Aristotle's History of Animals: In Ten BooksAristotle
PhilosophyPhilosophy
Aristotle's History of Animals: In Ten Books
Aristotle
Zoology -- Pre-Linnaean works
9. Whatever conjecture is formed concerning these affections, it makes
to the same conclusion, that the woman also emits a seminal fluid.
The same things arise from the same cause, for to some it seems to be
the cause of disease or of death; and these consider the end at the
beginning as it ought to be considered; for to some women these are
important causes, to some of no importance; and of these causes some
are and some are not of consequence. They divide also in proportion the
consequences which may result from them. To some it happens to pass
through all these affections; to those who have many, through many of
them: others through few; and others, again, who have none, through
none of them.
10. There are some persons who suffer from the affection called
inflation. This ought not to be. The affection is of this kind. In
copulation they neither evidently emit semen, nor do they become
pregnant. Wherefore they are said to be inflated. The excessive dryness
of the uterus is the cause of this complaint; and when it has drawn
the fluid into itself, it ejects it again. This becomes dried up, and
having become small falls out, without any notice being taken of the
circumstance on account of its size. When the uterus is violently
affected in this way, and becomes very dry, and ejects it very soon,
it is plain that pregnancy cannot take place. If this does not take
place very soon, impregnation appears for a time to have taken place
until it is ejected. The same thing also takes place at times in those
who have conceived properly; if a long time has elapsed, the uterus
becomes elevated, so that it plainly appears as if impregnation had
taken place until it falls out. Then all becomes as it was at first.
They refer this affliction to a divine origin. It is curable, unless
it is natural, or the disease has gone a great way. It is a sign that
this disease is not present, when women appear neither to have emitted
semen, nor to have conceived after sexual intercourse.
CHAPTER IV.
1. Pregnancy is prevented also by spasm in the uterus. This complaint
attacks the uterus when it is either distended with inflammation,
or in the act of parturition. When any large quantity of matter
suddenly enters it, and the os uteri is not open, spasm then arises
from distension. It is a sign of the absence of spasm, if the uterus
does not appear to reach inflammation in its functions: whereas, if
spasm were present, there would be some signs of inflammation. Again,
a swelling at the mouth of the uterus, if it is much drawn out, will
prevent conception. It is a sign that this is not the case, when the
uterus appears to open and close properly after the discharge of the
catamenia, or the use of the male.
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