That a Man hath one Rib less then a Woman.
That a Man hath one Rib less then a Woman, is a common conceit derived
from the History of _Genesis_, wherein it stands delivered, that _Eve_
was framed out of a Rib of _Adam_; whence 'tis concluded the sex of man
still wants that rib our Father lost in _Eve_. And this is not only
passant with the many, but was urged against _Columbus_ in an Anatomy of
his at _Pisa_, where having prepared the Sceleton of a woman that
chanced to have thirteen ribs on one side, there arose a party that
cried him down, and even unto oaths affirmed, this was the rib wherein a
woman exceeded. Were this true, it would ocularly silence that dispute
out of which side _Eve_ was framed; it would determine the opinion of
_Oleaster_, that she was made out of the ribs of both sides, or such as
from the expression of the Text [SN: Os ex ossibus meis.] maintain there
was a plurality of ribs required; and might indeed decry the parabolical
exposition of _Origen_, _Cajetan_, and such as fearing to concede a
monstrosity, or mutilate the integrity of _Adam_, preventively conceive
the creation of thirteen ribs.
[Sidenote: _How many ribs commonly in men and women._]
But this will not consist with reason or inspection. For if we survey
the Sceleton of both sexes, and therein the compage of bones, we shall
readily discover that men and women have four and twenty ribs, that is,
twelve on each side, seven greater annexed unto the Sternon, and five
lesser which come short thereof. Wherein if it sometimes happen that
either sex exceed, the conformation is irregular, deflecting from the
common rate or number, and no more inferrible upon mankind, then the
monstrosity of the son of _Rapha_, or the vitious excess in the number
of fingers and toes. And although some difference there be in figure and
the female _os inominatum_ be somewhat more protuberant, to make a
fairer cavity for the Infant; the coccyx sometime more reflected to give
the easier delivery, and the ribs themselves seem a little flatter, yet
are they equal in number. And therefore while _Aristotle_ doubteth the
relations made of Nations, which had but seven ribs on a side, and yet
delivereth, that men have generally no more than eight; as he rejecteth
their history, so can we not accept of his Anatomy.
Again, Although we concede there wanted one rib in the Sceleton of
_Adam_, yet were it repugnant unto reason and common observation that
his posterity should want the same. For we observe that mutilations are
not transmitted from father unto son; the blind begetting such as can
see, men with one eye children with two, and cripples mutilate in their
own persons do come out perfect in their generations. For the seed
conveyeth with it not only the extract and single Idea of every part,
whereby it transmits their perfections or infirmities; but double and
over again; whereby sometimes it multipliciously delineates the same, as
in Twins, in mixed and numerous generations. Parts of the seed do seem
to contain the Idea and power of the whole; so parents deprived of
hands, beget manual issues, and the defect of those parts is supplied by
the Idea of others. So in one grain of corn appearing similary and
insufficient for a plural germination, there lyeth dormant the
virtuality of many other; and from thence sometimes proceed above an
hundred ears. And thus may be made out the cause of multiparous
productions; for though the seminal materials disperse and separate in
the matrix, the formative operator will not delineate a part, but
endeavour the formation of the whole; effecting the same as far as the
matter will permit, and from dividing materials attempt entire
formations. And therefore, though wondrous strange, it may not be
impossible what is confirmed at _Lausdun_ concerning the Countess of
_Holland_, nor what _Albertus_ reports of the birth of an hundred and
fifty. And if we consider the magnalities of generation in some things,
we shall not controvert its possibilities in others: nor easily question
that great work, whose wonders are only second unto those of the
Creation, and a close apprehension of the one, might perhaps afford a
glimmering light, and crepusculous glance of the other.