[305] 
^efcartes and Lancifci would in vain have looked 
out here for the Seat of the Soul, and the ‘^un^um 
Salims would prove very hard to be determined in 
this Foetus. But I do not now intend to inlarge 
upon it. The Bufinefs is to find fome plaufible Rea- 
fons about the Origin of thofe forts of Monfters I have 
now defenbed. 
The Opinions of moft of the Natural Philofophers 
on this head may, upon the main, be reduced to 
thefe two Hypothefes : i. That Monfters are ori- 
ginal, that is to fay, that even in Conception the 
Monfter is conceived. 2 . That they are not pro- 
duced but by Accident. One may conclude from 
what 1 have faid about double Monfters, that I be- 
lieved them accidental; and I believe, rigorouQy 
fpeaking, they are fo, whatever they be : For fup- 
pofing every Animalculum to be an Embryo created, 
I cannot imagine them to be created imperfed. 
Their Imperfedion, their Deformity, may proceed 
from a thoufand Accidents, either in the Refervoirs 
where they are contained, or- in the different 
Routs they are obliged to take going from Father to 
Son. In this Cafe it may eafily happen, that they 
are Monfters, even in the Moment of Conception, 
though they be fuch by Accident. To how many 
Accidents are they not fubjed afterwards in the 
Venter of the Females ? A Fall of the Mother, a 
ftrong Prefture, a Contufion, may diforder the 
nice and tender StrUdute of that little Creature fo 
far, that a great many of its Parts do not unfold 
themfelves any longer, are deftroyed, or have their 
Order and natural Situation intirely changed. 
The 
