But the manner of conception is this; the most spirituous
part of the man's seed, in the act of copulation, reaching up to the
ovarium or testicles of the woman (which contains divers eggs, sometimes
fewer) impregnates one of them; which, being conveyed by the oviducts to
the bottom of the womb, presently begins to swell bigger and bigger, and
drinks in the moisture that is so plentifully sent hither, after the
same manner that the seed in the ground suck the fertile moisture
thereof, to make them sprout.
But, notwithstanding what is here urged by modern anatomists, there are
some late writers of the opinion of the ancients, viz., that women both
have, and emit seed in the act of copulation; and even women themselves
take it ill to be thought merely passive in the act wherein they make
such vigorous exertions; and positively affirm, that they are sensible
of the emission of their seed in that action, and that in it a great
part of the delight which they take in that act, consists. I shall not,
therefore, go about to take away any of their happiness from them, but
leave them in possession of their imaginary felicity.
Having thus laid the foundation of this work, I will now proceed to
speak of conception, and of those things which are necessary to be
observed by women from the time of their conception, to the time of
their delivery.
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