The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher

The Works of Aristotle the
Famous
by Anonymous

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Title: The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his
Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife,
his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy
Author: Anonymous
Release Date: June 24, 2004 [EBook #12699]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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ARISTOTLE ***

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[Illustration]

THE WORKS OF
ARISTOTLE
THE FAMOUS PHILOSOPHER
Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his
Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on
Physiognomy
COMPLETE EDITION, WITH ENGRAVINGS
* * * * *

THE MIDWIFE'S VADE-MECUM
Containing
PARTICULAR DIRECTIONS FOR MIDWIVES, NURSES, ETC.
* * * * *
SOME GENUINE RECIPES FOR CAUSING SPEEDY DELIVERY.
* * * * *
APPROVED DIRECTIONS FOR NURSES.
* * * * *
[Illustration: Medical Knowledge]
[Illustration]

* * * * *


PART I.--BOOK I
THE MASTERPIECE
On marriage and at what age young men and virgins are capable of it:
and why so much desire it. Also, how long men and women are capable
of it.
There are very few, except some professional debauchees, who will not
readily agree that "Marriage is honourable to all," being ordained by
Heaven in Paradise; and without which no man or woman can be in a
capacity, honestly, to yield obedience to the first law of the creation,
"Increase and Multiply." And since it is natural in young people to
desire the embraces, proper to the marriage bed, it behoves parents to
look after their children, and when they find them inclinable to
marriage, not violently to restrain their inclinations (which, instead of
allaying them, makes them but the more impetuous) but rather provide
such suitable matches for them, as may make their lives comfortable;
lest the crossing of those inclinations should precipitate them to commit
those follies that may bring an indelible stain upon their families. The
inclination of maids to marriage may be known by many symptoms; for
when they arrive at puberty, which is about the fourteenth or fifteenth
year of their age, then their natural purgations begin to flow; and the
blood, which is no longer to augment their bodies, abounding, stirs up
their minds to venery. External causes may also incline them to it; for
their spirits being brisk and inflamed, when they arrive at that age, if
they eat hard salt things and spices, the body becomes more and more
heated, whereby the desire to veneral embraces is very great, and
sometimes almost insuperable. And the use of this so much desired
enjoyment being denied to virgins, many times is followed by dismal
consequences; such as the green weesel colonet, short-breathing,
trembling of the heart, etc. But when they are married and their veneral

desires satisfied by the enjoyment of their husbands, these distempers
vanish, and they become more gay and lively than before. Also, their
eager staring at men, and affecting their company, shows that nature
pushes them upon coition; and their parents neglecting to provide them
with husbands, they break through modesty and satisfy themselves in
unlawful embraces. It is the same with brisk widows, who cannot be
satisfied without that benevolence to which they were accustomed
when they had their husbands.
At the age of 14, the menses, in virgins, begin to flow; then they are
capable of conceiving, and continue generally until 44, when they cease
bearing, unless their bodies are strong and healthful, which sometimes
enables them to bear at 65. But many times the menses proceed from
some violence done to nature, or some morbific matter, which often
proves fatal. And, hence, men who are desirous of issue ought to marry
a woman within the age aforesaid, or blame themselves if they meet
with disappointment; though, if an old man, if not worn out with
diseases and incontinency, marry a brisk, lively maiden, there is hope
of him having children to 70 or 80 years.
Hippocrates says, that a youth of 15, or between that and 17, having
much vital strength, is capable of begetting children; and also that the
force of the procreating matter increases till 45, 50, and 55, and then
begins to flag; the seed, by degrees, becoming unfruitful, the natural
spirits being extinguished, and the humours dried up. Thus, in general,
but as to individuals, it often falls out otherwise. Nay, it is reported by a
credible author, that