B. X.] THE HISTOBY OF ANIMALS. 285 



parts also partake, when they happen to be moist. So the 

 uterus becomes moist when employed, when it is of a more 

 moist disposition. Those that are in the best health suffer 

 from this affection, for which reason women always require 

 more or less attention, as also the mouth requires saliva. 

 In some this moisture is so abundant that they cannot 

 imbibe the seminal fluid of the man in a state of purity, 

 on account of its admixture with this uterine mois- 

 ture. 



4. Besides these affections, the following also is to be con- 

 sidered, whether, when they dream of sexual intercourse, their 

 general health is good or not, as whether they are weak, and 

 whether they are so always, or only sometimes, and whether 

 they are not sometimes strong, and whether they are dry at 

 first and moist afterwards ; for this ought to be the condition 

 of a woman capable of child-bearing ; for relaxation shows 

 that the body has been profuse of the seminal fluid, and 

 that it can perform its functions ; but when the uterus is 

 hard, it is a sign of debility. If a woman has this affection 

 without any disease, it shows that the emission takes place 

 naturally and as it ought to do. For if it were not so, there 

 would be disease and prostration oi strength. Sometimes, 

 when the uterus is dry and afterwards becomes moist, it is 

 a sign that the whole body receives and makes away with 

 the seminal fluid, and that both the uterus and the body are 

 strong; for it has been already observed that the uterus 

 absorbs the semen which is placed upon it by the process of 

 inhalation, for it is not emitted into it but upon the same 

 place as that of the man. All that takes by inhalation is 

 accompanied with force, so that it is plain that the body of 

 such a person must have the power of retraction. 



5. It sometimes happens that women who have lascivious 

 dreams, or men of strong passions, are robust not from strength 

 but from health. This takes place when a large quantity of 

 seminal fluid has been collected near the place from whence 

 they emit it. If this makes its escape, they are in no ways 

 debilitated ; for they are not relaxed by the loss of a 

 portion, if sufficient remains behind, or if that which was 

 emitted was useless, nor if it was emitted easily, as if they 

 parted with superfluous matter. For which reason such 

 persons are not robust from strength but from dullness. But 



