Mr. Lamy in his Anatomical Discourses, says, that the same necessity which obliges Plants after a set period of time to put forth the Seeds which give being to others, does likewise influence Animals at a certain Age to produce prolifick Seed, which he explains thus: The moisture of Infancy being consum’d by the overpowering Heat, the Blood is crouded with a greater number of Corpusculums qualified to nourish the Parts and repair their Losses, than there is occasion for; so that a great number of these nutritious Particles meeting with no reception in the respective Parts, return along with the Blood. The Head sends back such Particles as are proper for recomposing all the different Parts it is made of; and so do the other parts. Now all these various sorts of Particles being mix’d with the Blood, are strain’d through the Testicles; after which they rally and compose a Humour which is the sensible and corporeal part of the Seed of Man.
Seed is a very sweet Liquor when ’tis in a regular State, but when ’tis long under confinement, it turns perfectly sower, and causes very pernicious effects in both Male and Female. Men are harsher in their Tempers, and frequently attack’d with Vapours to a degree; and Women are thrown into a deplorable Condition, which will find no absolute Cure, till the stagnating Seed is evacuated by Marriage: The Seed mixing with the Blood breaks its Texture and changes its Consistence; so that by rendring it more serous, liquid and cold, and by flattening the Redness of the Blood, it makes the colour of the Skin less lively; and at length occasions the Virgins Distemper.
Monsieur Dionis is of opinion, that most of the Nuns and other Girls that are taken to be possess’d with Devils, were subject to Vapours only when they acted the awkward extravagancies that History is full of. And I have been inform’d by the learned Dr. C——n, and other eminent Physicians, that Vapours will so powerfully prevail in some Young Females, by a stagnation of the Seed, that they are oblig’d to prescribe extraordinary Remedies, and sometimes Friction to procure relief; and to prevent Convulsions, irregular Imaginations, &c. which would otherwise ensue, if not a perfect Lunacy for a time.
An early Marriage is the most effectual Preservative against the numerous Disorders proceeding from quantities of Seed unnaturally confin’d; and will render a perfect Health and Tranquility; unless it be in the case of Impotency; or in some Countries where a Man by tying a Knot upon his Codpiece, when the Priest pronounces such and such Words on the day of Marriage; lays claim to a right of preventing its Consummation: But if a Man cannot consummate his Marriage, you’ll always find it proceed from a natural Cause; and that the Devil has no hand in it.
To conclude my Subject of Generation, and the Parts employ’d therein: I shall here insert an Observation of St. Augustin. The Instruments of Generation (says he) are a call’d Pudenda, because they speak our Shame in this, that he who commands all the other Parts, cannot reduce these to Obedience.
FINIS.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
- Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling.
- Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed.