CHAP. XXVI. Of Womens Stones.
NOw the Stones of Women, though* 1.1 as to their use, they partly agree with those in Men; yet in many things respecting their structure, they differ from them. And
- 1. in respect of their Situation; which they have within in the Cavity of the Belly, two fingers breadth above the bottom, in such as are not with Child, and are knit by means of certain Ligaments above the same: viz. to the end they might be hotter, and* 1.2 consequently more fruitful; since they were to work a matter of which alone Mankind was to be generated, the seed of the man being added not as a mate∣rial, but an efficient Cause.
- 2. In Magnitude, which is not so great in women as in men, unless very seldom. For by reason of the en∣crease of Heat, they are contracted after a woman is past fourteen, whereas they are before that time disten∣ded more largely being full of a white Juyce.
- 3. In their external Surface which is more uneven, then that of a mans stones.
- 4. In Figure, which is not so round, but broad and flat on the fore and hinder-parts. Also the stones are within more hollow, and more full of spermatick moi∣sture.
- 5. In Substance which some conceive to be harder then that of mens stones, but others conceive, and that more truly, that it is softer, and if you take off the Membrane, you shall find them conglomerated or knobbed together of divers little Kernels and Blad∣ders, but seldom like those of men. In some great sea∣fish, there is no difference of the stones of the Males and Females, in substance, but only in the size.
- 6. In Temperament, which is commonly accounted more cold, and that the seed contained in them, is more moist, thin, and waterish.
- 7. In Coats. For they are covered with one only Coat, because they are otherwise in a close place. And that Coat sticks exceeding strongly to them, and is by Galen termed Dartos. Howbeit, where the stones re∣ceive the seminal Vessels, they are covered half over with the Peritonaeum.
- 8. In Connexion; for they are knit unto the womb by two manifest passages, or rather the one of them is an obscure one, out of which during carnal Copulati∣on, there is shed, not a wheyish substance, but the wo∣mans seed.
Their Use is to make seed which helps to generate after its way and manner: which Aristotle against all Reason and Experience, was bold to deny to women, in some places of his Writings, contrary to the express Doctrine of Hippocrates de Genitura, where he tells us that women also send forth seed out of their Bodies, somtimes into their womb, whereby it is moistned, and somtimes without, if the Orifice thereof do gape over much. Now that in the Womb it helps to the Gene∣ration, he thereby demonstrates, in that if after Copu∣lation. The woman shal not conceive, the seed which they have both of them voided, does flow out of the womb. But some other Anatomists deny that these stones do make seed. But they will have them to be meet Kernels, to receive that moisture which needs a∣bound in the womb, which is the Opinion of Cremoni∣nus; or that they are only made for a mark and sign, which was the Conceits of Rhodiginus, and of Hofman since him, who account them rather Carcasses of stones then true stones, because they are small, void of Juyce, and uncompact. But as for what concerns Humidity we deny that Argument, and say 1. That there was no need of so much preparation to water the womb. One Vessel gently carrying a wheyish Humor, might have served that turn, yea the Pores alone might have sufficed, as it is well known to happen in a clammy hu∣mor distilling into the Knee. 2. They may answer both Intents, viz. Generation and Irrigation. 3. Ex∣perience tells us that seed and no other humor hath is∣sued out of the stones of women being dissected. Guin∣terius was hindred in his Dissection, by the plentiful e∣ruption thereof. The nocturnal pollutions of women testifie the same, and women became barren, when in ancient times they were guelded or spayed, Witness Athenaeus. Galen experimented the same in Sows. Var∣ro writes that Cows being guelt, do conceive if they go to Bull presently after. 4. The said seed is found in the Dissections of women, if they are lusty and free from D••••ases▪ In them and in Women with Child, Beslerus ha•…•…und the stones swelling with seed, which