Little Men in Sperm

in Sex and Childbirth

By Holly Tucker

Something major happened during the scientific “revolution” of the seventeenth- and eighteenth-centuries. Telescopes, barometers, blood circulation, air pumps, vacuums, early calculating devices, discovery of planetary systems…yes, yes, we know all about that.

The discovery of the egg and the sperm in 1672 and 1677 changed the way people understood babies–and how. Heated debates took place about whether possibly, just possibly, humans existed preformed in either the egg or the sperm. Animaculists argued that shrinky-dink-sized beings lay wait in the head of each sperm.

Ovists argued that tiny humans sat in each egg. At the end of the day, the ovists won out. One of the most difficult aspects of spermist theory to reconcile was the knowledge that there are millions of sperm in a single ejaculation. Surely God would not allow the genocide of all of those beings in a single embrace! And imagine what they had to say about going solo…

The best study out there on preformation is, without a doubt, Clara Pinto-Correia’s The Ovary of Eve: The Egg and the Sperm and Preformation.

IMAGE: Antonio Vallisnieri, Histoire della generazione dell’uomo e degli animali

Tagged as: ovists, preformation, sperm, spermists, tiny humans

  • http://www.posterous.com/invinoveritas Francesca

    You have the most fascinating bits of history to share!

  • http://www.sarahevekelly.com Sarah

    The disconnect between publication and popular usage is so interesting, especially in this period – midwives’ manuals and other physicians’ tracts on generation clung to the Galenic model for decades and decades after this! Same as well with Harvey and the circulation of the blood… And (for obvious reasons) wide use of the forceps didn’t begin until ages after their publication. I suppose all truths start out being considered quack theories. Thanks for posting – this is remarkable!

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  • http://theviewfromsarisworld.blogspot.com sari

    The first time I read about little men swimming in sperm I almost choked laughing. The book I was reading, Discarded Science, ideas that seemed good at the time by John Grant had a picture. I think one was wearing a top hat.

  • http://www.wondersandmarvels.com Editor

    Thanks for all the comments, everyone! Each time I think about preformationism, I wonder what the future will have to say about US? This theory dominated medical science as a FACT for nearly 100 years…

    All best, Holly

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  • http://Ronzebike.com Moira Farrell,

    Interesting, please include me in yor drawing.
    Moira

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