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CONCERNING MONSTERS AND ABORTIONS
"Since monsters or abortions are known to occur among human beings, animals and birds, and are in all countries collected as curiosities, a decree was issued some years ago that the aforesaid monstrosities should with us also be presented to public museums; but ignorant people try to conceal these things, thinking such deformities are caused by the devil, or by witchcraft and spells,-which is an impossibility, since God alone is the Creator of every living thing and not the devil, who has no dominion whatever over creatures. -Such monstrosities are the result of internal injury, or of the mother's fear and imagination during the time of her pregnancy. There are many examples of children bearing the marks of whatever frightened their mothers.