But neither sex makes these reflections till after
the action is over, considering nothing beforehand but the pleasure of
the enjoyment, so that it is from this voluptuous itch that nature
obliges both sexes to this congression. Upon which the third thing
followeth of course, viz., the emission of seed into the womb in the act
of copulation. For the woman having received this prolific seed into her
womb, and retained it there, the womb thereupon becomes depressed, and
embraces the seed so closely, that being closed the point of a needle
cannot enter into it without violence. And now the woman may be said to
have conceived, having reduced by her heat from power into action, the
several faculties which are contained in the seed, making use of the
spirits with which the seed abounds, and which are the instruments which
begin to trace out the first lineaments of the parts, and which
afterwards, by making use of the menstruous blood flowing to it, give
it, in time, growth and final perfection. And thus much shall suffice to
explain what conception is. I shall next proceed to show
SECT. II.--_How a Woman ought to order herself after Conception._
My design in this treatise being brevity, I shall bring forward a little
of what the learned have said of the causes of twins, and whether there
be any such things as superfoetations, or a second conception in a woman
(which is yet common enough), and as to twins, I shall have occasion to
speak of them when I come to show you how the midwife ought to proceed
in the delivery of the women that are pregnant with them.
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