=_Tractatus de Hermaphroditis_:= =OR, A= =TREATISE= =OF= =HERMAPHRODITES,= =CONTAINING= I. A Description of the several Sorts of HERMAPHRODITES, and how the Law regards them in respect to Matrimony. II. Intrigues of HERMAPHRODITES and Masculine FEMALES, and of the outward Marks to distinguish them. III. The material Cause and Generation of HERMAPHRODITES, of unnatural BIRTHS, Generation of MONSTERS, extraordinary CONCEPTIONS, &c. =_LONDON_:= =Printed for E. CURLL _Fleet-street_.= =MDCCXVIII.= PREFACE. _Prefaces now a Days are rather Apologies for the Works to which they are prefix'd, than written for Instruction; and generally a ludicrous Scene is expected, if the Performance be of an airy Nature; or, if not, at least an introductory Specimen of what the Reader may hope for in the Body of the Work_. _I shall make no Apology for my Subject, notwithstanding an impudent Libeller has endeavour'd to load Authors and Publishers of Works of this Nature with the utmost Infamy; and herein I admire at the Front of the Fellow, to pretend to Chastise others for Writing only, when he practises a great deal more Iniquity than any Book extant can prompt him to, every Day that comes over his Head_. MY _Design in the following Sheets is meerly as an innocent Entertainment for all curious Persons, without any Views of inciting Masculine-Females to Amorous Tryals with their own Sex; and I am perswaded there will not be one single_ HERMAPHRODITE _the more in the World, on account of the publishing this_ TREATISE. IT _may be expected by some faithless Persons, that I should produce an_ HERMAPHRODITE _to publick View, as an incontestible Justification of there being Humane Creatures of this kind; but as I have no Authority to take up the Petticoats of any Female without her Consent, I hope to be excus'd from making such demonstrable Proofs; and if I had such a Power, the Sight might endanger the Welfare of some pregnant Female, whose Curiosity would spur her to a particular Examination_. _The Intrigues of my_ HERMAPHRODITES _are indeed very amazing, and as monstrous as their Natures, but that many Lascivious Females divert themselves one with another at this time in this City, is not to be doubted: And if any Persons shall presume to Censure my Accounts, grounded on a Probability of Truth, I shall be sufficiently reveng'd in proclaiming them, what my_ HERMAPHRODITES _are found to be in the Conclusion_--Old Women. _I confess, all Histories of extraordinary Conceptions from these Intrigues, or by Women without actual Copulation, are equally fabulous with those of the Engendring of Men: It would be as surprizing to find a Man with a teeming Belly, as to see a Woman increase there meerly by her own Applications_.