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170 ESOTERIC ANTHROPOLOGY.
The reader, thus directed, will find for himself abun
dant illustrations of the principles above stated, and
which must not be lost sight of by any true philoso
pher.
If we do not understand the absolute process by which
the union of the male and female elements is accom
plished, in the generation of the new being, the condi
tions under which this must take place are more clear
to us. From a multitude of observations, it appears,
1. That the ovum, in a state of healthy maturity,
must have been set free from the ovary. This is not
the case with some of the lower animals. There are
insects, in whom a single act of the male will fecundate
successive generations. In birds, the male principle
seems to be added before the egg is mature.
2. The sperma must be recent, and must contain
living, active zoosperms.
3. The smallest quantity, and probably a single zoo
sperm, is sufficient, if it comes in contact with the
ovum.
4. It is not necessary that there should be any enjoy
ment of coition, on the part of the female. Women
who have none, seem even more prolific than others.
It may take place in sleep, or other insensibility. In
men, also, the orgasm may be accompanied with no
pleasure, and even with pain.
5. Even the sexual union is not indispensable. There
is no doubt that a female ovum may be impregnated by
semen conveyed to it artificially; and a woman, if she
chose, might have a child without ever coming into per
sonal contact with a man. This has been shown in ani
mals by abundant experiments, and is said to have oc
,