6o OF THE GENERATION 



examination of a great number of families, and a 

 multiplicity of evidence, that I could prevail on 

 myfelf to alter my former opinion, and to em- 

 brace what I now believe to be truth. But the 

 objedions which might occur concerning mulat- 

 toes, mongrels, mules, and particular parental 

 refemblances, inftead of oppofmg my theory, 

 I defpair not of being able to fhow that they 

 beftow on it an additional ftrength. 



In youth, the feminal fluid is lefs copious, but 

 more ftimulating. Its quantity continues to 

 augment till a certain age ; becaufe, in propor- 

 tion as we approach that age, the parts of the 

 body become more foiid, admit fewer nutritive 

 particles, fend back more of them to the com- 

 mon refervolrs, and, of courfe, augment the 

 quantity of the feminal fluid. Thus, if the ex- 

 ternal organs have not been ufed, middle-aged 

 men, or even old men, procreate with more eafe 

 than young men. This is evidently the cafe 

 with the vegetable tribes : A tree, the older it is, 

 produces the greater quantity of fruit. 



Young people, who, by forced irritations, de- 

 termine an unnatural quantity of this fluid into 

 the refervolrs prepared for its reception, imme- 

 diately ceafe to grow, lofe their flefli, and at lafl: 

 fall into confumptlons. The reafon is apparent: 

 They lofe, by premature and too frequent eva- 

 cu'itlons, the very fubfl:ance which Nature in- 

 tended for the nourifhraent and giowth of their 

 bodies. 



Men 



