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Ancient Explanations of Monstrosities.--From the time of Galen to
the sixteenth century many incredible reports of monsters are
seen in medical literature, but without a semblance of scientific
truth. There has been little improvement in the mode of
explanation of monstrous births until the present century, while
in the Middle Ages the superstitions were more ludicrous and
observers more ignorant than before the time of Galen. In his
able article on the teratologic records of Chaldea, Ballantyne
makes the following trite statements: "Credulity and superstition
have never been the peculiar possession of the lower types of
civilization only, and the special beliefs that have gathered
round the occurrence of teratologic phenomena have been common to
the cultured Greek and Roman of the past, the ignorant peasant of
modern times, and the savage tribes of all ages. Classical
writings, the literature of the Middle Ages, and the popular
beliefs of the present day all contain views concerning
teratologic subjects which so closely resemble those of the
Chaldean magi as to be indistinguishable from them. Indeed, such
works as those of Obsequens, Lycosthenes, Licetus, and Ambroise
Pare only repeat, but with less accuracy of description and with
greater freedom of imagination, the beliefs of ancient Babylon.
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