286 THE HISTOEY OF ANIMALS. [B. X. 



when any part is emitted which is necessary for the body, 

 they become debilitated. 



6. If a person is in good health, and of a proper age, the 

 seminal fluid is rapidly formed This takes place in those 

 that have not done growing and in those that are grown. 

 Women rarely know when they are first pregnant ; for 

 they do not think that they have conceived unless they 

 perceive that the semen has been emitted, suspecting that 

 it ought to be emitted at the same time both by the fe 

 male and the male ; and it escapes their notice, more es 

 pecially when they think that they are unable to conceive, 

 unless they have become dry, and that which they have 

 received has disappeared entirely ; but it sometimes hap 

 pens that both the male and the female emit more than 

 could possibly disappear, and more than enough for concep 

 tion. When sufficient has been drawn in and much left 

 out, they become pregnant without knowing it. 



7. That it is possible that this should take place, and that 

 the affection does not arise from the whole of the seminal fluid, 

 we may learn from those animals which produce many young 

 ones from a single act of intercourse, or from the case of 

 twins produced by a single act. It is evident that they are 

 not produced from the whole semen, but each place receives 

 Borne portion of it, but the larger portion is left behind; and 

 if many young are produced from a single act of intercourse, 

 which appears to be the case with swine and with twins, it 

 is evident that the semen cannot come from every part of 

 the body, but it is divided out to each form. It is possible, 

 therefore, that it may be separated from every part of the 

 body, and that the whole may be divided among many, so 

 that it is not possible that all should have every part. The 

 female also projects her semen into the os uteri, where the 

 man also emits his, when he approaches her. From thence 

 she imbibes with inhalation as if it were with the mouth or 

 nostrils ; for whatever is not joined to the members is either 

 hollow above and united by a symphysis, or is sucked in from 

 this place by the act of inhalation. For which reason they 

 take care that it should be dry, as if this had happened before. 



8. The path along which it passes is thus formed in 

 women. There is a tube enclosed in the body like the penis 

 of the male. The inhalation takes place through this by 



