4^4 OFOLDAGE 



fitted to receive into its cavities a great quantity 

 of blood, in order botii to increafe its fize, and 

 to render it more rigid. In youth, this organ 

 is foft and flexible ; and, of courfe, it is eafily 

 extended by the impulfe of the blood. But, as 

 we advance in years, like every other part of 

 the body, it becomes more folid, and lofes its 

 flexibility. Hence, though the impulfe of the 

 blood were equal to what it was in youth, this 

 impulfe is unable to dilate an organ which has 

 become too denfe to adir^it blood in a quantity 

 fufHcient to produce an erection that will anfwer 

 the purpofes of generation. 



With regard to the change, or rather fterility 

 pf the feminal fluid, it cannot be prolific unlefs 

 when it contains organic particles tranfmitted 

 from every part of the body ; for we have al- 

 ready [hown *, that the produdlion of a fmall 

 organized being, fimilar to its parent, cannot be 

 effedted without the union of the organic par- 

 ticles fent from all parts of the body. But, in 

 very aged men, the parts have become too foiid, 

 and can neither receive, aifimilate, nor tranfmit 

 the nutritive and prolific particles. The bones 

 and other folids, therefore, cari neither produce 

 nor tranfmit organic particles correfpondent to 

 their own natures ; thefe particles mufl, of 

 courfe, he wantinr; in the feminal fluids of old 

 men ; and this delc<il is fuflicienl to render them 

 incapable of generatijig. 



Bitr, 



* Sec above, ck. 2. 3. S^c. 



