Anatomical exercitations concerning the generation of living creatures to which are added particular discourses of births and of conceptions, &c. / by William Harvey ...

The Efficient cause of the Chicken, is hard to be found out. (Book 49)

EXER. XLIX. (Book 49)

THe disquisition of the Efficient is exceeding difficult; (as we have said) and that the rather, because so many names are attributed to it. Whereupon Aristotle doth recount very many effi∣cient causes of Animals: And many controversies are risen amongst authors; chiefly, between Phy∣sitians and Aristotelians, who contend very earnest∣ly about it; endeavouring by different opinions to explain both the Efficient cause, and the man∣ner of its Efficiency.

And indeed the Omnipotent Creator, doth in none of his works more manifestly reveale the presence of his Deity, then in the Fabrick and Structure of Animals. And though it be a known thing, sub∣scribed by all, that the foetus assumes its original and birth from the Male and Female, and conse∣quently that the Egge is produced by the Cock and Henne, and the Chicken out of the Egge: yet neither the Schools of Physitians, nor Aristo∣tles discerning Brain, have disclosed the manner, how the Cock and its seed, doth mint and coine the Chicken out of the Egge. For it is evident e∣nough, by what we have delivered, concerning the Generation of Oviparous Animals, and others, that neither the Opinion of Physitians, deducing Generation from the mixture of the Seeds of both Sexes, nor Aristotles neither, establishing the seed of the Male for the Efficient, and the Menstruous Blood for the material Cause, are to be embraced:

because that neither in Coition, nor presently up∣on Coition, any thing doth part from the Female into the Cavity of the Uterus; out of which, as out of the Matter, any thing relating to the Foetus should be suddenly produced: nor doth the Ge∣niture of the Male (whether it be animate it self, or an animate Instrument) enter into the Womb, or is attracted thither, or any where else reser∣ved in the Female, but doth either vanish, or retract: nor is there any thing else to be found in the Uterus presently after Coition, which issu∣ing either from the Male or Female, may be fan∣sied to be the Matter or Original of the future Foe∣tus. Nor is the Cocks seed surviving in Fabricius his Pouch, or any where else in the Henne; that thence, either by the irradiation and influence of spiritual substance, or by contact the egge is made, or a Chicken out of the Egge. Nor doth the Hen contribute any other seed, then the Papulae, the Yolk, and the Egge. And therefore the contem∣plation is rendered more intricate by our Obser∣vations; because by them all those suppositions, upon which both the other opinions were sup∣ported, are thrown down to the ground. But especially, when we shall anon demonstrate, that all Animals are alike generated out of an Egge; and that in Coition (whether of Viviparous, Brutes, or Men) no Seed or Blood, proceeding from ei∣ther Male or Female, is entertained in the Hollow of the Womb, or drawn up thither before Coition, or in Coition, or after Coition is found in the Womb, which may be conceived to be the Matter Efficient, or Principle of the future Foetus.

Daniel Sennertus, a late learned Man, and a careful Inquirer into Nature, having first ballanced other mens opinions, attempts at last to resolve

the business; concluding that the Soul is in the Seed, and that it is the very same Soul with that, which afterwards informs the Infant: so that he makes no scruple to affirm that the Rational soul of man, is present in his Seed: and that therefore the Egge possesses the Soul of the Chicken: and that the soul is conveied with the Seed into the Womb of the Female: and from that seed of both Sexes conjoyned (as one flame to another) but not mix∣ed (for mixture, saith he, respects things of di∣verse Species) but indowed with a soul, a perfect Animal doth result. And therefore, saith he, the Seed of both Sexes is required, both to the consti∣tution of an Infant, and of an egge. And thus, (like one that had subdued all difficulties) He conceives, he hath delivered a certain and per∣spicuous Truth.

But, granting that there is a Soul in the egge, and that soul united and made up of the souls of the Pa∣rents, and sometimes proceeding from Parents of of several kinds, as from a Mare and an Ass, from a Dunghil-Hen and a Cock-Pheasant; and that it is not Mixed, but United; and that the Chicken (after the manner of the Seed of Vegetables) is made by that efficient soul, being afterwards pre∣served by it, all its life long: so that it be coun∣ted absurd to affirm, that the foetus is cherished by one soul out of the Uterus, or egge; and by ano∣ther in the Uterus or egge: suppose, I say, we grant all this (though it be invalid, and doubtful) yet our History of the Generation out of the Egge, doth utterly subvert, and confute as false the very foun∣dation and basis upon which all his doctrine leans, and relies: Which is this, That the egge is con∣stituted of the Seed of Cock and Hen: or, that the seed is transmitted from both into the Uterus: or

that the foetus, or any part of it is formed of the seed so entertained by the womb, or cast into it: or, that the seed of the Cock (as an Ef∣ficient cause, or Operatour) is any where reserved in the Hen, which (as he conceives) draws matter and nutriment from her into the Womb, to support the foetus which it hath made. For the conditions which he himself according to Aristotle reputes necessary, will be found wanting: namely, that the foetus ought to be made of that which actually is in being, and doth pre-exist: and that the Chic∣ken is nourished by that which is present with it, and in the same place where it self is first consti∣tuted: As also, that it should be made by that which doth operate being immediately conjoyned to it; and ought to be the same thing, by which the chicken is preserved, and augmented all its life-time. For the cocks seed (whether Animate, or Inanimate, it matters nothing) is not at all in the Egge, not in the Uterus, present, and conjoy∣ned; nor in the matter whence the chicken is fra∣med, as neither in the Chicken it self now begun, that so it may either frame, or perfect it.

He miscarries likewise, when he goes about to illustrate his opinion concerning the Animal seed, by allusion to that of Plants, and Mast: because he did not understand the difference alledged by Aristotle, between the Geniture proceedings by coi∣tion, and the first conception made out of both Sexes; nor did observe that an egge might be first conceived in the Cluster of the Vitellary (without the translation of any Geniture from Male and Fe∣male into the Uterus.) Nor did he apprehend that the Uterus, even for some time after Coition, is quite void of any matter at all, either transmit∣ted from the Parents, or made by Coition, or oc∣casioned

any other way. Nor had he read, or at least observed Fabricius his experiment; namely, that after some Coitions of the Cock, the Hen may be so fructified, that from that time for the whole succeeding year she may lay all Prolifical Egges: though she have not in the interim conversed with the cock, whereby each particular egge might re∣ceive fecundity; nor yet retained so long the seed she formerly received.

This is agreed upon by universal consent; that all Animals whatsoever, which arise from Male and Female, are generated by the coition of both Sexes; and so begotten as it were per contagium aliquod, by a kind of contagion. In like manner as Physitians observe, that contagious diseases (as the Leprosie, the Pox, the Plague, and Pthisick) do propagate their infection, and beget themselves in bodies yet sound and untoucht, meerly by an extrinsecal contact; nay sometimes onely by the breath, and per 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by inquination; and that at a distance, through an inanimate medium, and that medium no way sensibly altered. So that, that which had the first touch, begets an Univocal like it self, not as touching at this instant, nor yet now actually in being, nor as present, or con∣joined, but meerly because it once hath touch∣ed. Of so great operation and energy is Contagi∣on. And perhaps the same thing obtains in the Generation of Animals. For Fishes egges, which acquire their growth abroad at their own dispose, without any Male-seed, (and therefore do with∣out all doubt live without it) being besprinkled with the Males prolifical milkey substance, and on∣ly tinctured from without, do generate fishes. Tis not, I say, an intromission, or intimate reception of the masculine seed into each particular egge,

which sets it a work about the fabrick of bodies, or introduces the soul, but a bare contact. Where∣upon Aristotle calls lac maris, the Males milk, or * 1.1 genital seed cast into water, sometimes genital, and propagating liquor: and sometimes Vital Ve∣nom. For saith he, The Masculine fish sprinckles the egges with genital seed, and those egges which that Vitale Virus, Vital or quickning Venom touches, out of them are born fishes. It being therefore laid down as an undoubted principle, that the foetus is made by Contagion, there will a weighty doubt arise; namely, how bare Contagion can be the author of so great a work? and how the parents can by that generate issues like themselves; or the males seed produce an Univocal like that creature from which it proceeded? since after contact it bids a∣dieu, and is no longer in being, or touching, or present at all, but clean corrupted, and a Non-ens. How, say I, can a Non-ens act? or a Non-tangens erect a fabrick like it self? or that which is dead it self, impart a life to another thing, and meerly upon this account, that the time was when it did touch.

For Aristotles argumentation seems false, or * 1.2 lame at least, where he contends: That Generation cannot be without an Agent and a Patient: and those things cannot act and suffer, which do not mutually touch each other: but those things do mutually touch, which having each their particular magnitude and place apart, have their extremities meeting one another.

But since the case is plain, that Contagion (where the things touch not, nor have their extremities kissing one another) can destroy living creatures, what should hinder, but that it should be as pow∣erful, to conduce to the life and generation of ani∣mals.?

The Efficient in an Egge, by a plasti∣cal vertue (because the male did but onely touch, though he now be far from touching, and have no extremity reached out towards it) doth frame and set up a foetus in its own species and resem∣blance. And this author of fecundity, this peir∣cing power is translated through so many mediums or instruments, that one cannot pattern it, neither by that mutation procured by instruments (as in the productions of Art) nor by Aristotles Automa∣ta, nor our Clocks or Watches; nor by the instance of a King in his own dominions, where his com∣mand is every where a law; nor can you ratifie this our doctrine, by introducing a soul into the seed or geniture.

And hereupon many controversies, and pro∣blemes are started concerning the attractive pow∣er of the Load-stone and Jet: concerning Sympathy, and Antipathy, concerning Poyson, and the con∣tagion of pestilential diseases: concerning Alexi∣pharmacal Medicines, and such as cure or kill from an occult (or rather ignote) quality and propriety: all which seem to execute their pleasures without any touching. And chiefly this. What is there in generation, that by a momentany touch (nay not touching at all, unlesse through the sides of many mediums) can orderly constitute the parts of the Chicken by an Epigenesis, and produce an Univo∣cal creature, and its own like? and for no other reason, but because it touched heretofore. How, I say, can that which is not present, and did one∣ly touch outwardly, constitute, orderly dispose and limne all the members of the Chicken, in an egg which is now exposed to the wide world, and of∣tentimes transported a great way off. For nothing can make and generate it selfe into anothers like∣ness.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hist. an. l. 6. c. 13.
• * 1.2

  de gen. an. l. 1. c. 6.