(969)
ved with Marble, and many footsteps of Antiquity; an argument, that Towns have stood there in former ages, which have been overwhelmed by the Matter cast out of this Mountain. They have also found several Bridges of Pumice-stones, doubtless made by the flux of the fiery Torrents, the Earth being very much raised since.
Now whether these Eruptions are caused by actual subteraneous Fires, lighting upon combustible matter; or by Fire struck out of falling and breaking stones, whole sparks meet with Nitro-sulphureous or other inflamable substances heap'd together in the bowels of the Earth, and by the expansive violence of the Fire forc'd to take more room, and so bursting out with the impetuosity we fee; may not be unworthy of a Philosopher's speculation.
An Account
* It may be, that that, which is by M. Vassal, Publisher of this Relation, esteem'd a second Womb, is nothing else, but the true Matrix lengthen'd, or that, which by Anatomists is call'd Tuba Falopii. See. Bartol. Anatom. Refrom. l. i. c 27. and others. This Figure (which in the Cut here annex'd is the II.) represents the two* Matrixes found januar. 6 1669. by Benoit Vassal Chirurgeon, opening the Body of a woman of 32. years of age, of a sanguin Constitution, and a masculin port. These two Matrixcs were so well disposed by an extraordinary contrivance of Nature, that the True one had conceived eleven severall times, viz. 7. males and 4. femals, all born at the full time, and all perfectly well form'd; but they were at last follow'd by a brother yet a fætus, that was conceiv'd in an adjunct Uterus, in a place so little capable of distension, that seeking enlargement, after it had caused to the Mother for two months and an half grievous symptoms, did at last, being of the age of about 3. or 4. months, break prison and found its grave in that of its mother, by a very great effusion of blood in the whole capacity of her abdomen; which cast the mother into such violent convulsive motions for 3. days together, that she dyed of them. VVhereupon the said Uassal, after, having embalmed the parts, he had made at his house for a whole month together the particular dissection thereof, before all the most Curious and knowing Physitians, Chirurgeons, Apothecaries, Mid-wifes, and other Searchers of Nature, that are in Paris, thought good to preserve the History thereof by committing it and Figure of the parts spoken of, to the Press, together with a Table, for better better explanation; which we think fit here to annex in Latin:
