148 SEX OF THE FCETUS. 



383. The old women say that if the first conception takes place 

 during the waxing of the moon it will produce a boy, but if in the 

 wane the woman will on the contrary be delivered of a girl; others 

 equally skilful admit that the child will be of the same sex with the 

 last one the mother bore, provided the moon did not change within 

 three days after that confinement; finally, some accoucheurs, freely 

 trusting to chance, ascertain first what the family or the lady most 

 desire, and very good naturedly promise what is wanted. It is best 

 in my opinion to pursue just the contrary course: if a girl is wanted, 

 promise a boy and vice versa. The reason of this is, that if you 

 are deceived, the woman, happy to have the sex she longed for, 

 readily forgives your mistake, and is satisfied to laugh at your pre- 

 tended skill. If it turns out as you promised, on the other hand, 

 the parents are compelled in spite of their disappointment to pro- 

 claim your cleverness. 



384. Here is, besides, another unfaihng method: as our ances- 

 tors performed so many miracles with the moon, we may also make 

 a small trial of the power of this wonderful planet. If obliged to de- 

 clare the sex of the foetus before its birth, we may content ourselves 

 with asserting that it will be like the last child, provided the moon 

 does not change within the first nine days of the lying in, and that 

 the contrary will happen in the other event: now if the event should 

 confirm the sentence, nothing more is wanting; but if on the con- 

 trary it should be of the sex that was not expected, all we have to 

 do is to go back and see that the reckoning had been badly made, 

 that if the moon has not changed her nature, she has at least changed 

 her phase, which amounts to the same thing; any body may see that 

 in this way error cannot occur, for the lunar phases recur every 

 seven days. There is perhaps a little tricking in this course of pro- 

 ceeding; but provided no more weight is given to it than it really 

 deserves, we may, in acting thus, satisfy every body and do no harm 

 to any one. 



§. II. Is it possible to procreate either sex at 

 pleasure? 



385. The desire of knowing before hand the sex of the foetus has 

 given rise to one of the most piquant questions in physiology. It 

 has been asked whether man can by means of known influences 

 determine the production of one sex rather than the other; and this 

 point in the science, which was discussed in the time of Hippo- 

 crates, still engages the attention of several naturalists. 



386. Relying, we scarcely know on what, unless it be upon 

 the grand idea that the strongest side belongs to the strongest being, 



