At one period certain phenomena of
nature, such as an eclipse or comet, were thought to exercise
their influence on monstrous births. Rueff mentions that in
Sicily there happened a great eclipse of the sun, and that women
immediately began to bring forth deformed and double-headed
children.
Before ending these preliminary remarks, there might be mentioned
the marine monsters, such as mermaids, sea-serpents, and the
like, which from time to time have been reported; even at the
present day there are people who devoutly believe that they have
seen horrible and impossible demons in the sea. Pare describes
and pictures a monster, at Rome, on November 3, 1520, with the
upper portion of a child apparently about five or six years old,
and the lower part and ears of a fish-like animal. He also
pictures a sea-devil in the same chapter, together with other
gruesome examples of the power of imagination.
Early Teratology.--Besides such cases as the foregoing, we find
the medieval writers report likely instances of terata, as, for
instance, Rhodiginus, who speaks of a monster in Italy with two
heads and two bodies; Lycosthenes saw a double monster, both
components of which slept at the same time; he also says this
creature took its food and drink simultaneously in its two
mouths.
Pages:
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333