oot of a goose, of which some
are inserted into the os pubis, the rest are lost and confounded with
the membranes which women and children feel in their thighs. These two
ligaments are long, round and nervous, and pretty big in their
beginning near the matrix, hollow in their rise, and all along the os
pubis, where they are a little smaller and become flat, the better to be
inserted in the manner aforesaid. It is by their means the womb is
hindered from rising too high. Now, although the womb is held in its
natural situation by means of these four ligaments, it has liberty
enough to extend itself when pregnant, because they are very loose, and
so easily yield to its distension. But besides these ligaments, which
keep the womb, as it were, in a poise, yet it is fastened for greater
security by its neck, both to the bladder and rectum, between which it
is situated. Whence it comes to pass, that if at any time the womb be
inflamed, it communicates the inflammation to the neighbouring part.

Its use or proper action in the work of generation, is to receive and
retain the seed, and deduce from it power and action by its heat, for
the generation of the infant; and it is, therefore, absolutely necessary
for the conservation of the species. It also seems by accident to
receive and expel the impurities of the whole body, as when women have
abundance of whites, and to purge away, from time to time, the
superfluity of the blood, as when a woman is not with child.

SECT. II.--_Of the difference between the ancient and modern Physicians,
touching the woman's contributing seed for the Formation of the
Child._

Our modern anatomists and physicians are of different sentiments from
the ancients touching the woman's contributing seed for the formation of
the child, as well as the man; the ancients strongly affirming it, but
our modern authors being generally of another judgment. I will not make
myself a party to this controversy, but set down impartially, yet
briefly, the arguments on each side, and leave the judicious reader to
judge for himself.

Though it is apparent, say the ancients, that the seed of man is the
principal efficient and beginning of action, motion and generation, yet
the woman affords seed, and contributes to the procreation of the child,
it is evident from hence, that the woman had seminal vessels, which had
been given her in vain if she wanted seminal excretions; but since
nature forms nothing in vai