* * * * * If a woman gives birth to something that has no face[138], the land will experience sorrow, that house will not prosper. If a woman gives birth to a weakling, that city[139] [will experience misfortune ?]. If a woman gives birth to a crippled being, the land will experience sorrow, that house [will not prosper]. If a woman gives birth to a deaf mute, the house will be shut in. * * * * * If a woman gives birth to a dwarf[140] of a half-shape, that city will be opposed. If a woman gives birth to a half-shaped being with bearded lips[141], talking[142], and that moves about, and has teeth[143]--hostility of Nergal, the crushing force of a powerful attack on the land, a god[144] will destroy, streets will be attacked, houses will be seized. One may question whether all of such monstrosities actually occurred, though they are all possible, if we add the factor of fancy to account for some of the descriptions. The conventional character of the interpretations and the constant repetition of the same prognostications likewise indicate the desire on the part of the =bârû=-priests to exhaust their medical knowledge of monstrosities and malformations that could occur, in order to swell the collections to the largest possible proportions. The first tablet of the series[145] of which an extract has just been given, begins with an enumeration of various animals to which a newly born infant bears a resemblance and which is expressed, similarly to what we found in the animal birth-omens, by the phrase that the woman gives birth to the animal in question. The series begins as follows: If a woman gives birth, and the offspring cries in the womb, the land will encounter sickness. If a woman gives birth, and the offspring cries in the womb and it is distinctly heard, a powerful enemy will arise and overthrow the land, destruction will sweep the land, the enemy will destroy the precious possession, or the master's house will be destroyed. If a woman gives birth to a lion, that city will be taken, the king will be captured. If a woman gives birth to a dog, the master of the house will die and that house will be destroyed, confusion, Nergal will destroy. If a woman gives birth to a pig, a woman will seize the throne. If a woman gives birth to an ox, the king of universal rule will prevail in the land. If a woman gives birth to an ass, the king of universal rule will prevail in the land. If a woman gives birth to a lamb, the ruler will be without a rival. If a woman gives birth to a Sâ[146], the ruler will be without a rival. If a woman gives birth to a serpent[147], I will surround the house of the master.