There is a Story in some Authors, that having put Human Seed into a Viol
close stopp'd, and plac'd it for some time in a Dunghill that was
moderately hot; they observ'd that the Particles drew up themselves in
such Order, as to assume the Form of a Child. This (say they) comes to
pass after the same manner as the Forming of a Chick in an Egg, which
requires only a temperate Heat to Hatch it. But they agree, that 'twas
impossible to Nourish this Infant, which according to them, perish'd
before 'twas intirely Form'd. If this Observation were true, it would
make us believe that the whole Matter of which the Child is Form'd
proceeds from the Man. But this Story wants Confirmation, as does
likewise the following Relation Communicated in a Letter by Mr. _Donat_
Surgeon to the Army in _Italy_, relating to a Man's Conception.

_I am at this very time employ'd in tending a Person of Quality that's
come a great way off. In the right Side of his_ Scrotum _he had a great
Lump, bigger than the Head of a Child; which I cut off, and afterwards
ty'd up the Spermatick Artery. This Lump was a Mass of Flesh, all over
Spermatick, and very Solid, with very hard Bones in every part. 'Twas
contain'd in an After-birth with a great deal of Water. The Spermatick
Vessels which perform'd the Office of those we call Umbilical, were
overgrown much beyond their Natural size. The Circumstances that
occasion'd this Generation, confirms the Effect that follow'd. In_ June
_last, the Gentleman us'd a great deal of Liberty with a certain Lady,
without coming to actual Enjoyment; upon which he was seiz'd with a
cutting pain in the right Testicle, which after two Hours became
insensible. In process of time a Tumour rose by degrees, which was
joined to the Testicle, and was as big as a_ Turkey'_Egg. The 8th of_
December _last, this Gentleman came hither incognito; but put off the
Operation 'till this time, by reason of the cold Season. In the mean
time the Swelling increas'd so much, that the_ Scrotum _being uncapable