author:Giovanni Bianchi

“ But it may be they are, in this Respect, a little hardly treated; since, in a warm Country like theirs, where Impurities of all Sorts are but too frequent, it may very well happen that such strange Accidents may, from Time to Time, arise as highly to excite both their Wonder and their Attention, rather from their Skill in Anatomy, and their Acquaintance with human Nature, than from any bad Habits or vitiated Inclinations in themselves. ”

“ This shews, as well as the Case which occasioned the mentioning of it, that there is an amazing Violence in these vicious Irregularities, which has this happy Consequence, that they are quickly betrayed, and in most Countries chastized with that Severity which they deserve; and, without Doubt, the only Reason that can justify the making Things of this Sort public, is to facilitate their Discovery, and thereby prevent their ill Consequences, which indeed can scarce be prevented any other Way. ”

“ We may add to all this, that from hence may be borrowed a very just Reason for punishing more severely, or at least not making so light of a Practice not altogether uncommon, which is that of Women appearing in public Places in Men's Cloaths; a Thing that manifests an extreme Assurance, and which may have many ill Consequences, and those too of very different Kinds. ”

“ HE Wits, and even the learned Men of Italy, have been long distinguished for their Inclination to Discourses of this Nature, which are frequently interpreted in such a Manner as to do no great Honour to their Abilities, and still less to their Morals. ”

“ Something of the like Kind is reported to have happened many Years ago to a very vicious Woman, in a Country that it is not necessary to name. This Woman was the Wife of an Apothecary, very dissolute in her Manners, and, as some thought, a little distracted in her Head. ”

“ The first is, that it behoves People to be highly cautious, as to that Kind of Discourse which they hold in the Presence of very young People of either Sex; since, tho' it is very easy to foresee that lewd or lax Conversation must have bad Effects, yet it is not altogether so easy to comprehend what very bad Effects may follow from it ”