, to inquire into the cause of such preposterous Forms.

Now a monstrous Habit or Shape of Bo∣dy, is contracted divers ways, as from Fear, sudden Frights, extraordinary Passion, the influence of the Stars, the Mothers strange Imaginations, and divers Phantasms, which the Mind conceive, deform the Bo∣dy,

••nd render the ••hildren of an impro∣per shape, and many times not perfect in eit••e•• Sex; sometimes the whole course of Nature is changed, either when the Principles of Generation are vitiated, or the Organs unfit, so that the natural Facul∣ties, to propagate and form the Child, cannot perform their Office exactly; for as the most ingenious Artist can bring no∣thing to perfection, if his Materials be bad, or out of order, so Nature wanting the ••orce of her Faculties, or not having fit matter, must of necessity proceed prepo∣sterously in forming the Child. As in the Art of melting Metals, it may be observed, if the matter be impure, and not well cleansed, the Vessels or Receiver Oblique, and full of windings, not well joynted, the Corners set awry, and full of Chinks or Plates; if loosed or holds ill together, it is apparent Men cast ill-shaped Figures. So if the Womb or the Matter be unfit, or ill tempered, 'tis possible, without an ex∣traordinary over-ruling Providence; but above all, unseasonable or intemperate Venery, is the cause of so many monster∣ous shapes.

So the Low-Country Women, especial∣••y those living near the Sea ••ide, being ••estless, and troubled in Copulation, bring

forth mishapen Embry's, or rude and de∣formed Burthens, not only without moti∣on, but some that pant, and are alive, and these most commonly happen in case of Sailors or Mariners, who coming home, rashly marry, or run upon their Wives, without any due regard to their Menstrual Flux, or the Wombs cleansing it self to the Season of the Year, or the Moon, or Suns progress through the Coelestial Signs; nor are the Women without regard to the Health or Shape of their posterity, less de∣sirous to receive them, after a long separa∣tion, which is not only exceeding hurtful to themselves, from thence proceed not mon∣strous and untimely Births only, but dan∣gerous Diseases often, to those who rashly proceed. The first (say the Ancients) ••s, because the Seed mixing with Menstrual Blood, contracts an unnatural Mass of cor∣rupt Matter, which either turns to Mis∣carriage, Abortion, or a monstrous and deformed Birth; for by that means the Fa∣culty of the Womb (say they) looseth its force to Generation, and success of Breed∣ing the Child, or if it try to come to any thing, it is at most some monstrous Form, not shaped like a Man, unless in some parts, which after a long continuance in the Womb, will come forth with great pain

and labour, not like to this: there is an Efflux, that greatly troubles such, as by their inconsiderate rashness are subject to it.

Our Women, because Conception begins in the fourth Moon, when the Menses flow down by force, and that Planet in conjun∣ction, call it a Moon-Birth, or many kinds. And some are of opinion that this Concep∣tion, may be made without the help of a Man, by force of Imagination, in those that are extreamly Lascivious; for that by often seeing, and touching their Husbands, at the same time strongly fancying them∣selves in the Act, their Seed flows to the Blood, and is by the Heat of the Womb formed into a foul Mass, but arrives at no perfection. And to the same purpose is it when Men strive against the stream; en∣tring into Copulation in the fourth and si∣lent Moon, and in the fourth day of its Conjunction; for then not observing Na∣tures Rules, he either loseth his labour, or Generates a monstrous Birth, or if it change, which is almost next to a miracle to be perfect, it is by the Latins called a Birth of the fourth Moon, because the pro∣duct is commonly unhappy in all the Series of its Life, having had its entrance by Ge∣neration, contrary to Nature's Orders; which Moses considering, or being so com∣manded

by God, strictly commanded the Hebrew Men not to touch a Woman that was unclean of her Blood; and these that have been so rashly profligate of either Sex, have many times by sad experience, found their wilful folly too late, but especially the Female Sex; for by the violent con∣cussion and motion used in Copulation an•• evil Mixture, the contagion by degrees, will seize upon the whole Body, causing the Pox and Leprosie: The like effects it has upon Men, if the Woman be infected, e∣specially, if he deal with Whores at such times, who commonly are infected, and may be accounted, so many walking conta∣gions, or Emissaries of the Prince of Dark∣ness, for the Destruction of Mankind, and at this day the gr••••••••st pest and grievance of the Nation.

These things rightly considered, no Man need wonder at so many mis-shapen Births, and monstrous People, with Scald-Heads, bowed and distorted Legs, Arms, and Backs, wry-Necks, crumpled Feet, inci∣dent to Swellings, and indifferent Diseases, especially Swellings in the Groin, Buboes, and Emerods; as also that their Minds are dull, stupid, forge••ful, foolish, mad, and un••easonable, which are indeed the effects of unseasonable and unreasonable Venery,

which every Creature but Man observes in the Season Nature has alloted and when their Female have conceived, they desire no lnnger, but rest satisfied.

Therefore let Man, who is indued with a rational Soul, and ought above all other Creatures to have dominion over his Ap∣petite and Affection, consider how cruel he is to his Posterity, that brings such mischief upon them, and chiefly they are here to be understood, that are conceived in the fourth Moon, when the Woman's Natural Flux is upon her; therefore all Men ought to re∣strain; neither should the Woman dare to copulate with Men, as better knowing when that is upon her, than some rash inconside∣rate, and un-experienced Novices of the Masculine-Gender do; for the Children then conceived, want all, or most of those Gifts and Properties, that Children begot∣ten at seasonable times, are endowed with∣al, being capable of nothing that is good nor great; and if it so happen, they do any thing well, they have ill success in their Un∣dertaking•• by reason their natural Faculties are short, not by their own, but their Pa∣rents fault, who undecently in Procreation violate Natures Law, whence it is that many things are wanting to them, or else given them sparingly, and with some ill

qualities that others obtain bountifully, and then suffer no less loss in their Mind, for they want almost their common Senses, and are extream dull, without the sharp∣ness of Wit, quickness of Invention, Coun∣••il and Prudence, that others have. Lavi∣nus Leminus, a famous Physician, tells of a monsterous Birth from his own know∣ledge, the Relation of which I take in his words, as I find them in his B••ok of Ge∣neration: In former years (says he) there was a Woman, an Islander, who had mar∣ried a Mariner that took Physick of me; and af∣ter C••pulation, having C••nceived by him, h••r B••lly began to swell to such a vast magnitude, that one would have thought it c••uld not have held to support the bur••h••n: When 9 Months were expired, the M••dwife was called; and first with great troub••e she was delivered of a rude lump, which I conceive was a superfatati••n, after a lawful Con••ep••i∣on; there were fastned unto it on both ••ides two Handles like two A••ms, for the length and the fashion of them.; it pan••ed and seemed to be alive as Sea Fishes, called V••∣tica; and by the Dutch Els••howe, which float in the Sea in Summer, in infin••t•• num∣bers; and being taken out they run abro••d, and when you handle them, mel•••• wi••h a burning and prickling, left behind them;

whence they had their Name, after this a Monster came forth of her Womb, with a crooked Back, long round Neck, and fiery Eyes, and a pointed Tail, being very nimble footed; for as soon as it came forth it gave the affrighted Midwife the slip, and run up and down the Room to seek a hi∣ding place, till at last, one Woman more couragious than the rest, fell upon it with a Cusheon, and smothered it: This Monster had sucked the Blood from the Child, which came forth after it, being a Male, and so eaten the Flesh, that it scarcely lived to be Christened; nor could the Woman be in a long time restored to her strength: And farther adds, that upon his inquiry, she told him, that it had proceeded (as she thought) from unseasonable, and extraor∣dinary, and insatiable Venery: Hereupon (says he) I proscribed her a wholsom course of Life, and Medicines to restore her Forces; for she was become wonderful Lean.

These, and many such like things, should teach all Men aud Women to use decency, and orderly proceedings, in their mutuaul Embracings, lest Nature wronged thereby, monstrous Births ensue, in which respect some Lascivious People are much to be con∣demned, who suppose they may do what they list, and will by no means have their

Pleasure bounded; and above all, Pocky and Gouty People are most Lascivious, the one thro` the Heat contracted in the Blood, and the other through the polite windi∣ness passes through the Veins, and afflicts the Nerves; others again observe not, whe∣ther their Stomach be full or empty, or the Meat be raw or digested, whether it be by Day or Night, nay, never r••∣gard the season nor opportunity of time, but as their Lusts and Desires prompts them; but such insatiable Lechers seem to be, or at least are wilfully ignorant, to what end they were Created Male and Female, which was to beget Children, and propa∣gate their kind, not for obscene purposes, and beastly pleasure; but at last they pay for their unruly Lust, when the Disorders of Body, as Aches, Gout, and many Dis∣eases contracted thereby, Rack and Tor∣ment them.

The last thing in this Chapter to be con∣sidered is, whether monstrous Births have reasonable Souls, and whether such shall appear at the day of Resurrection; in dis∣cussing of which I shall cite the opinions of such Learned Divines and Physicians, as have made curious search, and diligently weigh∣ed these great Mysteries. And first, it is their opinion, not joyntly, but severally, that

all those that are like Men, according to the order of Generation, deduced from our primitive Parents, proceeded by natural means from either Sex, though they are ••eformed, and of monstruous shape, having notwithstanding a reasonable Soul, shall, when they have run the date of Mortality, be capable of Resurrection to Immortality: but those that proceed not from Man, but by the Womans unnaturally mixing with other Creatures, shall not participate of Immortality, but perish as brute Beasts, because such a monstruous Birth is not ca∣pacitated to receive a divine part or Soul, which should entail him to the Resurre∣ction.

There are indeed amongst the number of Men and Women, that read the Terre∣strial Globe, divers that are monstruously Deformed, and of horrid Aspect, with di∣storted Jaws, and Gogle Eyes, and many other marks of Deformity; but these, tho' by their p••rents rashness in incedent or un∣seasonable Copulation, or the defect of Na∣ture being thus disordered, yet are they referred to the number of Men and Wo∣men, because they speak, understand, and act, which demonstrate them to have rea∣sonable Souls; and therefore shall they stand upon the Earth at the last day, and at

the Resurrection all Deformity shall be done away, and they shall appear in per∣fect shape, and the Organical parts ren∣der the Soul, that shall then return a ••ree scope to act and operate; but imperfect and abortive Birth, or Mis∣chances, where the Limbs are not fashion∣ed or very imperfect, want a reasonable Soul, it not being as yet infused by the Al∣mighty, shall have no part in the Resur∣rection.

Many Physicians there are, and indeed most o•• them make difference between a Mischance and Abortion: The former of which, say they, is when there is a Con∣ception, but through the slipperiness or weakness of the Womb, it drops out e're any shape is contracted, being only a Rude unframed Mass, properly called the Rudi∣ments of a Child, that shhuld have been, and a shadow of what was begun; but Aborti∣on oft times shews the parts of the Infant perfectly composed, which if it be ca••t ••orth by fright or untimely force, and has not accomplished the days to receive the Soul, then it shall not participate of Im∣mortality; but if it be quick and cast out, though it live not an hour after, it is first enlivened, then it has received an Immor∣tal Soul; for although many things are

wanting in it, and it come not to its full Magnitude, yet in the Resurrection, all shall be made up, that time would have produ∣ced. And as Children have many things, in possibility, that with times progress shew themselves as Teeth, Nails, Hair, and full stature of Body, which increases by de∣grees, and come to perfection; so in the Resurrection, all things that are defective shall be made perfect. Whosoever there∣fore is both of the Seed of Man, and not of some foul Matter, or vitious Humour con∣curring, though his shape be monstrous, yet, as I said, he shall rise again from Death to Life•• all defects being repaired by the Divine Power, that then will manifest it self no l••ss than in Creation; nay more, for St. Austine is of the Opinion, it is easier to Crea••e Men, than to raise them when they are Dead, &c. Though the Earthly Matter, where ever scattered, is not perished in the sight of God, who can with his Word, recall it from the Four Winds of Heaven, and restore it to its pristine Vigour, nay, though vanished into Air, and other Elements, or what Lean∣ness or Hunger, have consumed, or Diseases have wasted, or what is burnt to Ashes, or is passed in the first Principles, or in the substance of some other Body, for the Flesh

shall be restored to whom it was taken, as his due that was borrowed from him, by the mighty working of him, who is able to subdue all things to himself: Those that are Men, shall find this to be true, and those monstrous Shapes that proceed from them, indued with rational Souls, and par∣ticipating the same Nature with them, shall participate the same Benefit of the Re∣surrection,