28& THE HISTOEY OF ANIMALS. [B. X. 



taken place until it falls out. Then all becomes as it was 

 at first. They refer this affliction to a divine origin. It is 

 curable, unless it is natural, or the disease has gone a great 

 way. It is a sign that this disease is not present, when 

 women appear neither to have emitted sernen, nor to have 

 conceived after sexual intercourse. 



CHAPTER IV. 



1. PREGNANCY is prevented also by spasm intheuterus. This 

 complaint attacks the uterus when it is either distended with 

 inflammation, or in the act of parturition. When any large 

 quantity of matter suddenly enters it, and the os uteri is 

 not open, spasm then arises from distension. It is a sign of 

 the absence of spasm, if the uterus does not appear to reach 

 inflammation in its functions : whereas, if spasm were pre- 

 sent, there would be some signs of inflammation. Again, a 

 swelling at the mouth of the uterus, if it is much drawn out, 

 will prevent conception. It is a sign that this is not the 

 case, when the uterus appears to open and close properly 

 after the discharge of the catamenia, or the use of the male. 

 2. In some, also, the os uteri is closed, either from the period 

 of birth, or in consequence of disease. Sometimes this is 

 curable, and sometimes not so. It is not, however, diffi- 

 cult to ascertain the state of the case, for it is not possible 

 either to receive or to emit anything in a proper manner. 

 If it appears to have received and rejected the seminal fluid 

 of the male, it is an evidence of the presence of the disease. 

 But those who have no impediment in the way of concep- 

 tion, but are, as it has been said, as they ought to be, unless 

 the man is impotent, or they are not able to have children 

 together, being unable to emit their semen at the same 

 time, and differ very much, such persons will have no chil- 

 dren. 



CHAPTER V. 



IN order to understand of sterility in the male, we must 

 take other symptoms. These will appear very easy, if he 

 copulates with other women, and impregnates them. When 

 the sexes do not appear to concur with each other, although 

 all the before-mentioned circumstances are present, they do 

 not nave children together. For it is evident that this is the 



