78 EXAMINATION OF 



force of proofs, when they ftand in oppofition 

 to the general principles of his philofophy. 



The feminal liquor of the male, according to 

 Ariftotle, is fecreted from the blood ; and the 

 menftrual fluid of the female is likewife a fecre- 

 tion from the blood, and the only matter which 

 contributes to generation. Females, he conti- 

 nues, have no other prolific fluid ; no mixture, 

 therefore, of male and female fluid takes place : 

 This notion he attempts to prove by obferving, 

 that fome women conceive without pleafure; that 

 few emit any fluid during the time of copula- 

 tion ; that, in general, thofe who are brown, and 

 have a mafculine air, have no emiffion ; and yet 

 their povv^ers of procreation are not lefs than 

 thofe of a fairer complexion and more delicate 

 appearance, who emit copioufly. Thus, he 

 concludes, women furnifh nothing for the pur- 

 pofes of generation, but the menfl:rual blood. 

 This blood is the matter of generation, and the 

 male fluid contributes nothing but the form : 

 The male fluid is the eflicient caufe, and the prin- 

 ciple of motion; it is to generation what the 

 fculptor is to a block of marble : The feminal 

 fluid is the fculptor, the menfl:rual blood the 

 marble, and the foetus the figure. The men- 

 ftrual blood receives from the male femen a kind 

 of foul, which gives it life and motion. This 

 foul is neither material nor immaterial, becaufe 

 it can neither a(5t upon matter, nor augment the 

 menftrual blood, which is the only matter necef- 



fary 



