The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher: Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy
Philosophy
The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher: Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy
Human beings; Mind and body; Reproduction
The veins and arteries proceed both from the hypogastric and the
spermatic vessels, of which I shall speak by and by; all these are
inserted and terminated in the proper membranes of the womb. The
arteries supply it with food and nourishment, which being brought
together in too great a quantity, sweats through the substance of it,
and distils as it were a dew at the bottom of the cavity; from thence
proceed the terms in ripe virgins, and the blood which nourisheth the
embryo in breeding women. The branches which issue from the spermatic
vessels, are inserted on each side of the bottom of the womb, and are
much less than those which proceed from the hypogastrics, those being
greater and bedewing the whole substance of it. There are some other
small vessels, which arising the one from the other are conducted to the
internal orifice, and by these, those that are pregnant purge away the
superfluity of the terms when they happen to have more than is used in
the nourishment of the infant: by which means nature has taken so much
care of the womb, that during pregnancy it shall not be obliged to open
itself for passing away those excrementitious humours, which, should it
be forced to do, might often endanger abortion.
As touching the nerves, they proceed from the brain, which furnishes all
the inner parts of the lower belly in them, which is the true reason it
hath so great a sympathy with the stomach, which is likewise very
considerably furnished from the same part; so that the womb cannot be
afflicted with any pain, but that the stomach is immediately sensible
thereof, which is the cause of those loathings or frequent vomitings
which happen to it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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