babybug
04-07-2006, 17:39
I found this while searching the web, it is how to spot conception accorind to Aristotle. It's long but pretty funny some of the things he suggests:confused:
SECT. II. The Signs of Conception.
THERE are many prognostics or signs of conception. I will name some of the chief, which are the most certain, and let alone the rest.
1. If a woman has been more than ordinary desirous of copulation, and hath taken more pleasure than usual therein (which upon recollection she may easily know), it is a sign of conception.
2. If she retain the seed in her womb after copulation; which she may know if she perceives it not to flow down from the womb as it used to do before; for that is a sure sign the womb has received into it the inward orifice and there retains it.
3. If she finds a coldness and chilliness after copulation, it shows the heat retired to make conception.
4. If, after this, she begins to have loathings to those things which she loved before, and this attended with a loss of appetite, and a desire after meats to which she was not affected before, and hath often nauseatings and vomitings, with sour belchings, and exceeding weakness of stomach.
5. After conception the belly waxeth very flat, because the womb closeth itself together, to nourish and cherish the seed, contracting itself so as to leave no empty space.
6. So it is if the tops of the nipples look redder than formerly, and the breasts begin to swell, and grow harder than usual, especially if this be attended with pain and soreness.
8. If a woman has twisting and griping pains, much like those of the cramp in the belly, and about her navel, it is a sign she has conceived.
9. If under the lower eye-lid the veins be swelled, and appear clearly, and the eye be something discoloured, it is a certain sign she is with child, unless she have her menses at the same time upon her, or that she has sat up the night before. This sign has never failed.
10. Some also make this trial of conception. They stop the woman's urine in a glass or phial for three days, and then strain it through a fine linen cloth, and if they find small living creatures in it, they conclude that the woman has certainly conceived.
11. There is also another easy trial. Let the woman that supposes she has conceived take a green nettle and put it into her urine, cover it close, and let it remain therein a whole night; if the woman be with child it will be full of red spots on the morrow; but if she be not with child it will he blackish.
12. The last sign I shall mention is that which is most obvious to every woman, which is the suppression of the terms. For, after conception, nature makes use of that blood for the nourishment of the embryo, which before was cast out by nature, because it was too great in quantity. For it is an error to think that the menstrual blood, simply in itself considered, is bad: because, if a woman's body be in good temper, the blood must needs be good; and that it is voided monthly is, because it offends in quantity, but not in quality. But though the suppression of the terms is generally a sure sign of conception, to such persons as have had them orderly before, yet the having them always is not a sign there is no conception. Forasmuch as many that have been with child have had their terms, and some even till the fifth or sixth month, which happens according to the woman's being more or less sanguine; for if a woman has more blood than will suffice for the nourishment of the embryo, nature continues to void it in the usual way. Whence the experienced midwife may learn there are few general rules which do not sometimes admit of an exception. But this shall suffice to be spoken of the signs and prognostics of Conception.
SECT. II. The Signs of Conception.
THERE are many prognostics or signs of conception. I will name some of the chief, which are the most certain, and let alone the rest.
1. If a woman has been more than ordinary desirous of copulation, and hath taken more pleasure than usual therein (which upon recollection she may easily know), it is a sign of conception.
2. If she retain the seed in her womb after copulation; which she may know if she perceives it not to flow down from the womb as it used to do before; for that is a sure sign the womb has received into it the inward orifice and there retains it.
3. If she finds a coldness and chilliness after copulation, it shows the heat retired to make conception.
4. If, after this, she begins to have loathings to those things which she loved before, and this attended with a loss of appetite, and a desire after meats to which she was not affected before, and hath often nauseatings and vomitings, with sour belchings, and exceeding weakness of stomach.
5. After conception the belly waxeth very flat, because the womb closeth itself together, to nourish and cherish the seed, contracting itself so as to leave no empty space.
6. So it is if the tops of the nipples look redder than formerly, and the breasts begin to swell, and grow harder than usual, especially if this be attended with pain and soreness.
8. If a woman has twisting and griping pains, much like those of the cramp in the belly, and about her navel, it is a sign she has conceived.
9. If under the lower eye-lid the veins be swelled, and appear clearly, and the eye be something discoloured, it is a certain sign she is with child, unless she have her menses at the same time upon her, or that she has sat up the night before. This sign has never failed.
10. Some also make this trial of conception. They stop the woman's urine in a glass or phial for three days, and then strain it through a fine linen cloth, and if they find small living creatures in it, they conclude that the woman has certainly conceived.
11. There is also another easy trial. Let the woman that supposes she has conceived take a green nettle and put it into her urine, cover it close, and let it remain therein a whole night; if the woman be with child it will be full of red spots on the morrow; but if she be not with child it will he blackish.
12. The last sign I shall mention is that which is most obvious to every woman, which is the suppression of the terms. For, after conception, nature makes use of that blood for the nourishment of the embryo, which before was cast out by nature, because it was too great in quantity. For it is an error to think that the menstrual blood, simply in itself considered, is bad: because, if a woman's body be in good temper, the blood must needs be good; and that it is voided monthly is, because it offends in quantity, but not in quality. But though the suppression of the terms is generally a sure sign of conception, to such persons as have had them orderly before, yet the having them always is not a sign there is no conception. Forasmuch as many that have been with child have had their terms, and some even till the fifth or sixth month, which happens according to the woman's being more or less sanguine; for if a woman has more blood than will suffice for the nourishment of the embryo, nature continues to void it in the usual way. Whence the experienced midwife may learn there are few general rules which do not sometimes admit of an exception. But this shall suffice to be spoken of the signs and prognostics of Conception.