The strength of imagination in pregnant women examin'd : and the opinion that marks and deformities in children arise from thence, demonstrated to be a vulgar error. / By a member of the College of Physicians, London.

  • Blondel, James Augustus, approximately 1666-1734.
Date:
1727
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The strength of imagination in pregnant women examin'd : and the opinion that marks and deformities in children arise from thence, demonstrated to be a vulgar error. / By a member of the College of Physicians, London. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ing, than to fuppofe, that thofe whom God Almighty has endow d, not only with fo many charms, but alfo with an extraordi¬ nary love and tendernefs for their Children^ hiftead of answering the end they are made for, do breed Monfters by the Wantonnefs of their Imagination.' . Sound arguments may perfwade a great many of the truth I defend. If thofe who are for the Strength of Imagination upon the Foetus, are fo ingenious as to confefs that they have nothing to fay for their opi¬ nion, but that 5tis fo becaufe 5tis fo, I hope they'll be fo kind as to permit me to offer my Reafons, 5tis but juftice and equity• I own the proofs I make ufe of are not every one conclufive and of the fame ffrength } but they depeiid upon one another, and being all put together, amount, I believe, to a full Demonstration, which Imufl leave to the judgment of the Readers to determine \ on¬ ly I beg of them to take time to weigh the Reafons calmly, and without partiality, and not to pronounce haflily, and in an arbi¬ trary way, before a fufficient hearing and examination. That's the prudent advice Lucretius gave to his Friend Memmius.