The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2 — John Shaqi
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
Nor need any man to question this in Hares, for the same we observe doth
sometime happen in Women; for although it be true, that upon conception
the inward orifice of the matrix exactly closeth, so that it commonly
admitteth nothing after; yet falleth it out sometime, that in the act of
coition, the avidity of that part dilateth it self, and receiveth a
second burden; which if it happen to be near in time unto the first,
they do commonly both proceed unto perfection, and have legitimate
exclusions, periodically succeeding each other. But if the superfetation
be made with considerable intermission, the latter most commonly proves
abortive; for the first being confirmed, engrosseth the aliment from the
other. However therefore the project of _Julia_ seem very plausible, and
that way infallible, when she received not her passengers, before she
had taken in her lading, yet was there a fallibility therein: nor indeed
any absolute security in the policy of adultery after conception. For
the Matrix (which some have called another Animal within us, and which
is not subjected unto the law of our will) after reception of its proper
Tenant, may yet receive a strange and spurious inmate. As is confirmable
by many examples in _Pliny_; by _Larissæa_ in _Hippocrates_ and that
merry one in _Plautus_ urged also by _Aristotle_: that is, of _Iphicles_
and _Hercules_, the one begat by _Jupiter_, the other by _Amphitryon_
upon _Alemæna_ as also in those super-conceptions, where one child was
like the father, the other like the adulterer, the one favoured the
servant, the other resembled the master.
Now the grounds that begat, or much promoted the opinion of a double sex
in Hares, might be some little bags or tumours, at first glance
representing stones or Testicles, to be found in both sexes about the
parts of generation; which men observing in either sex, were induced to
believe a masculine sex in both. But to speak properly, these are no
Testicles or parts official unto generation, but glandulous substances
that seem to hold the nature of Emunctories. For herein may be perceived
slender perforations, at which may be expressed a black and fæculent
matter. If therefore from these we shall conceive a mixtion of sexes in
Hares, with fairer reason we may conclude it in Bevers; whereof both
sexes contain a double bag or Tumour in the groin, commonly called the
Cod of _Castor_, as we have delivered before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account