CHAP.VII.Of the Formation of theEMBRYO.
THEspirituous Substanceof bothSeeds, by its own generative and activeQualities, in a well disposedWomb, produceth a smallConsistencewithin the Space ofSeven Days, call’d theGenitura; which contains three[13]Bullæ(so term’d byPhysicians) superlativelyMinute, design’d for thethree Spermatick Members: Theonecontaining the purer Part of theSeed, full ofVital Spirit, for theHeart; theother, the more thick and pinguid Part, full ofNatural Spirit, for theLiver; and thethird, the more cold and crude Part, full ofAnimal Spirit, for theBrain.
ACCORDINGto[14]Hippocrates’s Definition of theGenitura, it appears thelikestof any Thing to a raw immatureEgg, inclosing a certain redLiquor, with some pale-colour’dFibres, of the finestContexture, not unlike theFilamentsof a smallSpider’s Web, wrap’d up with the said red thickBloodin thePellicule.
BUTin this place I must farther observe, that the abovesaidspirituous Substance, in which the effective Virtue ofConceptionresides, is endued withfourdistinctFaculties, which perfect asmanydifferentOperations, all subordinately effected in theConstitutionof theConception,viz.
I.THEanimatïveorvivificatingFaculty of theMenstruum, called by some the firstConstitutive FacultyofConception, operating, as above, inSeven Days; which is otherwise term’d the Time ofSpumification,Lactation, orCoagulation.
II.THEseparativeorsevering Facultyof the Parts of the grosserMaterialsof theConception, destinated for the respectiveConstitutionof the differentOrganical Members; which, being the Work of the nextEightorTen Days, is perfected about the 15th or 17thDayfromConception; and this is called the Time ofLineationorRamification, when theGeniturareceives the Name ofEmbryo.
III.THEcollocativeorordinating Facultyof all the severed material Parts of the differentMembers, disposing and placing them according to theLaw of Nature, in due Order, Figure, and Situation; which, happening the following[15]TwelveorFifteen Days, about the 27th or 32d Day fromConception, is called the Time ofCarnification; when the Embryo receives the Name ofFoetus.
NOWaccording to the Maxims ofAstrology, as allinferiour Bodiesare govern’d and influenced bySuperiours, so theSeven Planetshave Dominion over theMan, not only from the Day ofBirth, but also from the Moment ofConception; yet notAllat one and the same Time, but everyonein theirOrder, reigning each itspeculiar Month. According to which Principles,Saturnreigns thefirstMonth, suppeditating the humid and liquidSubstanceof theGenituraandEmbryo, through his frigid and siccidQuality’sdueCoagulationfor generating theMan; by virtue of whoseSiccitytheuterine Retentionsalso happen.
IV.THEformativeandfigurating Facultyof all theMembersof the Body, imparting their respectiveShape,Figure, and naturalForm, to every particularone; which being the Work of the nextEighttoEighteen Days, is perfected about the 35th, to the 50th Day fromConception, and is called the Time ofcoarticulate Formation, when theFoetus, orCyema, is stil’dInfant.
ANDin this, thesecond Month,Jupiteris supposed to exert his Power in theSeed, by his calid and humidQualities; and thereby to vivify theSpirits, strengthen theMembers, and give Augmentation and Growth to the wholeFoetus: So that theinterior Membersare not[16]only conspicuous, but alsoLegsandArmsappear perfectly delineated, and are (at this time) distinctlyvisible; when also theHeadtakes its Distance from theShoulders, theArmsfrom theSides, and theLegsare plainly parted.
BUT, however, the above-mention’dFour remarkable Timesmay be also thus distinguished;viz.Thefirstperfects the Work ofSpumificationandCoagulation; thesecondtheVegetative; thethirdtheSensitive; and thefourthbegins theRational Operation: Altho’thiscannot yet be discern’d, because of theRedundancyofHumours.
FROMthe beginning of thisChapter, ’tis evident that the morenoble, orthree chief Partstake thefirst beginningtoFormation, tho’ perhaps lastperfected, which forthwith distribute their respectiveBranchesto the wholeBody; as theHeartsends forth theArteries, theLivertheVeins, and theBraintheSpinal Marrow, with all their otherDependencies: And according toAristotle, (who says,there must be a differentMatterto every differentForm); So indeed every distinctPartof the Body isform’dof a different Substance, according to the differentNatureand singularDispositionof every particularPart.
HOWEVER, I shall not here pretend to go much farther in describing theFormation, it being more thePhilosopher’sthan thePhysician’sBusiness: But whatever farther Progressothersmay attempt, I judge it a most difficult and ambiguous Matter; for who can be so well vers’d in thoseIndiscoverables? Or, who can pretend to know sufficiently what is done in thoseObscurities? TheSeries of Naturebeing profounder than ourUnderstandings, is consequently above our nicest and exactestScrutinies: Which Consideration makes me astonished at theLogical Dissertationsthat some Men offer on thesePrinciples, even on the most minuteParticles, and smallestProportions, rashly and inconsiderately assigning every respectiveoneof these, aprecise definite Timefor theirFormation.
IHAVEoften been inclin’d to think, that suchSciolistshave not read, or at least not consider’d the Words of the[17]Preacher;As thou knowest not what is the Way of theSPIRIT,nor how the Bones do grow in the Womb of her that is with Child; even so thou knowest not the Works ofGODthat maketh all. Neither do I find that the wise[18]Hebreanever enter’d upon suchSyllogisms, who (to the contrary) testifies thatthe Counsel ofGODis not to be known;that our Thoughts are miserable, and our Devices uncertain. Upon which Authority, I say, in this Case, asthat Labouris commendable whichcan be compar’d toPossibilities, so to dive into thoseThings, which exceed ourJudgments, and admit of no possibleComparison, is nothing better thanFolly. Wherefore All that is further requisite, or possible for us, is to contemplate and admire theGreatnessandElegancy, theSublimityandProfundityof this wonderful and amazing Work ofFormation; whichSubject(we find) hath been the frequent Contemplation ofthe Royal Prophet[19], particularly expressing himself, in the most eloquent and sublime Terms, according to thedivine Lightof his illuminated Understanding: Saying,Thou hast possessed my Reins: Thou hast ordered me in my Mother’s Womb. I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous are thy Works, and that my Soul knoweth right well. My Substance was not hid from thee, tho’ I was made in secret, and curiously fashioned in the lowest Parts of the Earth. Thine Eyes did see my Bones, yet being imperfect; and in thy Book were all my Members written; which Day by Day were formed, when as yet there was none of them.Whence I proceed in order, to