Aristotle's History of Animals: In Ten BooksAristotle
PhilosophyPhilosophy
Aristotle's History of Animals: In Ten Books
Aristotle
Zoology -- Pre-Linnaean works
3. Upon contact, the right and left side will be found to be alike,
and all the other parts in the same way; and in the act of copulation
moisture will be produced, not frequently nor in great abundance. This
affection is, as it were, a perspiration of the place, like the saliva,
which is frequently produced both in the use of food and in speaking.
Tears also are shed from the eyes, when we look upon brilliant objects,
and under cold or greater heat, of which these parts also partake,
when they happen to be moist. So the uterus becomes moist when
employed, when it is of a more moist disposition. Those that are in the
best health suffer from this affection, for which reason women always
require more or less attention, as also the mouth requires saliva. In
some this moisture is so abundant that they cannot imbibe the seminal
fluid of the man in a state of purity, on account of its admixture with
this uterine moisture.
4. Besides these affections, the following also is to be considered,
whether, when they dream of sexual intercourse, their general health is
good or not, as whether they are weak, and whether they are so always,
or only sometimes, and whether they are not sometimes strong, and
whether they are dry at first and moist afterwards; for this ought to
be the condition of a woman capable of child-bearing; for relaxation
shows that the body has been profuse of the seminal fluid, and that it
can perform its functions; but when the uterus is hard, it is a sign of
debility. If a woman has this affection without any disease, it shows
that the emission takes place naturally and as it ought to do. For if
it were not so, there would be disease and prostration of strength.
Sometimes, when the uterus is dry and afterwards becomes moist, it is
a sign that the whole body receives and makes away with the seminal
fluid, and that both the uterus and the body are strong; for it has
been already observed that the uterus absorbs the semen which is placed
upon it by the process of inhalation, for it is not emitted into it but
upon the same place as that of the man. All that takes by inhalation
is accompanied with force, so that it is plain that the body of such a
person must have the power of retraction.
5. It sometimes happens that women who have lascivious dreams, or men
of strong passions, are robust not from strength but from health. This
takes place when a large quantity of seminal fluid has been collected
near the place from whence they emit it. If this makes its escape, they
are in no ways debilitated; for they are not relaxed by the loss of a
portion, if sufficient remains behind, or if that which was emitted
was useless, nor if it was emitted easily, as if they parted with
superfluous matter. For which reason such persons are not robust from
strength but from dullness. But when any part is emitted which is
necessary for the body, they become debilitated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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