278 OF THE FORMATION 



But, we come nearer a folution of the quef- 

 tion, when we maintain, that, though the fluid 

 in the tefticles and feminal vefTels of the male 

 contain all the organic particles neceilary for the 

 formation of a male foetus, yet thefe particles 

 cannot receive any local eftablifhment or ar- 

 rangement of parts, becaufe a conftant circula- 

 tion of them goes on by means of abforption, 

 and by the perpetual fuccefTion of new fupplles 

 from ail pans of the body ; and that, as the 

 fame circulation of the organic particles takes 

 place in the female, neither of them can pof- 

 fibly multiply without the affiftance of the 

 other; becaufe, in the mixture of the male and 

 female fluids, the different organic particles of 

 which they confift have a greater affinity to 

 each other than they have to the body of the , 

 female where the mixture happens. But, thoagh 

 this explication were admitted, why, it may fkill 

 be aiked, does not the ordinary mode of gene- 

 ration correfpond with it ? For, upon this fup- 

 pofition, each individual would produce, and, 

 like fnails, mutually impregnate one another, 

 every individual receiving the organic particles 

 furniflied by the other, which, without being 

 injured by any foreign power, would unite folely 

 by the affinity between the particles themfelves. 

 If there were no other caufe by which the or- 

 ganic particles could be united, perhaps this 

 mode of generation would be the moft fimple. 

 But it is contrary to the analogy of Nature. 



Few 



