hority to
take up the Petticoats of any Female without her Consent, I hope to be
excus'd from making such demonstrable Proofs; and if I had such a Power,
the Sight might endanger the Welfare of some pregnant Female, whose
Curiosity would spur her to a particular Examination_.

_The Intrigues of my_ HERMAPHRODITES _are indeed very amazing, and as
monstrous as their Natures, but that many Lascivious Females divert
themselves one with another at this time in this City, is not to be
doubted: And if any Persons shall presume to Censure my Accounts,
grounded on a Probability of Truth, I shall be sufficiently reveng'd in
proclaiming them, what my_ HERMAPHRODITES _are found to be in the
Conclusion_--Old Women.

_I confess, all Histories of extraordinary Conceptions from these
Intrigues, or by Women without actual Copulation, are equally fabulous
with those of the Engendring of Men: It would be as surprizing to find a
Man with a teeming Belly, as to see a Woman increase there meerly by her
own Applications_.

_I doubt not but this small_ TREATISE _may put some Persons upon a
previous Examination of Robust Females, that they may be at a certainty
with respect to mutual Enjoyment; but I would not have them rashly
conclude from large Appurtenances only, that they are unnatural, but, on
the contrary, agreeable Companions._

_To conclude, I fear not the Censure of_ HERMAPHRODITES, _nor of those
that would be such to satisfy their vicious Inclinations; neither am I
under any apprehensions from the Censure of our Reforming Zealots_.

* * * * *

_Tractatus de Hermaphroditis_:

OR, A

TREATISE

OF

HERMAPHRODITES.

The Secrets of Nature have in all Ages been particularly examin'd by
Anatomists and others, and this of _Hermaphrodites_ is so very
wonderful, that I am perfectly assur'd my present Enquiry will be
entirely acceptable to all Lovers of curious Discoveries; and as it is
my immediate Business to trace every Particular for an ample
Dissertation on the Nature of _Hermaphrodites_, (which obliges me to a
frequent Repetition of the Names of the Parts employ'd in the Business
of Generation) so, I hope, I shall not be charg'd with Obscenity, since
in all Treatises of this Kind it is impossible to finish any one Head
compleatly, without pursuing the Methods of Anatomical Writings.

Though in _Ovid_'s _Metamorphosis_, _Salmacis_'s being in Love with
_Hermaphroditus_, and not succeedi