Pare, later, uses a similar reason to explain
the causation of monstrosities, grouping them into two classes,
those due to deficiency of semen, such as the acephalous type,
and those due to excess, such as the double monsters.
Hippocrates, in his work on the "Nature of the Infant," tells us
that twins are the result of a single coitus, and we are also
informed that each infant has a chorion; so that both kinds of
plural gestation (monochorionic and dichorionic) were known to
the ancients. In this treatise it is further stated that the
twins may be male or female, or both males or both females; the
male is formed when the semen is thick and strong.
The greatest number of children at a single birth that it is
possible for a woman to have has never been definitely
determined. Aristotle gives it as his opinion that one woman can
bring forth no more than 5 children at a single birth, and
discredits reports of multiplicity above this number; while
Pliny, who is not held to be so trustworthy, positively states
that there were authentic records of as many as 12 at a birth.
Throughout the ages in which superstitious distortion of facts
and unquestioning credulity was unchecked, all sorts of
incredible accounts of prolificity are found.
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