DUE TWO-WWBK* WW»*4.-kAI>X DATE 'JUL 9 1959 J* 4 s^ F.flOI.LlCK.M.D. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE; A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE PHILOSOPHY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION, IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS, INCLUDING 'ifctAILS OF HUMAN GENERATION, A FUXL DESCRIPTION OF THE JSi.x.% AND FEMALE ORGANS. i..ustrated by ten fine colored engravings on stone. BY V FREDERICK HOLLICK, M. D. Lecturer on « The 6?rgm of Life," " Female Diseases," &c. NEW YORK< PUBLISHED BY NAFIS & CORNISH, ST. LOUIS, MO.: NAFIS, CORNISH & CO. D'u0 :EB 25 43 H739(y (£4-5 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by FREDERICK HOLLICK, M. D., In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New York. j Stereotyped by Alex. Crawford, 26 Ann-$U«el, N. Y. THE FRONTISPIECE. This is a portrait of the Author, Lecturing with his large Figure. It is taken from a Da- guerreotype by the celebrated Plumbe. L_ I TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Preface, - - - - i to xxiii THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. General Views, - - - - 8 Table of the Modes of Generation, - 22 j PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. Female System, - - - - 23 j Male System, - - - - 40 ; Impregnation, - - - - 64 \ Foetal Developments, - - - 77 j Foetal Nutrition, .... K' Extra Uterine Conception, &c - - 11 '■ ! Theories of Generation, - - - lr>" Superfoetation, - - - - 1U j The Sexual Feeling, ... - Jr'.V Solitary Vice, Onanism,or Masturbation, in: Addenda, .... 1 ro So PREFACE. " To the pure all things are pure." In presenting this book to the public, it is requisite that I should state why it was written, and what for. This is necessary, to prevent both misapprehension, and mis- representation. For a work like the pre- sent, giving a popular view^)f a subject, hitherto known only to a few, can scarcely | be expected, at first, to be received without suspicion, even if it escape condemnation without being read. The majority of people have been made so irrational, and so immoral, in relation to these subjects, that they cannot conceive it possibh for a person to be different from themselves. Directly a book of this kind is announced, it is at once assumed that it iV PREFACE. is intended merely to gratify vulgar curi- osity, or minister to a depraved taste. The good in consequence neglect it, and the bad seek it from an improper motive. I must, therefore, in the very commencement of my preface, state explicitly, that this work was not Written with any ill intent, nor for any low or unworthy purpose; nor is it in any way adapted for gratifying, or pleasing, those whom a bad education has brutalised and depraved. It will not therefore give any offence to those who are truly moral and good, nor will it give any pleasure to those who unfortunately are otherwise. The subject is one of universal import- ance ; it concerns everybody, and all are interested in it, whether they will or not. It occupies the mind of nearly all persons, more perhaps than any other subject, no matter what may be the extent, or deficien- cv, of their information. The thoughts of the ignorant man are as full of it, as those of his more enlightened neighbour ; prob- ably much more so. Keeping persons in ignorance upon this subject therefore, does not prevent them thinking about it; but, by stimulating their curiosity, makes them think more, with the disadvantage of lead- ing them to erroneous conclusions. There are few young persons but what experi- PREFACE. V ence the sexual feeling, it arises in them from the natural hiws of their development, and no mystery, or seclusion can prevent it. It is useless therefore to attempt to conceal the main fact; this is taught in spite of every precaution. It is equally futile to think of preventing the mind from dwell- ing upon it, the tendency to do so is irresis- tible. We have therefore merely a choice, between giving correct information, and leaving the mind to be filled with error and vain surmise, for with one or the other it will most assuredly be occupied. I leave every person to decide between the two al- ternatives according to his own views. For my own part, I must see something more of the evil resulting from knowledge than I have done, before I fear it, and something more of the benefits of ignorance before 1 prefer it. We are often told that the difference be- tween man and the lower animals consists in this ; that both feel the same instincts and propensities, but, in the brute they alone impel to action, while man has his reason to control or counteract them. Al- lowing this to be correct, it follows as a certain inference that, whenever man acts from his propensities alone he becomes a mere brute. Now wha.t is the fact with VI PREFACE. regard to the association of the sexes at the present time ? What impels to it ? Is it reason ? Or does reason have anything to do with it ? Very seldom ; and from the simple fact that all attempts to reason about it are condemned! Every individual is told that it is immoral to seek for, or give, any information on the subject, and that he must not even think about it! The consequence is, that blind passion rules alone, reason, the characteristic of hu- manity, is dormant, and man becomes a mere brute, both in thought and action. Now my object is simply to give correct information, in a simple unobjectionable form, and so employ the reason; thus bringing it, into opposition to the mere an- imal propensity, which it is intended to control and regulate. I cannot conceive that any person of or- dinary capacity can condemn such a step, unless blinded by prejudice or interest. It is true there are persons who will do so; some from real ignorance, but more from an affectation of superior morality and de- licacy, which they are very far from pos- sessing. Such persons being naturally gross and indelicate, in their own thoughts and actions, conceive that others must be the same; and they think by condemning PREFACE. Vll every body else they shall make them- selves appear immaculate ; while the fact is, they exhibit their own sympathy with what is immoral and gross, by pretending to detect it where no one else thought of it, and where even it does not exist! Hon- est ignorance I can excuse, and think it my duty to enlighten ; but prudery and hypo- crisy, are too contemptible to be either re- spected or cared for. I see no reason at all myself, why this subject should not be generally understood, but very many reasons why it ought to be. Correct information can do no one any harm, but may do many much good. It is undeniable that ignorance leads to many evils which knowledge would prevent. And we know very well from experience, that ignorant persons are not any less under the influence of their animal propensities than those who are enlightened, but, gen- erally the contrary. The cultivation of the mind directly decreases the animal feeling, besides providing the only agent which can properly control it. If ignorance had any tendency to decrease vice, or produce vir- tue, we ought to find society in a most virtuous state at the present time, in its sexual relations ; for it is buried in as gross ignorance as any could desire. But what fili PREFACE. is the fact ? Why palpably this, that we could scarcely imagine it to be more vi- cious ! The fearful mass of vice and crime which is obvious to common observation, would be enough to condemn such a sys- tem ; but that is only a small portion of the total amount. Every one who has had an opportunity of lifting the veil, and seeing something of the real condition of society, knows well that the hidden vices far out- number those that come to light! The present condition of the world then, fully disproves the absurd supposition that igno- rance either produces sexual virtue, or pre- vents sexual vice. And I go still further, for I assert that not only is ignorance inca- pable of preventing the vice, but that it produces it, both directly and indirectly! If this be so, and I think I can prove it in the course of this work, it follows that knowledge is the only agent which can ei their remove the sexual evils now exist- ing, or prevent them returning. At all events, as ignorance is proved to be useless, if not positively injurious, let us try what knowledge will do in its stead. The common, puerile talk, about such things being immodest, or immoral, no matter how they may be represented, is scarcely deserving of notice. It originates PREFACE. ix with those persons, before alluded to, who are themselves immodest, and who there- fore view everything through an impure medium. Ignorance is in no way necessary, or conducive, to true modesty; and there is nothing more improper in understanding the phenomenon of reproduction, than in understanding that of digestion. We are alike interested in the well being of every part of our bodies, and every part there- foie ought to be understood. What reason has there ever been, or can be brought for- ward, why those organs which reproduce our species, are not as fit, as interesting, and as useful objects of study as any oth- ers? There is no impefection in their organization, no gross failure in their ac- tion, and nothing repugnant, to a well re- gulated mind, in their proper exercise. On the contrary, there areno other parts of the system so admirably contrived, so beauti- fully perfect in their workings, or so intima- tely associated with our purest and least selfish emotions. And if it be true, as some assert, and, as I think, truly, that contemplating the wondrous stiucture and perfect action of our bodily organs, is calculated to expand the mind, to cause reflexion, and so make us wiser, and consequently better, then I con- X PREFACE. tend that none are so well deserving of study as those of reproduction. Those Eersons not benefitted by that study must e incapable of improvement by any means, and already so depraved that nothing can make them worse. It is true there are some unfortunate in- dividuals, so brutalized by a bad education, that the mention of this subject excites debasing thoughts in them, for the simple reason that they are incapable of any other. It is no reason however, because these in- dividuals are incapable of properly appre- ciating knowledge, that others should be deprived of it who can. The intelligent will be much improved by that knowledge ; and the ignorant even may be so; at all events it can do them no harm, since it is only an exchange of correct information for absurd error. This diffidence of knowledge, and pre- ference of ignorance, is itself a result and a characteristic of ignorance. The time is fast coming when, so far from its being thought strange to understand the process of reproduction, it will be thought strange, or even criminal not to do so. In former times every kind of knowledge was monopolized by a certain class of per- sons, and no one out of the pale of their PREFACE. XI association was permitted to acquire it. And though public sentiment is fast abol- ishing this custom, it is still upheld to some extent. Our learned professions, as they are called, are remnants of this aristocratic institution, but they are fast losing their ex- clusive privileges, and being placed on the common ground of equal rights. The medical profession has long had an exclu- sive right to all knowledge of the human structure, its ailings, and treatments, and all attempts to disseminate such know- ledge among the people has been bitterly opposed. It is now seen however that this monopoly is neither just, nor useful, but the contrary, and it is fast being abolished. The subject of this work particularly, was made such a perfect mystery to those out of the profession, that they ultimately be- lieved they were neither capable of under- standing it, nor had a right to do so. Per- sons may actually be found at the present day, not only content with their ignorance but fearful of having it removed, and angry with those who attempt to enlighten them. I am not desirous of interfering with such persons, doubtless ignorance is more con- genial, and more suitable, for them, than knowledge, and they had therefore better remain as they are. There are others how- Xii PREFACE. ever who are not afraid of being made wiser, and it is to those I address myself. There are some professional men even, either short sighted, selfish, or narrow minded, who are afraid of losing their in- fluence, and consideration, if this mystery is exploded, and who therefore oppose all attempts like the present. But there are many others more just and generous, and more enlightened, who think and feel very different, and who will give me their cor- dial co-operation. The fact is, this confining of knowledge in a barrier seriously hinders its extension; it is a relict of barbarism, productive of no kind of good, except to those who live on the ignorance of others; it is unjust, and utterly unworthy of the present age. All attempts to uphold such a system will be in vain ; for the democratic feeling has en- tered the field of science, as it has that of politics and religion ; and society will no more allow any class to possess all scien- tific information, than it will allow others to possess all political power, or religious rights. Universal equality, in the exercise, and use, of all our natural powers, is the rule of the day, and no one will be able to set it aside. It is not intended by this, that every per- PREFACE. Xiii son should become a professional man, but simply that every one has a right to be ac- ?[uainted with these subjects, as far as he eels desirous. It may be merely to grati- fy a laudable curiosity, to expand his mind, to guard against imposition from his ad- visers, or to know how to conduct himself so as to prevent disease and suffering. No matter what the motive, the right is un- questionable. The same narrow minded feeling, has made it unlawful, or improper, for females to aspire to the same degree of knowledge as males. And there are many men, suf- ficiently liberal to contend for their own right to known such things, who neverthe- less deny the same right to women. This is preposterous, and tyranically unjust. It is assuming in fact, either that females are incapable of understanding, or unworthy of possessing such knowledge; both of which assumptions I deny. The present ignorance of women respecting their own structure, and the influence of external agents upon it, produces among them a most lamentable amount of disease and suffering, which nothing but enlightening them can prevent. They are even more interested in such knowledge than men, and to say that they ought not to acquire XIV PREFACE. it, or that it is improper for them to do so, exhibits gross ignorance and indelicacy of mind. The /act that many among them do not desire such information, and are shocked at the idea of receiving it, merely exhibits the depth of their degradation, and is in itself a condemnation of such a state of things. Besides, we should always re- member that this admiration of ignorance is very often assumed, either from the ne- cessity of custom, or from prudish hypoc- risy. Many a one pretends to condemn knowledge, who is fully aware of its im- portance, and secretly desirous of obtain- ing it. Both men and women ought to possess a general knowledge of these subjects ; so that they may know how to conduct them- selves, and to instruct and advise their chil- dren. For, if they do not, their ignorance will lead them into errors, which will make them the victims of disease and crime. In numerous cases, young women have had their health and happiness sacrificed »[■ Ce\for Wa,n,1 of a little information, which they could not ask from any one but their mothers, and which their mothers Z?m?;SSfble of*. fivins- And many a « ,™g !■be Sav?d from ruin' »y his fath- er imparting to him, in time, that know- PREFACE. XV ledge which is not likely to reach him from any other source. Fortunately common sense is beginning to be exhibited, and such information is now desired and sought for. A short time ago I determined to try the experiment of Public Lectures on this subject, though rather doubtful as to how they would be received. I however made the attempt, 'and the result has proved that there is much more intelligence in the world than I at first thought, for they have been en- thusiastically received. One great diflicelty was, to illustrate these discourses in an efficient manner. A mere verbal description would be of little service, while pictures, and diagrams give but very imperfect and inaccurate ideas. I therefore sent to Paris for a set of M. Au- zoux's Anatomical Models, expressly ad- apted for my purpose. These preparations answer even better than real dissections, for teaching an au- dience, inasmuch as the parts retain their natural appearance, and the exhibition of them is unattended by anything repugnant to the sensibilities. Their completeness, and accuracy, is astonishing ; there is not a single detail that is needed, however minute it may be, but what is there, and Xvi PREFACE so true is the whole to nature, that the eye could scarcely detect it as being a work of art. Any one who has not seen them, can- not form the most distant idea of the beauty of these miracles of human skill! The conviction that they are natural is, at first, so strong, that many have even faint- ed away at a first view, from the impres- sion that they were viewing a real body! The set consists of sixteen seperate mo- dels ! The first being a full sized female figure, representing the whole human structure, as common to both sexes, and the peculiarities of the maternal structure. The Heart, Stomach, and every other or- gan, takes out and fully dissects. The uterus, ovaries, tubes, vagina, and all the other generative organs, in the virgin state, also take out and open, so that the whole process of impregnation is clearly shewn. The other fourteen models, represent the uterus, and its appendages, at as many dif- ferent stages of gestation, from twelve days up to nine months. The foetus within is seen, commencing with the impregnated egg, and gradually developing into the per- fect being. The manner in which it is nourished, at every stage ; its membranes, the placenta, cord, and every other par- ticular. r o PREFACE. xvii There is also a section of the male pel- vis, exhibiting the internal structure of all the male organs ; the production of the se- men, and its mode of transmission. So that, by the aid of these models, the whole subject can be as readily, and fami- liarly explained, to a public audience, as it is to medical students by actual dissections. This being however the first attempt to exhibit, and fully explain, such prepara- tions, before a public audience, I felt some anxiety, at first, as to the result. My anx- iety however was soon relieved, I was ful- ly patronised, and properly appreciated. In the Spring of 1844,1 lectured in New York City for three months without inter- mission, being fully attended most of the time. I never failed of receiving the ap- plause of a single audience, and never heard a word of censure, or condemnation, from any individual. Many of the most cele- brated men in the city attended, and inter- ested themselves warmly, to induce others to do the same. These lectures, of course, were to gentiemen alone, I however deliv- ered a course on the female structure, fe- male diseases, &c, to ladies only, which, contrary to all expectation, were excellently well attended. Many ladies of note hon- ored me by their presence, and some even Xviii PREFACE. gave public testimony afterwards, in behalf of myself and my endeavors. Encouraged by this support I visited many other places, with the like success, particularly Philadelphia, where my recep- tion was so flattering that it deserves a spe- cial notice. My first course in that city was attended by over four hundred gentle- men, and two hundred ladies! Both au- diences testified their entire approbation, and passed a series of highly commenda- tory resolutions, which were afterwards published in all the daily papers, with nu- merous influential names appended. Sim- ilar resolutions were also passed on many subsequent occasions, particularly by the ladies, who on one occasion numbered four hundred and thirty two! At the termina- tion of my visit they presented to me a beautiful writing desk, with gold pen, and other appendages to suit, accompanied by a most flattering resolution numerously sign- ed ! Altogether I have lectured in Phila- delphia twenty six times. I also visited Washington City, and had the pleasure of lecturing before most of the persons of note there assembled, all of whom commended the lectures in the highest terms. My object in stating these particulars is, merely to show strangers how this attempt PREFACE. XIX has been received, and to give them confi- dence in it; as it is my intention to visit every city of note in the union, and not de- sist from my task till the public become more enlightened on these matters, and a belter tone of feeling is established. The notices from different journals, which I have received, will prove that I have not exaggerated in regard to my favorable re- ception. The publication of this book resulted from the success of my lectures. From every audience I had the enquiry whether there was any work 1 could recommend them to, on this subject. One which would enable them to pursue their enqui- ries after leaving the lectures, and that they could recommend to those of their friends who were unable to attend. I was con- strained to say that there was no work which would serve this purpose. It is true there are several on this subject, but not one that appeared to me of the right kind. Some were only fit for medical men, being too dry and technical. Others were writ- ten merely to illustrate certain diseases, or to gratify vulgar curiosity. There was not one that gave a complete, and philosophical view of the whole subject, in all its bear- ings, written in a plain and popular man- xx PREFACE. ner. I was therefore compelled to write one for the purpose. And I flatter myself that, from my experience of what the pub- lic really wanted, I have been able to pro- duce one that will supply the desideratum. In writing my book I have partly followed the same arrangement, as that which I es- tablished in my lectures, because I have found it best calculated to give a clear, and connected view of the whole subject. I have first described the more simple phe- nomena of reproduction, and gradually pro- ceeded to the more complicated, accom- panying the whole with explanations, and descriptions of cases, calculated to make all clear, and easily understood. One difficulty was, as to the kind of lan- guage to be employed. The work not be- ing intended for the medical man only, but for the public, it would not answer to use such terms as were not generally under- stood ; at the same time it was necessary to avoid all that were vulgar and common place. This difficulty caused me some trouble, but I trust I have succeeded in my endeavors, and that my language will be generally comprehended, at the same time that it will be correct and unobjectionable. It is possible that the scientific pedant may find some things to cavil at, but I would ■ ■ —.___________________________________________________________________________________________________ PREFACE. XXi rather sacrifice technical exactitude a little, than be ambiguous, or not understood by my readers. My object has been, to produce a work which can be read with propriety, and studied with advantage, by every person arrived at the age of puberty. And which would put every parent in possession of that information, which it is the duty of parents to impart to their children. I have not considered it necessary to shew expressly, that my object is consis- tent with Religion; I have merely proved it to be in accordance with the principles of virtue and morality, and these are ever in agreement with true Religion. My duty is simply to state physical facts, and moral truths ; and he who cannot see for himself the force and application of those truths, would not be very capable of ap- preciating them if pointed out by another. With regard to the Engravings they have been expressly designed, by myself, and specially adapted to illustrate the text. I have been careful not to put anything more in them than what appertains to the sub- ject. It is a common fault with all anato- mical plates, presented to the public, that they exhibit too many details. Instead of being confined to the actual subject they were intended to explain, they are crowded XXii PREFACE. with a number of things quite foreign to it, and the student finds himself utterly at a loss, to seperate the parts he wants, from the mass in which they are confounded. Thus in my view of the pelvis, I have re- presented the genital organs alone, or merely as many of the others as are neces- sary to shew their position and connexion. I do not consider it necessary to say ' anything as to the propriety of these pic- tures, more than I have said respecting the work itself. If it be right to gain a know- ledge of the subject at all, it is perfectly proper, as it is necessary, to study the re- quisite illustrations. There is nothing ob- scene, or improper, in such things them- selves, but only in the disposition with which some unfortunate people examine them. The Frontispiece represents the Author, as lecturing, in explanation of his large model, which stand by his side. It is from a Daguerreotype, by the celebrated "Plumbe," taken at Washington City. • This work is intended to be the first of a series, and will soon be followed by sep- erate treatises on, Female Diseases—Ster- ility and Barrenness—Midwifery—and oth- er important topics of the like kind. It was requisite first to give a description of PREFACE. XXiii I the generative organs, and their mode of action, in the Normal state, which I trust the present work has done satisfactorily. The opportunity afforded me of gaining information on all these points, is perhaps unequalled, and I intend to improve it to the best advantage. Numerous cases, of the most curious kind, are submitted to me, owing to the confidence inspired by the lec- tures, which would never have been known by any other person. These cases I shall use, but in such a manner that no one who has trusted to me, need fear that their con- fidence will be abused. I trust that this endeavor to enlighten society, on a subject which it is highly im- portant should be properly understood, will be successful; and I trust no one will mis- take my object, or imagine evil where none is intended. F. HOLLICK, M.D., Stapleton, Staten Island, N.Y. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. GENERAL VIEWS. All living beings, both animal and vegetable, have two functions in com- mon ; one called nutrition, by which they are enabled, individually, to sup- port their own existence: the other called reproduction, by which they bring other beings, similar to them- selves, into existence. All living bodies are continually changing the material of which they are composed ; the old matter is being continually removed, and new matter put in its place. This new matter is obtained from the food on which they subsist, and the chang- ing of this food into the substance of 6 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. their bodies is called the function of nutrition ! The power of performing this func- tion ceases at a certain period ; the power of continuing existence is then lost, and death ensues! Without the function of reproduction, therefore, all kinds of living beings would soon become extinct, by the death of each individual, but by the exercise of this function new beings, like those from which they spring, are brought into existence. Individuals thus change, while the species remain the same. Both these functions are carried on, in all beings alike, both animal and vegetable, on the same general prin- ciples, though the details vary owing to differences in organization and habit. Reproduction is conducted on twq general plans, the one called sexual, which prevails among the more per- fectly organized beings; and, the other called non sexual which prevails among the more simply organized. ' THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 7 Each of these plans has various modes. Non Sexual Reproduction is car- ried on in two different modes, the one called fissiparous, the other gem- miparous ! Fissiparous Generation is the sim- plest of all, and is only found in be- ings very low down in the scale of organization. Each individual at a certain period of its existence divides, spontaneously, into two or more parts, each of which soon grows as large, and becomes as perfect, as the parent. The means by which this singular separation and redevelopment takes place are unknown. The minute be- ings called infusoria, found in water which contains decaying animal and vegetable matter, exhibit, frequently, this mode of reproduction. In one of them, called the volvox, the young may be seen forming within the body of the parent, which by separating liberates them. Possibly this may be the case with the others also, though 8 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. not noticed from their extreme mi- nuteness. In some respects this mode of reproduction resembles that which we occasionally see in some kinds of plants. As, for instance, when we cut off" a slip, or branch, and plant it in the ground; it soon shoots out its roots, and branches, and becomes as perfect as the original one. In fact, some kind of animals may be propa- gated in this way ; the fresh-water polype for instance. This little sim- ply formed being is usually attached to some bit of wood, or other body, and has round its mouth a number of tentacular, or feelers, like little arms, with which it takes its food. If one of these animals be taken and cut into two or three pieces, each of those pieces will begin to elongate, shoot out its tentacular, and become in every respect as perfect as the one it was cut from. Each of these newly form- ed polypi may be again cut up in the same manner, with the same result, and so on. A part of one may also be THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 9 grafted on another, and will grow there, like a graft on a tree. In this simple process there is not, apparent- ly, any kind of sexuality ! Gemmiparous Generation is al- most as simple, and is also found only in simply formed beings. In this mode a bud, or germ, is given off from the parents, and gradually develops itself into a new and similar being. The new being retains its attachment to the original one till it is perfectly developed, and then separates to live independently, and give off buds in its turn. This propagation by buds is com- monly seen in plants, and may also be observed, in precisely the same man- ner, in many animals. The Hydra Viridis for instance, and several others of the lower order of Zoophytes. In the Sponge, Actinia, and some of the Mollu sea, certain parts called Spores, or Gemmules, are detached from the parents, and the new animal is gradu- ally developed from them, like a new 10 the origin of life. plant from a seed ! These Gemmules are generally rounded, and homoge- neous. Sometimes they are formed in all parts of the body indiscrimi- nately, but generally in a particular organ provided for the purpose. Sexual Reproduction is much more frequent than non sexual, and is found in the most perfectly formed, as well as in some of the more inferior beings. In sexual reproduction two principles are concerned, called the male and female principles; and two different kinds of organs for forming these principles, called the male and female organs. In animals the female principle is called the ovum, or egg, and the male principle the semen. In vegetables the female principle is call- ed the germ, and the male principle the pollen! Neither of these two principles possesses the power of de- veloping, or producing any new being by itself ; the two must be added to- gether, and if this union occur under proper Circumstances a new being is the origin of life. 11 developed similar to the parents. The circumstances under which this union takes place vary much in dif- ferent kinds of beings, but in all alike, that are sexual, these two principles exist in one form or other, and must be brought together before a new be- ing can be developed. It is requisite not to lose sight of this fact as it is a fundamental one, and sometimes not very obvious without close observa- tion. In the human species, for in- stance, the ova, or eggs, being devel- oped within the body of the female are not seen, except by the Anatomist, and to most persons it appears very strange when they are told that the human being is developed from an egg, like a bird ; such is, however, the fact, both with ourselves and with all other sexual animals. The celebrated Spallanzani per- formed some curious and highly in- teresting experiments, in order to de- monstrate these points. He took from a female fish some of the ova, or eggs, 12 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. such as are commonly seen when one is opened, and put them in a vessel of water. He then took from a male fish, of the same kind, some of the se- men, and by means of an instrument dipped into it, touched some of the eggs with a small portion ! The re- sult was, that all those e|gs which had been thus artificially impregnated, or united with a small portion of se- men, began to develop, and eventually produced young fish, while those that had not been thus artificially impreg- nated merely decayed away, like other dead animal matter ! These experi- ments have been repeated many times, by the author of this work, and others, and always with the same result, when due care has been taken. With vegetables also the same facts are ex- hibited. These are, in short, the known fundamental facts, upon which a knowledge of the process of repro- duction in all its sexual varieties is based. In some kinds of beings, both ani- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 13 mal and vegetable, the two principles are united in each individual, which is, therefore, both male and female y these beings are called Hermaphro- dites ! In the vegetable world we have many instances of this arrange- ment, but in the animal kingdom they are chiefly confined to insects. The contrary rule is, however, the most general, the male principle being con- tained in one individual, and the fe» male in another, as we find in our own species. Hermaphrodites are of two kinds, per- fect and imperfect! Perfect Hermaph- rodites are those who possess all the attributes of both sexes; they are able, individually, to impregnate themselves and to bring forth their own young. In the summer season many instances of this kind may be found among in- sects. Imperfect Hermaphrodites have both the male and female principles, but are not capable of self-impregna- tion. A union of two individuals is I always required, each one impregna* 14 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. ting the other and being impregnated by it in return. The common leech, (Pontobdella,) is an instance of this kind ; two of them unite, each one being both male and female, and thus a mutual, or double, impregnation is accomplished. The earth-worm, and the snail, also propagate in the same manner. The two earth-worms may often be seen, early on dewy mornings, effecting this mutual action. In plants this arrange- ment is very common, more so in fact than any other. The contrary arrangement, or that where the two principles are disunited, the male being contained in one indi- vidual and the female in another, is the one prevailing among the more perfectly organized beings; as our own species for instance. Here the whole process becomes more compli- cated, and numerous details require explanation. In some instances the union of the two principles is effected without any THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 15 i conjunction of the two individuals, 1 but in others the conjunction is neces- sary. In fishes, for instance, repro- duction takes place without the two sexes coming in contact. The female deposits her ova, or eggs, in different situations according to the species, and the male afterwards deposits the semen upon them ; they then com- mence to develop themselves and re- quire no farther attention from either. This is very simple, but in the greater number of animals the two principles are brought together within the body of the female ; this is accomplished by a union of the two in what is called the act of copulation I This act takes place in many different and curious ways all well deserving of attention. The males of some birds and ovipa- rous quadrupeds have a double, or forked organ. In some insects the organ is accompanied by two strong hooks, to seize and hold the female during the act. In some species of toads the male seizes the female with 16 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. his fore paws and embraces her so tightly that the eggs are forced out; as they leave the body he sheds the semen upon them, to impregnate them, and then fixes them, by means of a glutinous liquor which he discharges, upon the females back, where he leaves them. This animal has, on account of this curious act, been called the Accoucheur or Midwife I In short, the structure of the organs employed, the manner of their action, the time employed, and other circum- stances, vary indefinitely in different beings. The union of the semen with the ova is called impregnation, and this, as we have seen, is of two kinds, ex- ternal, as in fishes, and internal as in our own species, by the act of copula- tion ! In cases of impregnation internally, the impregnated ovum is sometimes expelled from the body of the female and developed externally—as in birds. And in other cases it remains within THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 17 the female's body and is developed internally, as in the human female! We thus find that impregnation and development both, are sometimes inter- nal, and sometimes external. The number of eggs produced by some animals, and of seeds by some plants, is astonishing. A single her- ring, or codfish, will produce myriads of young. Insects are still more pro- lific. In fact some beings would soon overswarm the world, if numerous causes were not at work to keep down their numbers. In other cases we find the number very limited. The eggs of some insects are im- pregnated after they leave the body of the female, like those of the fish. Many kinds copulate, or impregnate internally. Some bury their eggs in the bark of trees, in leaves, or fruit; others in the skins of animals, in the earth, or the water. Spiders enclose their eggs in a thin skin, making a ball of them, and either hang it up, or carry it about with them till they de- 2 IS THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. velop. Beetles may often be seen rolling their ball of eggs before them. The female crab fixes her eggs in the folds of the tail. The snake strings them all together like beads and de- posits them in the sand, or in a dung- hill, for the heat to hatch them. The tortoise also deposits its eggs in the sand, and leaves them to the power of the sun. Birds use the heat of their own bodies. And experiment has proved that artificial heat will answer the same purpose, see, for instance, the Eccaleobion, or establishment for hatching eggs by steam, which has recently been so successful. In fact almost every situation is used as a place of deposit for the ova of some beings who are not fitted for develop- ing them within their own bodies. This is called Oviparous Generation ; The egg, or ovum, possessing all the requisites within itself, when ex- pelled from the body, of developing into a new being, by the simple agency of heat ! THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 19 J In some rare cases, among reptiles and fishes, the egg, when similarly perfected, is hatched in the oviduct, or passage from the ovary, during its expulsion, the young are therefore born alive. This is called Ovivivipa- rous Generation. In Viviparous, or Mammiferous Gen- eration, the ovum is not previously perfected and then expelled, but be- gins to receive nourishment from the mother immediately upon its impreg- nation, and proceeds at once to de- velop itself. This maternal nourish- ment is conveyed through the medium of an organ called the placenta, which is attached to the interior of one of the maternal organs called the uterus, or womb ! This is a kind of hollow receptacle in which the impregnated egg is placed, and in which it devel- ops through all its various stages to the perfect being. The uterus is, per- haps, the most wonderful organ in the body, and certainly undergoes more singular and astonishing changes than 20 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. any other ; in Mammiferous Quadru- peds we find it double. In Viviparous Generation, therefore, the new being is born alive, having been gradually formed, by the addition of new matter from the mother's body to the ovum, or egg. In some animals, as the Kangaroo for instance, the young are expelled from the uterus very imperfectly form- ed, and are then placed in a kind of pouch, on the belly of the mother, where they remain in close contact with the mammae, or breasts, and thus derive additional nutriment till they are further perfected. These animals are called Marsupial, from possessing the pouch, and this has been called Marsupial Generation ! It is, how- ever, merely a variety of the Vivipa- rous, or Mammiferous mode. In those singular animals, the Or- nythorynchus and Echidna, the gene- ration is apparently a combination of the Oviparous and Mammiferous modes, and has been called Monotre- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 21 matous Generation ! It is, however, so rare, and so little understood, that no description can well be given of it. We have thus given a general de- scription of the various modes in which reproduction is carried on, ascending gradually from the simple to the more complicated. We will next proceed to illustrate more fully the most per- fect of all the sexual varieties, the Viviparous, or Mammiferous, by fully explaining all the details of the pro- cess in the human species. The following table, which is form- ed on the same plan as that by Dr. Allen Thompson, in "Todd's Cyclo- pedia of Anatomy and Physiology," article " Generation," exhibits all these varieties in their proper order. 22 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. NON SEXUAL GENERATION! VARIETIES. Fissiparous. When the parent divides into two or more parts, each parts becoming' a new being. Gemmiparovs. When the parent gives off, or throws out, a bud, or part which develops into a new being, like the ieed of a plant. II. SEXUAL GENERATION! VARIETIES. Hermaphrodite. Where both sexual or gans are found in the same individual. Some times the individual im pregnating itself, (Per feet Hermaphrodites,) in others two mutually im- pregnate each other (Im- perfect Hermaphrodites.) Diacius. Where the male and fe- male organs are in differ- ent individuals. Some- times the eggs are impreg- nated externally, without any union of the two ; sometimes internally by the act of copulation.' MANNER OF DEVELOPMENT. Oviparous ! Eggs laid and afterwards hatched. Oviviviparous ! Eggs hatched within the mother's body. Viviparous, or Mammiferous! The young formed from the egg and the mother's blood in the uterus, and brought forth perfect. Marsupial 1 As in the Kangaroo, Opposum, &c. Echid'nare",a'0",'' AS in the 0rnythorynchus, and Instead of* referring to the Plates in the Body of the work, I have thought it better to give a description of each one on a separate sheet facing it. These should be studied first, and then referred to, to illustrate the work at the page indicated. PLATE 1, p 23. EXTERNAL FEMALE ORGANS. No. 1.—The Mons Veneris. No. 2.—The External Lips, thrown back. No. 3.—Internal Lips, or Nymphia, also thrown back. No. 4.—The Clitoris. No. 5.—The Hymen, which closes the en- trance to the Vagina ; through it is a small aperture. No. 6.—The opening through the Hymen into the Vagina. No. 7.—The Meatus Urinarius, or passage from the Bladder. No. 8.—The Perineum. Pl.l Slater* ^fir Ltwis t. tno«/ri brw-idW THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 23 PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. FEMALE SYSTEM. The part which the female has to perform in the process of reproduc- tion is much more extended than that of the male. Her organs are, there- fore, more numerous, and more com- plicated in their action. Commencing externally with our examination we first find the Mons Veneris, or Venus' Mount; an accumulation of adipose matter upon the bones of the pubes, immediately below the abdomen. At the age of puberty this increases in 24f THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. size and becomes covered with hair. Immediately below this are two thick fleshy lips, called the Labia Pudendi, or external lips, which extend down- wards and backwards to within two or three inches of the anus, from which they are separated by the part called the Perineum. Where they join below is called the fourchette, or fork. Before puberty they are firm, and close together; after marriage they become more lax, and usually of a blueish tinge. Like the Mons Veneris they also become covered with hair. On their inner surfaces are a number of minute follicles, or little vessels, which secrete a kind of mucus to pre- vent injury to them from friction against each other. Sometimes from disease, or want of cleanliness, this discharge becomes acrid, excoriates the lips, and causes them to grow to- gether. This is also found to be the case sometimes at birth. On opening these we find two other smaiier lips, called the Labia Minora, THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 35 gins, the sensation experienced when feeling it, is almost identical with that imparted to the finger when pressing the end of the nose. In certain stages of pregnancy, and at some other times, it will allow of the introduction of the finger. The uterus is kept in its place by means of an apparatus called its ligaments. These are two in number on each side, one called the broad, and the other the round ligament! The broad ligament is a fold of the perito- neum, which partly wraps round the uterus, and is then attached to the sides of the pelvis. The round liga- ment is something like to a cord, it grows to the side of the uterus at its upper part, and is then continued downwards till it reaches the bones of the pubes in front, where it is at- tached. If the womb itself, and its ligaments, be healthy and firm, it will generally retain its place, but if they become softened and relaxed it natu- rally falls down, producing a prolapsus, or falling of the womb. 36 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. About three inches from the uterus, one on each side of it, enclosed in the broad ligaments, are found two organs more essential than any others in the process of reproduction. These are called, The Ovaries ! Seen externally each appears about as large as the end of the thumb, of an oval shape, and wrapped in the broad ligaments. On removing the outer covering we find them to be composed of several small round bodies, each about the size of a pea. These are called the ova, or commonly the eggs! Their number varies from two or three to thirty or more, the average being about fifteen or twenty. The Anatomical structure of these eggs it would be tedious and uninteresting to give in detail. They resemble small bags, or bladders, filled with a thin whitish albuminous fluid, similar to what we find in the eggs of other animals. In fact if we were to take an ovum from a human female and magnify it, and then compare it PLATE 3, p. 35. INTERNAL FEMALE ORGANS. A section of the Vagina, the Uterus, and its appendages, from side to side. No. 1-1-.—The thick walls of the Uterus. No. 2.—Cavity of the Uterus. No. 3.—Mouth of the uterus. No. 4.—The Vagina. No. 5-5.—The round Ligaments. No. 6.—The broad Ligament, which is only represented on one side. No. 7-7.—The Ovaries. The Ova are rep- resented by the dots. No. 8,-8—The Fallopian Tubes, down which is seen a black line ; this is the small passage, proceeding from the Uterus to its open end. No. 9,-9.—The Fimberated extremities of the tubes, showing the lingers to grasp the egg- A,-A.—The commencement of the passage down the Fallopian Tube. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 37 with the egg of the common chicken, we should find no essential difference between them. They are in fact the same thing, and the human being is developed from the human ovum, pre- cisely the same as the bird from the egg of its particular kind. It appears that the rudiments of these ova form part of the original structure of the female, they are born with her, and not formed during her life. Their number, therefore, necessarily limits the possible number of offspring, and their entire absence causes incurable sterility or barrenness. Sometimes persons are born without them, but very rarely, and sometimes they will be destroyed or injured by disease. In the lower animals they are occa- sionally removed by the operation of spaying, to prevent the female breed- ing. In old age they generally waste away, as they also do from other causes. After pregnancy we usually find a kind of yellow scar on one of the ovaries, covering a little pit, or hole, 38 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. from which the egg was taken. These scars are called corpora lutea, and their number indicates the number of im- pregnations the female has had. In cases of twins two eggs are impreg- nated, in triplets three, and so on. From several causes it appears that impregnation takes place only on one side at a time, but why this is, or what determines which side it shall be, we do not know. It was formerly supposed that the ova on one side pro- duced males only, and those on the other females only. This, however, is known not to be the case. Females have been found after death with only one ovary, who have borne children of both sexes. And in case of twins we sometimes find a boy and a girl, though the two ova, in all probability, came from the same ovary. This, in fact, was merely a fanciful theory, invented to cover ignorance. In like manner these two organs were formerly called the female testicles, from a mistaken idea that they were glands, and se- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 39 creted a fluid which passed into the uterus, at the time of connexion, mixed with the male semen and so formed the foetus. Many other erroneous suppositions of this kind might be mentioned, but none of them are de- serving of notice. The ova being thus placed outside of the womb, and only connected with it by a ligamentous cord, down which there is no opening, it will he evident that some kind of apparatus is needed by. which they can be brought to it. An apparatus of this kind exists in two passages, called, The Fallopian Tubes ! These are two tubes which are placed one on each side of the womb. They spring from each side of the fundus, at the top, and proceed nearly alongside of the ligamentous cord of the ovaries, which they exceed in length. The end of the tube which joins the uterus is about the size of a quill, and the passage which opens from it would not more than admit a bristle. This 40 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. passage, however, keeps gradually ex- panding, until at the farther extrem-. ity it will admit of a large pea, some- times even the end of the finger. The fallopian tubes are, therefore, funnel- shaped, the small ends joining the uterus, and the larger ends floating freely in'the peritoneal cavity. Their total length is about four inches. The ends which float free are expanded and reflected back, like the wide end of a trumpet. They are also divided into a number of little fingers, or fim- bria. The use of these tubes is to convey the semen to the ovaries, and to conduct the ova into the womb to be developed. The fimbrije, or fingers, are to grasp the egg and conduct it into the tube. This will be fully ex- plained when we treat on Fecundation. If a female be born with no passage in these tubes, or if it be obliterated from any accident or disease, she will be as incurably sterile, or barren, as if she had no ova, because there will be no communication with them. PLATE 4, p 40. THE MALE ORGANS. Section of the Male Pelvis, to exhibit the In- ternal Organs of Generation. No. 1-1—The Testicles. 2-2—The Vas Deferens, or tube from each Testicle along which the semen is eonveyed. 3—The left seminal Vesicle, into which the semen is thrown by the Vas Defer- ens. The right Seminal Vesicle is immediately beyond, on the other side of the Bladder, which hides it. The course of the right Vas De- ferens, behind the Bladder, is shewn by the dotted lines. 4—The Ejaculatory Canal, down which the semen is sent into the Prostate Gland, through which it flows into the Ure- thra. 5—The Prostrate Gland. 6-6—The Urethra, or Passage from the Bladder. The Semen enters the Urethra, from the Prostate at the point marked by the dotted lines. 7— The Veru Montanum, or projecting point, which prevent the Semen from entering, and the Urine from returning into the Bladder. 8—The bladder. The Urine is secreted by the Kidneys, and passed down the tubes called the Ureters, into the Bladder. 9. The left Kidney, the other being on the opposite side of the Spine. 0—The Ureter, or Tube from the light Kidney, which brings the Urine into the Bladder; it opens by a small valve. A— The Penis, a.—The Glans Penis. B—The Scrotum, or Sack which contains the Testicles. C—The Rectum, b.—The Section of the Pubic Bone. D-D-E.—The Spine. The blue ! line marks the course of the Semen. I LEWIS » SHOWN THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 41 We have now given an account of all the organs in the female body which are concerned in the process of generation. There are some few oth- ers, as the mammay glands, and the milk tubes, which are employed in ministering to the wants of the new being immediately it is born, but not immediately in the process of repro- duction itself, we need not therefore describe them here. The whole of the generative organs are elosely connected in one common bond of sympathy, both with each oth- er and with almost every other part of the system. And it is probable that nine-tenths of all the disease and suf- fering which females endure originates with them. In both sexes the development of the sexual organs produces the most re- markable changes in the whole being. These changes are perhaps much more strikingly marked in the female than in the male. If we compare the young girl before puberty, with the young 42 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. woman after, this will be strikingly evident. The change is complete, both in body and mind. The complexion improves, the countenance becomes more expressive, the conversation more intelligent, the voice more har- monious, the whole frame, but partic- ularly the breasts are expanded, and the mind is no longer engaged with childish objects and pursuits. The period when this change occurs va- ries, from eight or nine years of age to nineteen or twenty, according to climate, constitution, mode of life, food, and the manners of those with whom the young person associates. In our country it occurs about the fif- teenth year. Before that time the young female presents the same phe- nomena of growth and development as the young male. But when that period arrives the sexual and nutri- tive organs are at once brought into a state of remarkable activity, so as to almost keep the rest of the system in abeyance. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 43 Menstruation ! Previous to puber- ty the young girl is able to produce sufficient blood for the sustenance of her own body, the same as the boy, and no more, but when that period arrives she produces more than she needs herself! What then is the object of this superabundant nutriment, and what becomes of it % When a female becomes pregnant this additional blood is used to form the body of the child, so that no special drain is made on the mother herself, and after birth it goes to form the milk for its subse- quent support! If the female remain unimpregnated this additional blood is nevertheless formed, but as it would merely clog up the system when it is not needed, an arrangement is made by which it is periodically removed. This occurs about once a month. The blood accumulates in the vessels of the uterus, from the inner walls of which it gradually exudes, and so es- capes by way of the vagina. This is called the function of menstruation, 44 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. and when it occurs the female is said to menstruate, or commonly, to bepoor- ly or unwell! The discharge ordi- narily continues about four days, and the quantity evacuted is about five or six ounces. In healthy females this function is generally performed with great regularity about every month. Conception does not take place before it occurs, nor after it ceases. It stops during pregnancy, and while suckling, because it is needed in the one case to nourish the child, and in the other to form the milk. Great irregularity, hcwever, pre- vails in this respect, and much mis- chief results in consequence. Some menstruate oftener than monthly, oth- ers not so frequently. Some are flood- ing continually while others have no discharge at all. Some females even menstruate while pregnant, or while suckling. Some discharge immense quantities, and others have merely a show. All these irregularities are merely the morbid deviations of a THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 45 natural function, which, in its healthy state should be exercised nearly as we have stated. In different countries, and different individuals, the period when menstruation ceases varies as much as the time when it commences, and there is an evident relation be- tween the two. Thus in Greece, and other hot countries, where the girls begin to menstruate at eight or nine years of age, they usually stop at thirty-five or forty. In Lapland, and other cold countries, where the com- mencement is postponed till nineteen or twenty, the cessation will be pro- tracted till fifty or sixty. In our own country the commencement is usually about fifteen, and termination about forty-five or forty-eight. The cessa- tion of the menses is called the turn °f Mfei ^ generally produces great changes in the person, and for ever after destroys the capability of con- ception. The menstrual fluid differs consid- erably from pure blood, owing to its 46 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. having other substances mixed with it, to make it more disposed to organ- ize. It will not coagulate, but often appears loaded with albumen, and sometimes we see it form into hard clots, or even into membranes. In most cases it has a peculiar smell, but sometimes it is perfectly inodrous. The vessels which regularly secrete it, are the uterine arteries, at the fundus. When it occurs during pregnancy it is probably from the arteries in the vagi- na only. In former times many superstitious and erroneous motives existed respect- ing this secretion. It was supposed to possess the most malignant proper- ties, and to be capable of producing the most virulent diseases. The fe- male while menstruating was called unclean, banished from society, and subjected to harrassing restrictions. In the old Jewish laws we find many instances of this kind, see, for instance, Isaiah, chap, xxx., and in Ezekiel. Even at the present time these notions THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 47 prevail in some places; There is no reason, however, to suppose anything malignant in this discharge, nor do we find it necessary to exclude women from society while it is upon them. Although, for obvious reasons, it is advisable that those who are married should, at that time, keep apart from their husbands. Disordered menstruation is very general, and produces three fourths of the diseases which females labor un- der. The nature of the discharge and the consequences of its irregularity are generally unknown. The majority of young girls know nothing about it till it takes place in themselves, and then, in their ignorance, they often resort to means to check it. Num- bers are made to suffer from pain and disease all their lives after, from these imprudences, and we are gravely told that it is right and proper they should do so, rather than learn the truth re- specting their own structure! Such notions are characteristic of gross ig- 48 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE norance, and innate indelicacy of mind, it is time they were removed. This subject will be referred to again. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 49 PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. MALE SYSTEM. The first part of the male apparatus to be described is composed of two bodies denominated The Testicles ! These are two oval-shaped glands, suspended in a kind of envelop, or bag, between the thighs, nearly in the situation of the female vulva. Their use is to secrete the semen, or male principle. The sac which contains them, called the scrotum, is composed of common in- 4 50 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. tegument, and, like the mons veneris in females, is covered at puberty with hair ; it is divided into two parts by a membranous partition, so that each tes- ticle has a separate cavity. A portion of the peritoneum from the abdomen also encloses each, called Tunica Va- ginalis, and this is reflected, or dou- bled, so as to surround them twice, the reflected portion being called the Tunica Albuginea, from its white color; this is in immediate contact with the testicle. A layer of sub-cutaneous muscles also passes under the scrotum, to as- sist in its support and to raise and de- press it, this is called the dartos! Each testicle Is composed of a number of small vessels, derived from the sper- matic arteries, which are bent into a ser- pentine form, and convoluted into lit- tle heaps, separated from each other by cellular partitions. From the blood, at the minute ends of these little arteries, is formed the semen, by what process we do not know. Immediately where THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 51 the artery ends is a little duct to re- ceive the semen as it is formed. These seminal ducts are very numerous and form a kind of net work attached to the Tunica Albuginea, called the rete testes, or Corpus Highmorianum ! From this net work proceed some twenty or more tubes, all of which are curiously contorted, and at last unite together, on the posterior margin of the testicles, into one common duct, which is bent and twisted in a variety of ways till it forms a hard body called the Epydydymis ! The arteries and nerves which go to the testicles, and the veins and vasa-deferentia which come from them, are bound together in two bundles, each of which is enclosed in a sheath, one of these collections ascends on each side. They are called the Sper- matic Cords! From the epydydymis arises a tube called v The Vas Deferens, which ascends to the abdomen and conveys the semen 52 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. to its destination. The diameter of these excretory ducts is very small, probably not more than the two hun- dreth part of an inch, while their whole length, in one testicle only, has been calculated at five hundred feet I The vas deferens from each testicle ascends upwards into the pelvis, takes a circuitous route nearly as high as the top of the bladder, behind which it descends till it reaches The Seminal Vesicles ! These are two oblong blind sacs, situated behind and nearly at the base of the bladder, between it and the rectum. The two vas deferens empty into these seminal vesicles, but for what purpose is not precisely known. Hunter supposed that the vesicles secreted a peculiar fluid which mixed with the semen and modified it, because he found it differ- ent in them to what it was in the tes- ticles. The most prevalent opinion, however, is, that they are reservoirs in which the semen is contained till it is evacuated. From the seminal vesi- PLATE 5. p, 53. THE MALE ORGANS. A Vertical Section of the Penis, Bladder, and one of the Testicles. A—The Penis. B —The Blad er. C—The Testicle. No. 1-1 —The Glans Penis. No. 2-2—The Urethra, or passage for the Semen aud Urine. No. 3— The Bulb of the Urethra. No. 4—The Veru Montanum. No. 5.—The Prostate Gland, through which is seen a small passage by which the Semen reaches the Urethra. No. 6.—The great Artery running along the top of the Penis; numerous small branches are seen ramifying from it into the substance of the organ. No. 7.—The Seminal Vesicle. No. 8.—The Seminal Tubes in the Testicle. These are all seen meeting together to form the Epydidymis. No. 9.—The Epydidymis, a collection of Seminal Tubes. No. 0.—The Vas Deferens, or Tube into which the Epy- didymis pours the semen. This Tube, it will be seen, joins the Seminal Vesicle, d.—The Corpus Cavernosum, or main part of the Penis. This is seen to be full of pores like a sponge. e.—The Corpus Spongiosum, or lower part of the Penis, which surrounds the Urethra. /. The ejaculatory canal, through which the semen passes from the Vesicle to the Prostate Gland, on its way to the Urethra. "LEWIS *. B«6W« Nrw 'it THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 53 cles proceeds a passage, common to both, called The Ejaculatory Canal, which passes through a heart-shaped body, about the size of a chestnut, called The Prostate Gland, and empties into the urethra, or passage from the bladder, nearly at the neck of the bladder itself. From this passage it is finally evacuated. The urethra is therefore common to both the urine and the semen. The prostate gland is supposed to secrete a fluid which mixes with the semen and still further modifies it. At the place where the semen enters the urethra is found a small projection, called the veru mon- tanum, which appears to block up, as it were, the entrance into the bladder, and so prevent the return of the urine, or the entrance of the semen into that organ. The Penis is a remarkable organ, possing the power of erection ! This power is owing to its peculiar struc- ture. It is composed of a spongy, fleshy substance called the corpus j 54 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. spongiosum, which partly surrounds the urethra, and of two other porus masses, called the corpora cavernosa, which form its main bulk. These parts are all formed of the peculiar < substance denominated the erectile tissue, and the whole organ is some- what like a sponge. The little cells of which it is composed are ordinarily empty, they, however, communicate with certain blood vessels, derived from the spermatic arteries, from which they can be filled. During ve- nereal excitement the blood flows from these vessels into the little cells, and fills them up, the whole organ then becomes swollen and distended, the same as a sponge when dipt in water, and it is then fit for its office, of intro- ducing the semen to a sufficient dis- tance in the female organs. Many different muscles, by their contrac- tion, assist materially in forcing the semen along, by compressing the parts which contain it, and also in the pro- cess of erection. At the extreme end THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 55 of the penis the corpus spongiosum is expanded into what is termed The Glans ! This is very sensi- tive, somewhat resembling the clitoris in females, and, like it, is the principal seat of pleasure. Both the glans and the clitoris are profusely supplied with nerves, to which is owing their ex- treme sensitiveness. I have known men as much inconvenienced by an excess of this sensitiveness as the fe- male before referred to. The glans is covered by a thin fold of skin, called The Prepuce, which can be drawn from over it. This is the part former- ly called the foreskin, and which is cut off in the rite of circumcission. This rite was probably established to pre- vent the effects of uncleanliness in these parts. Around the glans are situated a number of follicles, similar to those in the labia of females, and which secrete like them a peculiar odorus fluid. This secretion, in warm countries, is apt to become morbid and excoriate the surrounding parts, hence 56 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. circumcision. The surgeon has fre- quently to perform this operation now, in many cases of disease. The Urethra, or passage along the penis, by which is evacuated the se- men and the urine, is a membranous canal, lined with a mucous coat, and having numerous mucous follicles in its walls. Its diameter varies in dif- ferent parts, being largest about two thirds down, near what is called the bulb. Many different glands are situ- ated along it, some of which probably supply fluid to mix with the semen, or to counteract the acrimony of the urine. Sometimes children are born without the urethra, the penis being imperforate; in this case there is gen- erally a hole by the bulb, from which the urine escapes. Fortunately this accident is rare. The urethra is ex- ceedingly sensitive, and very elastic. At the inner end it opens into the bladder, which may properly be con- sidered as an expansion of the urethra itself. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 57 The male, like the female organs, sometimes exhibit curious anomalies. both in their formation and mode of action. The average size of the testes is about that of a small Pigeon's egg, flattened, sometimes they are much larger, and occasionally only the size of a marble. The proper number is two, though we sometimes find but one, and then it is mostly large. Sometimes the number is three, one of them being small, or rudimentary. Sometimes we find the deficiency in size, or number, accompanied by a di- minution, and the excess by an increase of power, but not always. In many of these cases where three testicles are supposed to exist, one is merely a small tumor, which will remain un- changed perhaps for the whole of the persons life. Some Anatomists have asserted that the supernumerary body is always a mere tumor, and from its not invariably producing an increased flow of semen, there appears some pro- bability in this. Still, however, I have 58 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. known cases where the whole three were average size, and so much alike that it was not possible to distinguish them. In this case I am inclined to think that three testes did actually ex- ist. I once knew two brothers, one of whom possessed but one testicle, and the other three, as if they had been unequally distributed. In the foetus the testes are placed within the pelvis, from whence they descend after birth. In some rare cases they do not descend till a late period, or even not at all, but still the person may be able to impregnate. This accounts for those curious state- ments we have sometimes heard, of men impregnating without testicles. In these cases they were merely not descended. The average size of the penis is from six to eight inches in length, and from one inch to one and a half in diameter. Occasionally it is found so much larger as to preclude the possibility of sexual connexion, altogether. In other THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 59 cases we find it so remarkably small as to be inefficient. And sometimes it has to be amputated from disease or accident. In these cases various me- chanical contrivances are used to en- able the individual to copulate. In- stances have been known of the penis being double! I once saw a case of this kind where the organ seemed as if it were split in two. Though both parts were capable of erection, only one had an urethra, this was also of the natural size, the other much smaller; when copulating the imperfect one had to be held firmly against the abdomen. Children are sometimes born with the penis adhering to the skin, or the scro- tum ; these malformations are easily remedied by the surgeon. The Semen ! This fluid, secreted by the testicles, possesses the power of exciting the female ovum, or egg, and enabling it to develop into a new being. Its composition is simple, dif- fering but little from many other sub- stances in the body. It is heavier 60 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. than water, of a whitish color, and possesses a peculiar odor, with a sapid saltish taste. Its odor is specific and heavy, but not disagreeable, and re- sembles that of the roots of the orchis, the luli of chestnuts, and the pollen of several plants. In some animals the smell is so strong as to pervade the flesh of their bodies, and in many it is observable at a great distance. According to the analysis of Vau- quelin, it contains six per cent of ani- mal mucus, three of phosphate of lime, and one of free soda, the rest being water. It is probable, however, that there is some substance in it too subtle for the chemist to abstract. The compo- sition of the semen, it will be seen by this, so far as known, is not peculiar, and gives no indications of its power. Physiologists, therefore, were utterly at a loss to imagine what this depend- ed upon. Fortunately a discovery was made which seemed to throw a little light on the mystery. Leewenhoek, • \ I ll« PLATE 6, p. 61. SEMINAL ANIMA.LCULE. This plate exhibits the form of the Seminal Animalcule ; and also its resemblance to that of the Brain and Spinal Marrow, to illustrate the Neuro Spermatic Theory of Generation. No. 1-1-1.-Magnified views of the Seminal Animalculse, enlarged many thousand times. No. 2.—The same in bunches, as they are usually seen. No. 3—The Brain. No. 4.—The Spinal Marrow proceeding from the Brain, with the nerves branching from it cut off. The resemblance between the Brain and Spinal Marrow, and one of the Seminal Ani- malcules will be seen at once, by comparing them together as they are placed side by side. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 61 or, as some say, Ludwig tiaan, in the year 1677, when examining a portion of semen with the miscroscope, dis- covered that it contained an immense number of small living Animalculse. This naturaily excited great surprise, and it was at first thought that their existence might, in this case, be merely accidental. Subsequent investigation, however, established the fact, that they are to be found, at one time or other, in the semen of all animals that has been examined. But only at that period of life, and in that season of the year, when the animal is fit for procre- ation. Thus they are not found in the human being before puberty, after the virile power is exhausted, nor when the individual is impotent. In ani- mals who only copulate at certain times, they are only to be found at those times. They appear, therefore, to be essential to the act of impregna- tion, which in all probability cannot be performed without them. Their form, appearance, and size, differs 62 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. much in different beings. But in the more perfect animals they always re- semble the kind of Animaculre called entozoa. In the human being they have a large flattened head joined to a long tapering tail, much like a tad- pole. They are exceedingly small, associated together in bunches, and very lively in their movements. Many curious statements have been made about them, by Physiologists, which probably are the offspring of excited and ardent imaginations. One man went so far as to suppose he had dis- covered the future human being, per- fect in all its parts, in the little ani- macule. Future observers, however, have not been so fortunate. I believe all has been stated here that is known with certainty. In look- ing for them the semen must be diluted with water, and a small portion put upon a slip of glass ; when this is nearly dry they can easily be seen with a good microscope. The pollen of most plants appear also to be peo- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 63 pled with similar beings, so that pos- sibly they are the originals of all liv- ing things. In many diseases they disappear, sometimes permanently, and at other times they return when the disease is cured. We thus find that the semen is first secreted by the testicles, passed through all its long and tortuous tubes, and then enters the vas deferens, by which it is conveyed into the seminal vesicles. From these it passes along the ejaculatory canal, through the prostate gland, and enters the urethra close by the neck of the bladder. From "the urethra it is emitted, at the time of connexion, into the vagina. Whether it proceeds immediately from the testicles at each act, or from the seminal vesicles, we do not know. From the vagina it is taken to the ova, or eggs, to effect their impregnation, and so cause their development. This final union of the two principles is called the act of impregnation. 64 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. IMPREGNATION. This appears to be accomplished, so far as we know, in the following man- ner. When the semen is emitted into the vagina, it is sucked or absorbed through the mouth of the womb into its cavity, from thence it is farther taken along the passage in one of the fallopian tubes, the free end of which at that time clasps the ovary! The semen, therefore, when arrived at the end of the tube, is brought into con- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 65 tact with the external envelop of the ova, or eggs, and by some means either penetrates to one or more, or by its presence so affects them that they be- gin at once to develop. An egg thus impregnated begins to increase in size, and after a certain time separates from the ovary, it is then caught hold of by the fimbriae at at the end of the tube, and gradually brought down the inside of it into the womb, where it is fully developed into the new human being. The full de- tails of this process will be given fur- ther on. If two eggs are impregnated we have twins, three triplets, and so on. Usually we have but one. What de- termines the number we do not know. Triplets are common ; four at a birth I have known myself, and we have cases stated of five, on very good au- thority, but this I cannot vouch for from my own knowledge. All ac- counts of still higher numbers are doubtless apocryphal. 5 66 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. From several circumstances it ap- pears nearly certain that impregnation only takes place on one side at a time, but what gives the preference is un- known. The time which it takes for the semen to reach the ovary is also unknown, though from certain experi- ments it seems to be not more than two or three minutes. Some Physiologists contend that a portion of the semen itself permeates the envelop of the egg, unites with it, and produces a series of motions which lead to its development; simi- lar to what we see in a portion of fer- mentable liquor when a drop of yeast is added to it. Others suppose that there is merely an Aura, or exhala- tion, a kind of spirit, which proceeds from the semen and effects the change. While others again contend that the fecundating fluid is taken into the blood and reaches the ovaries through the circulation. From observations made upon ani- mals I am confident, myself, that the THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 67 semen actually passes unchanged along the tubes, and I have no doubt but that one of the little Animaculae makes its way through the envelop and so enters the substance of the ovum. This opinion of the actual contact of the semen and ovum is also borne out by analogy. We find the two di- rectly united in the case of fish, as be- fore shown, and we also see the pollen of plants applied unchanged to the fe- male germ. It is likewise a matter of dispute whether there is a special set of ab- sorbent vessels which take up the se- men and conduct it to the tubes, or ovaries, or whether it is taken direct along the passage, by a process of suction ! From certain facts recently observed, it appears that the uterus descends a little at the time of con- nexion, the mouth opens, and draws the semen up into its cavity, from whence it travels along the tube. But, again, other experiments have proved that if the semen be merely artificially lodged 68 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. in the vagina of a female, in a certain state, it will impregnate her. This 1 know to have been done. From these . two kinds of experiments it would ap- pear that there is both a process of suction and absorption, exercised either together or separately. The result of certain practices for preventing con- ception, now so much resorted to, also uphold the same view. Thus some females insert a piece of sponge into the vagina before conception, and af- terwards withdraw it with a string, bringing the semen with it. This of course, by stopping up the mouth of the uterus, prevents the semen being suck- ed through it. In some cases this plan succeeds, but in many others it does not! In the cases where it fails, therefore, we are almost compelled to admit that absorption of the semen must occur from the walls of the va- gina. While in those cases where it succeeds it seems sufficient to mere- ly prevent its being sucked into the womb. Possibly the organs of some THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 69 females are more disposed to one mode of action, and some to the other. An- other practice also, that of syringing the vagina after connexion with some solution, to destroy the semen, or astringe the mouths of the absorbent vessels, is sometimes successful, and at others not, which can only be ex- plained on the same supposition. This being a matter of doubt, I have thought it best to give the facts and arguments in favor of both views. I am inclined to think, myself, that the womb descends, its mouth opens, and the semen is sucked into it, and alone the tube, when the connexion is pleasurable to the female! And that when she experiences no pleasure the mouth of the womb does not descend and open, but the semen is slowly ab- sorbed from the walls of the vagina! This view is supported by many facts which have come to my own know- ledge. The mechanical act of suction may be explained by supposing the excitement to expand the womb, and 70 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. the end of the tube; in which case a vacuum would be created, and the se- men below would of course rush up- ward into it. For impregnation to take place, therefore, it is necessary for the ova, and semen, to be perfect, and for the other organs, in both, to be capable of performing their part in the bringing of these two together. How they per- form it, as we have stated, is not pre- cisely known. One thing is known, however, which may properly be stated here, and that is, the peculiar excite- ment called the sexual feeling, is not necessary to impregnation ! I have known females who never experienced the sexual feeling, and yet bore chil- dren. It is true, nevertheless, that this feeling is experienced in most cases, and further it ought to be so al- ways. Its absence is very frequently attended with barrenness, though not always, and it is rarely accompanied by good health and spirits. Let us adopt whichever view we THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 71 may, as to the precise manner of im- pregnation, its effects still remain the same. Immediately after it has oc- curred certain changes begin to take place by which the impregnated egg is brought into the womb, and eventu- ally developed into a perfect human being. These changes will be ex- plained under the head of Fatal De- velopment ! As a general rule we find that one act of impregnation affects a deter- minate number of eggs, which are all developed at once. In some cases, however, we see that one impregnation will affect an indefinite number, which may be developed in succession, as with the common fowl. In some in- sects the female merely requires im- pregnating at the commencement of the spring, and that one act will fecun- date all the eggs she may lay that season. In many of those that have no wings, not only will these eggs bring forth perfect beings, but these new beings also can bring forth eggs 72 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. fully fecundated, without any other sexual connexion, and their young the same, and so on for nine successive generations ! The impregnating prin- ciple being transmitted, as it were, from one female to another, through all these developments. This accounts for the extraordinary speed with which many of these animals multiply them- selves.' In plants the act of impregnation is essentially the same as in animals, and accomplished in nearly the same man- ner. If we take a flower, as that of the lily, and analyze it, this will be very evident. Within the corolla, or what is commonly termed the flower, are six" thread-like organs, disposed in a circle. These are called the stamens, or male organs! Each thread is called a filament, and is surmounted by a small protuberance called an an- ther, which contains a fine powder, or dust, called the pollen, which is ana- logous to the semen of the male animal. In the centre of the corolla, surrounded PLATE 7, p. 72. GENERATIVE ORGANS OF PLANTS. Analysis of the Flower of the White Lily, to show the Organs of Generation in a plant. a—a—The Petals, or colored Leaves. b— The Stamens, or male Organs. c—The Pistil, or female Organ. d—The filaments, or threads of the Sta- mens. e —The Anthers, or heads of the Stamens. /—The Stile, or Thread of the Pistil. g—The Stigma, or head of the Pistil. ft—The Gerin, or rudiments of the seeds, answering to the Ovary in an Animal. The Pollen, (or semen) is formed on the Anthers ; is shed on to the Stigma, and passes down the stile, (or Fallopian Tube) and so reaches the Germ, (or Ovary.) THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 73 by the stamens, is another similar looking organ, but much stronger and longer, called the pistil, or female or- gan ! The thread of this is called the style, and the top the stigma ! The bottom of the pistil grows upon an- other organ called the germ, which is the same thing as the ovary in a fe- male animal! The eggs from which young animals are formed come from the ovary, and the seeds from which young plants are formed come from the germ ! When the flower is fully developed the pollen from the anther is scattered upon the stigma, from thence passes down the tube of the pistil, and so reaches the germ, which it impregnates. Exactly the same as the semen, when deposited in the va- gina, traverses along the fallopian tube to reach the ovary. The hollow pistil in the flower performing the same part as the fallopian tube in the animal. When the rudiments of the seeds are thus impregnated they begin to perfect themselves, and, when fully 74 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. ripe, will grow into new plants. But if they are not thus impregnated, by contact of the male pollen, they can no more be made to germinate, or grow, than eggs can be developed into new animals without being fecundated by the male semen. Numbers of ex- periments may be easily made to prove these facts, but they are so well known that it is scarcely necessary. Perhaps as good an illustration as could be given is that of the common Indian Corn. In this plant the male and fe- male organs are not placed together. The male organs constitute the blos- som, or flower, which grows at the top. When ripe a quantity of fine white dust falls from the flower, which is the pollen. The female organs constitute what is called the cob, or head of corn. These consist of the germs, or rudi- ments of the seed, and a number of long filaments, called the silk, pro- ceeding from them. When the pollen is thrown from the flower it falls upon the filaments, or silk, which are so THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 75 many fallopian tubes, and by them is conveyed to the seed, which thus be- comes impregnated. If one of these plants be taken and the flower cut off, so that no pollen is formed, and care be had that none is brought from other plants, the seeds formed cannot be made to germinate or grow, tnough they will not appear very different from others that will. They lack, however, the male principle, and are precisely like the eggs of a chicken which has not had connexion with the male bird. Pollen is an interesting object of study with the miscroscope. To the naked eye it merely appears like fine dust, but when examined with that in- strument each grain is found to pos- sess a determinate form, which varies in different plants, being sometimes curious, fantastic, or beautiful. Some plants are Hermaphrodite, or have the male and female principles united in the same flower, as in the lily ; some have them in separate 76 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. flowers j and others even have them in separate plants. This last is the same arrangement as is found in the more perfect animals. Such plants are called dicecius, and if they are not planted near together, so that the pollen can be carried to the female flowers, they will be unproductive. Many curious arrangements are to be found for ensuring this union. It is blown by the wind, carried by Bees, or other insects, and sometimes it is taken by the gardener himself. In the "Aristolochia Clematis" the two principles are so placed that they could not possibly come together by any of the ordinary means. There is, however, a little insect, the Tipula Penicornis, which enters the flower in search of honey, and by rummaging about during its search consummates the act of impregnation, by shedding the pollen upon the germ. The colors and forms of flowers are much altered, by the pollen of One being communicated to the germ of another. PLATE 8, p. 77. ., 1 ""* PREGNANT UTERUS. A Lateral Section of the Uterus, between the second and third month of Pregnancy. No. 1-1-1.—The Walls of the Uterus. No. 2.—The Vagina: No. 3.—The membrane called the Decidua, which lines the Cavity of the Uterus from the very commencement of Pregnancy. The decidua is reflected, or doubled, the two folds being connected by the dotted line. No. 4.—The membrane called the Chorion, which is seen to be covered with Villosities, or little blood vessels, like hairs. No. 5.—The membrane called the Amnion. This contains the fluid called the waters of the Amnion, in which the foetus seems to swim. No. 6.—The Foetus. No. 7.—The Placenta, or mass of Bloodvessels which receives the blood from the Uterus ; it is seen full of ves- sels, like roots.- No. 8.—The Umbilical cord, or Navel String. One end of this is connect- ed with the Foetus, and the other with the Placenta. The blood flows down it from the mother to the child. No. 9-9.—The ends of the Fallopian Tubes, cut off. ,,. ., a FIGURE 2. An Ovum of about twelve days after impreg- nation ; natural size. No. 1—The Embryo. 2.—The Vesicle, or Vitellus. The Embryo and Vitellus are seen to be connected by a cord. 3.—The Amnion. 4.—The Chorion. -a_ FIGURE 3; An Ovum of about twenty days, natural size. Numbers and references same as foi Fig. 2; Fif./. I* B«»1V1 m ■■-*"-----------* '" ' ...I.. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 77 PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. FCETAL DEVELOPMENT. Circumstances do not -allow us to trace the development of the new being at every instant of its progress. We have only observed the wonderful pro- cess at intervals, far between, and un- certain as to their precise chronology. Sufficient is known, however, with certainty, to enable us to give a toler- ably correct explanation of the phe- nomena. Immediately after an egg is impregnated in the ovary of the hu- 78 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. man female, it begins to enlarge, be- comes more transparent, and darker in its color. About the seventh day it has so much expanded as to burst through the membrane which sur- rounds the ova, and so becomes dis- engaged. At the same time the fim- briae, or fingers, at the end of the fal- lopian tube are brought in contact with and clasp round it, so as to en- close it in their embrace. By these means it is brought into the open end of the tube, down which it begins to make its way, the passage enlarging for the purpose. In about two or three days it travels the whole length of the tube, and from its other open extremity passes into the cavity of the uterus. The egg, therefore, does not reach the womb till about nine or ten days after its impregnation. At that time all the primordial parts of the foetus are contained in it, but in [ such a minute and transparent state that they can scarcely be distinguish- ed. It is surrounded by two membra- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 79 nous coverings, the outer one called the chorion, and the inner one the amnion. Between these is a gelati- nous substance, and within the amnion is a fluid, called the liquor amnii. The two membranes, the liquor amnii, and the inclosed ovum, are called the ovulum ! Immediately after concep- tion the uterus begins, to secrete, from its inner walls, another membrane, \ very delicate, called the decidua. This lines the whole cavity, so that when the ovulum passes out of the tube it is met by this lining which seems to ' prevent its entrance into the womb. The ovulum, however, presses upon it and so makes a depression, like a nest, in which it lies. This prevents its moving about, or falling to the bottom of the womb. At the twelfth day the ovum is about the size of a large pea, it is composed of a vesicle containing a thick fluid, called the germ, which corresponds to the opaque substance seen in the white of a fecundated birds' egg, and of a ,n HI liwmnri, «■■«......... 80 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. yellowish substance, floating in it, called the vitellus, which answers to the yolk. The whole being surround- Ied by the amnion and chorion, and resting in the depression of the de- cidua, close by the entrance to the tube, down which it came. The weight of the entire ovulum is about one grain. The embryo commences in the germ, and may now be seen about the size of a pins' point. The vitellus removes away from it, but re- mains connected by a small pedicel or thread-like tube, down which it is gradually absorbed as nutriment. A i small white thread, scarcely percepti- ! ble, may be seen sometimes as early . as this period, being the commence- : ment of the brain and spinal marrow. ; The mouth is visible also from the \ twelfth to the twentieth day, and fre- quently the eyes. These are placed at first on the side of the head, like those of quadrupeds, and move round to the front afterwards. At twenty-five days, the embryo is THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 81 about the size of a large ant, which it also resembles in form. It begins to have a little more consistence, and the future bones begin to resemble carti- lage, or gristle. A small groove may be seen denoting the neck, which thus indicates the separation of the head from the trunk. The weight is three or four grains. The first month, it is about the size of a Bee, and is somewhat like a small worm bent together. The arms may be seen like two little warts. They are first formed under the skin, and shoot out like buds, growing straight from the body ; afterwards they be- come folded together, in a curious manner, upon the breast. The head is as large as the rest of the body, and upon it we can now see distinctly the eyes, like two blaek dots, the mouth, like a line, and also the nose. The lower extremity is lengthened out like a tail. Weight about ten grains. The second month. Every part has now become much more developed. 6 82 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. And the general form is that of a hu- man being. The superior members are much more elongated, and the in- ferior ones begin to be distinguished, forming in the same manner as the others. The fingers are united to- gether by a membrane, like the web on a Frogs' foot. In the ribs, clavicles, and jaw bones, a few points can be seen ossified, the cartilage beginning to harden into bone. The rudiments of the first teeth are also visible. The weight is about one drachm, and the length one inch. At about seventy days the eyelids are visible, the nose becomes promi- nent, the mouth enlarges, and the ex- ternal ear may be seen. The neck is well defined. The brain is soft and pulpy, and the heart is perfectly de- veloped. ijjgery organ is originally formed wa^HSLeither blood or blood vessels. T%.eJ3wculation which afterward takes place in them is merely for their sub- sequent development. The heart is THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 83 perfect in all its parts, and even has a slight motion, before the blood reaches it. Three months. All the essential parts are well defined. The eyelids distinct, but firmly closed. The lips perfect, but drawn tightly together. The heart beats forcibly, and in the larger vessels red blood is seen. The fingers and toes are defined, and the muscles begin to be apparent. The organs of generation are remarkably prominent. In the male the penis, and in the female the clitoris, are ex- ceedingly large. It is somewhat diffi- cult, at first, to distinguish the sex by these organs, notwithstanding their development, as the penis and clitoris are nearly identical in form. It can, however, be ascertained by other cir- cumstances, as the form of the head, ' dorsal spine, thorax, and abdomen. It now weighs about two ounces and a half, and measures four or five inches in length- Four months. The development is 8-i THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. remarkably increased. The brain and spinal marrow becomes firmer, the muscles distinct, and a little cellular tissue is formed. The abdomen is fully covered in and the intestines are no longer visible. A little of the sub- stance called meconium even collects in the intestines, the same as is found in at birth. It now weighs seven or eight ounces, and measures six or seven inches. The bones are ossified in a great part of their extent, and the rudiments of the second set of teeth are visible, under the first. The uterus now is so large that it can no longer remain in the lower part of the pelvis, but is compelled to rise up into the abdomen for more room. This change of position is improper- ly called quickening ! Sometimes it takes place very gradually, so that it is scarcely noticed, but more frequent- ly it rises suddenly, disturbing all the internal organs, and causing them considerable derangement till they ac- commodate themselves to the chano-e THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 85 This occurrence often causes unneces- sary alarm, though the sickness, and other unpleasant sensations, are al- ways sufficiently annoying. This stage corresponds with that in which the young of oviparous animals breaks the shell and escapes. The human being, however, undergoes a remarkable change, and remains in the womb for a period longer than that al- ready past, in order to become more perfected. Up to this time the fostus has not received blood directly from the mo- ther, but has been nourished by other means. At this time, however, a great change occurs; its heart beats, the mother's blood is admitted to it, circulates in its vessels, and ministers to its support. From four to nine months the de- velopment is proportionably much more rapid than during the first four months, owing to the circulation of proper blood. Five months. Every part is consid- 86 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. erably increased in size, and become more perfect. The lungs enlarge, and are even capable of being, to a certain extent, dilated. The skin becomes much stronger. The situation of the nails can be discerned. The meco- nium is more abundant, and lower down in the intestines. The length is now eight or ten inches, and the weight fifteen or sixteen ounces. Six months. The nails are marked. The head becomes downy, from the first development of the hair. A little fat is formed. Length twelve inches, weight from one and a half to two pounds. No indications of intellect- ual faculties. $ Seven months. The whole being has rapidly progressed. The nails are formed, the hair is perfect, in the male the testicles descend to the scro- tum, and in the female the ovaries reach the brim of the pelvis. The bones are tolerably firm, and the me- conium collects in the large intestines. Length fourteen inches, weight about PLATE 9. p. 87. FtETUS AT FULL TERM. This is intended to represent the position of the Foetus in the mother's body, at the full pe- riod of Gestation, and just before Parturition. No. 1.—The Foetus/ No. 2-2-2.—The cut edges of the Womb. No. 3.—The Blacenta. No. 4.—The Umbilical Cord, wound round the body, and communicating with the Pla- centa underneath. IM.:i THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 87 three pounds. Intellectual functions not yet exercised. The two remaining months are . merely devoted to further increase in size and weight. No new phenomena present themselves. Nine months. Every function has become active. The skin becomes col- ored, and perspiration occurs. There are no indications of the intellectual functions, but the animal functions are remarkably active, particularly that of taste, which no doubt leads to the act of suckling, from the natural desire for its gratification. The child can now experience all the ordinary sen- sations of pain, hunger, heat, and cold. The weight is from five to eight pounds, length from eighteen to twen- ty-two inches. It must be remarked, however, that the development varies much in different subjects. Neither the size, weight, nor state of perfection, here stated must be considered as the standard for every case. It is intend- ed merely as an approximation, and 88 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. probably* is near the average. The largest I have seen, weighed fourteen pounds. The smallest, at full term, three pounds. At birth the navel marks the exact centre of the body, but the further we go back towards its commencement the shorter we find the part below the navel in proportion to that above. \cc i THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 89 PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. FCETAL NUTRITION. The manner in which the foetus is nourished is different, at the two dif- ferent periods of its development, as already stated. At no time does it make blood, or any analagous sub- stance, from foreign matter, by which to nourish itself, as it does afterwards in the adult state. The stomach di- gests no food, nor do the lungs inspire air, neither process being needed, nor possible. The blood vessels circulate blood, during the last five months, but 90 the origin of LIFE. that blood is made by the nutritive or- gans of the mother, from her food, propelled into the vessels of the child by her heart, the same as into her own, and finally reaches her lungs to be again renovated when it has become impure ! The child is, therefore, in point of fact, when in the womb, a part of the mother's body, receiving blood from her heart the same as her head, or arm, and no more requires a separate digestion or respiration than either of these organs. The embryo commences, as previ- ously stated, with that part of the egg called the germ ! And is connected, by a small tube, with the vitellus, or yellow portion, which is gradually ab- sorbed down this tube and so supplies the matter required for nourishment. A fresh portion of vitellus is continu- ally forming as fast as it is absorbed, so that the supply is always adequate to the demand. It is formed, like every other substance in the body, from the blood, which may therefore THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 91 be considered as undergoing a prepara- tory change, by being converted into this material. At first the vitellus forms the great bulk of the ovum, but gradually becomes less and less, as the foetus enlarges, till about the fourth month ic disappears, being no longer wanted. The vessels are now perfect enough to circulate true blood, which therefore is admitted into them, by the following means. From the earliest period of gestation, the middle membrane, called the cho- rion, is covered, on its outer surface, with a number of small protuberances called villosities, which subsequently become true blood vessels. About the fourth month these have increased very much in size and number, and have all become conglomefated into one mass, in form like a mushroom. This is called the placenta ! It is al- most entirely formed of blood vessels, which seem to attach themselves at one end, by open mouths, to the open mouths of other blood vessels on the 92 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. inner walls of the uterus. At the other end these vessels are drawn to- gether and lengthened out into a long tube, called the umbilical cord, or na- vel string, which finally enters the body of the child at the navel and so establishes the connexion between it and the mother. The blood vessels in the placenta, umbilicus, and foetus, like those in the maternal body are of two kinds. Ar- teries and veins! The arteries, which come from the left side of the heart, carry the pure blood, which contains all the materials for forming and nour- ishing every part of the system. The veins contain the blood in its impure state, and take it to the right side of the heart, from whence it is forced into the lungs to be purified by the act of breathing. The blood is made im- pure by some of its constituents being absorbed, to form the different parts of the body, and by having thrown n to it a quantity of waste and poison- ous matter no longer needed. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 93 The course of the blood, therefore, is from the left side of the mother's heart along her arteries till it reaches the arteries" of the uterus, from them it passes into those of the placenta, and thence into those of the umbilicus which convey it into the body of the child. When there it circulates in its arteries, supplies the material for its further increase and development, be- comes in consequence impure, and passes into its veins, the same as in the maternal body. From these veins it passes into those of the umbilicus and placenta, and so reaches those of the mother, by which it is conveyed to the right side of her heart, and by its action to her lungs to be again puri- fied when she breathes. This explains what was previously stated, that the child used the mother's heart, lungs, and stomach, while in the womb, and has, therefore, no occasion to use its own. The diameter of the placenta is about six inches, and its thickness 94 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. about one inch and a half. The length of the umbilical cord is from eighteen to twenty-four inches, its diameter , about half an inch. These dimensions are, however, subject to great varia- tion. Instances are mentioned of the cord being five feet long, and as thick as the child's arm. I have seen one myself four feet long. Sometimes it will be very short, not more than eight *ov ten inches. It is composed of one < artery and two veins, twisted together like the strands of a cable, and of a sheath surrounding them composed of the chorion and amnion. Between the sheath and the vessels is a thick ge- latinous fluid called the Gelatine of Wharton. Peculiarities of Fatal Circulation. From the circumstance of the foetus not using its heart and lungs, like the adult, its circulation has several modi- fications. The engine by which the blood is THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 95 forced along its vessels is the heart! This is divided into two distinct parts, each of which has two cavities, the upper one called, the auricle, and the lower one the ventricle, which com- municate with each other by curious valves. In the adult the whole of the impure blood is poured into the right auricle, that from the lower part of the body by the inferior vena cava, and that from the upper part by the superior vena cava. From the right auricle it passes into the right ven- tricle, which pumps it into the lungs, by way of the pulmonary artery; here it is pjirified by the act of res- piration, and then brought, when pure, by the pulmonary veins, into the left auricle, and passes from thence into the left ventricle, which pumps it into the great aorta, and from thence into the smaller arteries all over the body. The two sides of the heart, therefore, do not communicate direct- ly with each other, but there is a strong partition between them. In the 96 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. fostus the arterial blood from the mo- ther, when it leaves the umbilical ar- tery, enters first the liver, runs through its vessels, gives off the bile found in it, and then joins the vena cava infe- rior. By this passage it is taken into the right auricle, along with the im- pure blood of the vena cava. From the right auricle it passes through a hole in the partition directly into the left auricle, instead of taking the indi- rect route by the lungs as in the adult. From the left auricle it passes into the left ventricle, and is from thence dis- tributed by the arteries all over the body. This opening in the partition is called the foramen ovale ! After birth, when the blood begins to pass through the lungs, this passage closes up. By the eighth day it is generally obliterated, often much soon- er, though occasionally it has remain- ed open longer without inconvenience. In some cases the faramen ovale does not close at all. The child then has what is called the blue disease! The THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 97 whole body is of a uniform leaden, or blue color, and the whole system is generally languid and sluggish. The blue color is caused by the dark blood of the veins mixing with that of the arteries. These children mostly die early, but some live to be five or six years old, and one I saw twelve, but this is rare. No remedy can be had for this affliction, and I have never known it to cure spontaneously. Some children are so very dark for a few days after birth as to cause great alarm. This is owing to the foramen ovale being very open and closing slowly. No apprehension need be ex- perienced in such cases, as it soon subsides. The impure blood from the upper part of the foetal body, which is brought down by the superior vena cava, also enters the right auricle, but does not pass from thence through the foramen, like that from the inferior vena cava. By a peculiar arrangement this blood is made to pass down into the right 7 Ill ■' ■ ■ '■—MM————I 98 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. ventricle, and from thence along the pulmonary artery, the same as in the adult state. Only a very small por- | tion, however, passes into the lungs, the great part being taken along a tube called the ductus arteriosus into the great artery called the aorta, where it begins to turn down to the lower part of the body. In consequence of this, the arterial blood going down to the lower part of the body, is mixed with this portion of impure, venous blood, brought by the ductus arterio- sus from the superior vena cava; while that going to the head, and upper part of the body remains pure. And this is the reason why the lower / part is always so much smaller than the upper part, previous to birth j it receives less pure nourishment. The head and chest appear, at an early period, almost as large as the rest of the body. This circumstance also explains ( why, in the great majority of cases, the right arm is preferred to the left, I THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 99 and has more real power. The place where the ductus arteriosus pours the impure blood into the aorta, is almost immediately opposite to where the ar- tery is given off which feeds -the left arm. In consequence of which, in most cases, a small portion of this im- pure blood becomes mixed with the arterial blood, and the left arm is, therefore, in the same situation as the lower limbs, and like them is comparU tively imperfectly developed. The right arm is not liable to any such de- privation. In some cases the inser- tion of the ductus arteriosus is lower down, so that no such mixture occurs. Both arms are then equal, and this ac- counts for the fact that in some per- sons there appears to be no difference. In some cases, no doubt, early habit, or imitation, may overcome this natu- ral inferiority, and even give the pref- erence to the left arm; but such in stances are rare; the general rule is the contrary, and for the reason stated. The ductus arteriosus closes up 100 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. about the same time as the foramen ovale. The two veins which convey the impure blood back to the mother, to be purifiedj originate from the iliac artery, in the pelvis. They pass up the sides of the bladder towards the navel, en- ter the sheath of the cord and so reach the placenta. These vessels are ob- literated about the third or fourth day after birth, and remain afterwards in the form of a fibrous cord. This explanation of festal nutrition is the only one in accordance with fact and reason, though others have been advanced. It has been conjectured that the liquor amnii might nourish the foetus, either by being swallowed and digested, or by being absorbed through the skin. We know, however, that the mouth of the foetus is always firm- ly closed j and the theory of cutane- ous absorption is entirely unsupported. It has also been supposed that the ar- terial blood underwent a great altera- tion in the placenta, and that the re- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 101 turned venous blood was purified there, instead of entering the veins of the mother. It is true that the blood of the foetus is often found to differ from that of the mother in its composition, but what causes the difference is un- known. There is no evidence what- ever that the foetal veins terminate in the placenta, but on the contrary it appears certain that they are continu- ous with those of the maternal body. It must be remarked, however, that though this explanation is probably true, as a general rule, yet still we sometimes find curious exceptions, which we are unable to explain. Thus instances have been known of a fostus being found alive, and well developed, in the womb, that has never had any connexion, by a placenta and cord, with the mother at all! These merely float- ed loose in the liquor amnii, and by what means they were nourished we cannot even imagine. The chief circumstance which favors the notion that the foetus in utero 102 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. really digests, is the presence of the meconium! This is a greenish sub- stance, like excrement, found in the intestines at birth, and even for some time previous. It is sometimes mixed with hair. Whence this substance is derived I cannot say, most probably from the liver. It has been found in children born without heads, or with the mouth grown up, so that it could not come from anything swallowed. Period when the Fatus can live. The precise period at which the foe- tus may live, if it be brought into the world is not fixed. This depends upon the degree of its development, and not on the time it may have been in the womb. One may be as fully developed at six, as another at seven months. The common opinion is that the child cannot live if born before seven months. This, however, is in- correct. Many instances have been known of births at six months, and THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 103 even earlier, in which the child lived, and became strong and healthy. Van Swieten mentions the case of one For- tunio Liceti, who was born before the sixth month. He was not larger than the hand, but grew to the average size, and lived to be seventy-one years old. Dr. Gunning Bedford mentions a similar case, in his translation of Chally's Midwifery. There are even cases mentioned of children living at five months, but it must be borne in mind that it is seldom possible to de- termine the exact period. As a gen- eral rule, however, the child does not live till after the seventh month, though there undoubtedly have been cases where it has lived before the end of the sixth month. The law adopts the medium period and declares the child capable of living at the end of the sixth month, and not before. There is no reason whatever for supposing that it is less likely to live at eight months than at seven, or that it will not live at ull at eight months. j 104) THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. Duration of Pregnancy, The ordinary period of gestation is from thirty-nine to forty weeks, or about nine months. We have seen, however, that it may be much shorter and yet the fostus live. It may also be extended much further without in- convenience or bad result. Some fe- males will gestate for ten months, or more. I believe the French law al- lows the possibility of three hundred days, or ten months and a half. What causes these differences we do not know. When the full period of gestation has arrived, certain phenomena begin to be exhibited which indicate the commencement of Parturition. This is a spontaneous effort of na- ture, by which the foetus, when fully developed, is expelled from the womb THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 105 to live externally as an independent being. It is analagous to the effort by . which a tree casts off its fruit when fully ripe. In speaking of the uterus we al- luded to the extraordinary enlarge- ment it underwent during pregnan- cy, and to the astonishing power of* contraction which it possessed. This contractile power is the imme- diate cause of the expulsion of the foetus. The mouth of the uterus, va- gina, and external parts become grad- ually relaxed as the female advances to full term, so that the foetus can pass through without rupturing them. An abundant secretion of mucus occurs, to lubricate the parts, and keep down inflamation, and thus the grand event is prepared for. The uterus then be- gins to contract, causing the labor pains; the mouth opens and the mem- branes which envelop the foetus, and contain the water, protrude through like a bag, which at last is broken by the continued pressure, and the water, 106 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. or liquor amnii, escapes. The walls of the uterus having nothing now to keep them in a distended state apply them- selves close on the body of the child, contract with redoubled force, and at last force it through the mouth into the vagina, from which it quickly emerges through the external orifice. The uterus soon after begins to con- tract again and soon returns to nearly its original size. A discharge, at first bloody, afterwards whitish, called the lochia, occurs for some time, and when that ceases everything returns to its natural state. The average duration of labor, in natural hirth, is from four to six hours, and in the great majority of cases the head presents and is de- livered first. This being the most fa- vorable arrangement. The bones through which the child passes are formed into a circle; the bones of the pubes in front, the lower part of the back bone, called the sa- crum, behind, and the wide bones, commonly called the hip bones, on the THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 107 sides. The space between the top of the sacrum and the pubes is called the upper strait, and that between the lower end of the sacrum and the pubes is called the lower strait of the pelvis. The size of these straits is usually adapted to the size of the foetus, so that in nearly every case, where the body is properly formed, and well developed, it passes without any great difficulty. The reason why so many females suffer so much in Childbirth, or die in consequence, is undoubtedly owing to the deformities and diseases, brought on by the circumstances of our own ar- tificial and ignorant state of society. These evils will continue so long as ignorance is preferred to knowledge, and all that we can do before society becomes enlightened is, to palliate them as well as we can. There are many habits, and modes of dress, that contribute a large proportion to these evils. Particularly the odious one of wearing corsets, which no doubt origi- nates full one half of all the suffer- 108 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. ing and death that now occurs during parturition. And this barbarous fash* ion springs from a mistaken idea that the human figure, in its natural form, is imperfect, and that it is necessary to "improve" it! What folly, and what lamentable ignorance this dis plays. Any one capable of judging, who is at all acquainted with the exquisite proportions, and admirable adaptations, of the perfect human struc- ture, is struck with their beauty, and must be deeply pained to see the fan- tastic specimens of deformity, called "fashionable shapes .'" I leave it for religious people to decide how near it comes to blasphemy, to say, as many do, in practice, that the Creator made the human body so very imperfect that it wants " improving /" A notion prevails, somewhat exten- sively, that the bones of the pelvis separate, at the time of parturition, to allow the child to pass through. This is a mistake j a slight inspection of this part of the skeleton would show that THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 109 such separation is neither possible nor desirable, and that it would not be of service. The only bone which gives way, generally, is the small one termi- nating the back bone, called the Os Coccygis ! This is often broken from the others, but seldom produces any serious result by so doing. The After Birth. In our account of the development of the foetus we stated that it was surrounded, while in the womb, by three envelopes or coverings. The inner one, called the amnion, contain- ing the liquor amnii; the middle one called the chorion, and the outer one, called the decidua ! The placenta, and umbilical cord, connecting it with the mother for the purpose of nutrition. When the child passes into the world it has to burst through these mem- branes, and of course leaves them in j the womb. It is then connected with J the mother by the cord, one end of j 110 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. which is attached to its navel, and the other to the placenta, still growing to the walls of the uterus. The Midwife cuts through this cord and so liberates the child. The membranes, the pla- centa, and greater part of the cord remain in the womb, and have to be ejected afterwards, they are, there- fore, called the After Birth! The expulsion of the After Birth usually takes place about half an hour after that of the foetus, though it will some- times remain much longer, several days even, without bad result. It is, however, customary for the ac- coucheur to remove it, if it does not come spontaneously in a short time. In some rare cases the membranes unbroken, containing the child and the water, will come away entire. The child will sometimes be born with a membrane covering its face and head, or even its whole body, as close- ly as a glove covers the hand. This membrane is called, THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. Ill The Caul; or, Veil. The superstitious have imagined many virtues to belong, to both the veil and the child born with it. This membrane is, probably, merely a por- tion of the amnion reflected over the head, or entangled upon it during its exit. In ordinary cases the membranes all come with the After Birth, but in these a small portion comes with the child. I do not think there is anything more in the one case than in the other. In some parts of the world the child so born is thought to be " lucky /" In the Highlands of Scotland it is said to possess the gift of second sight! And in this country even, there are people who think they can tell fortunes, and inform persons where stolen goods are taken to. There was an old woman in London City, some little time ago, who became very famous this way. Her success was undoubted, and I once asked a friend of mine connected 112 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. with the police how he accounted for it. Said he, " I was a long time quite puzzled with her, for she told me while disguised, many things of the kind which I could find out by no other means. I however discovered subsequently that she was privately connected with nearly every gang of thieves in the city, and thus her know- ledge was accounted for !" I have no doubt but that many similar cases could be explained in this way. I have, myself, met with several of these favored people, but never yet found one that could see further into a mill stone than any ordinary mortal! The Caul itself is said to preserve the pos- sessor against poverty, fire, water, and sudden death. The belief that it can preserve against water is, perhaps, the most general. And, on that ac- count is has always been popular among sea-faring men. I have fre- quently known them sold, in England, for fifty or a hundred pounds, when properly authenticated. In the Lon- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 113 don Times, about ten months ago, was an advertisement stating where one could be had at a certain place, and that to prevent trouble the price was fixed at sixty guineas ! I once met with a sea captain, a very intelligent man, too, who firmly believed that nothing but a Caul which he possessed had preserved him through his stormy perils. " I was once," said he, " in a sinking condition, and nothing saved me but the Caul which I tied to the mast!" I presume most captains would rather trust to a sound ship, and good weather. A boy was once picked out of the River Thames, by London, drowned, with a Caul, sewn up in a bag, hung round his neck, to keep him safe! A short time ago I assisted at the birth of a child whose head was covered with one of these veils, which nearly caused its death. Being busy with the mother I did not see this covering at first, till the at- tendant found it could not breathe. I then removed it at once and the child 114 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. began immediately to cry. It is, therefore, always necessary to see if anything of the kind exists. In cases of compound pregnancy each foetus has usually a separate am- nion, and chorion, though not in all cases. One decidua surrounds them let the number be what it may. Some- times twins will be expelled at once, but generally there is a short interval between ; which may, however, be ex- tended to days, or even weeks. Some- times one will die, it is then either ex- pelled, or remains after the other is born, in which case it may become ex- siccated and remain in the uterus for a length of time. M. Chally men- tions that he saw a foetus of this kind in a woman who had not conceived for thirty years. Miscarriage and Abortion. From various causes the foetus is liable to be prematurely expelled. If this occur before the seventh month THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 115 it is called Miscarriage or Abortion. After that period premature labor! This accident is most likely to occur about the tenth week, or third month, and is more frequent with male children than with females. Pregnant females are now exposed to many causes of Miscarriage which might easily be avoided if they only knew more of their own structure, and the influence of external agents upon it. In many cases the disposition to such accidents is imparted in early life, and the evil remains unknown till it is too late to remedy it. It would be foreign to the purpose of the present work to enter fully into the subject of Childbirth, Miscarriage, and other female affections, but as it is so important for all to be acquaint- ed with these subjects, and as many now have sufficient good sense to wish for such knowledge, I intend, in a short time, to publish a work exclu- sively upon these topics. 116 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. EXTRA UTERINE CONCEPTION. Sometimes the egg is accidentally prevented from gaining the uterus, af- ter it is fecundated. But so powerful is the impulse imparted to it by the semen that it will develop itself in any part where it may happen to be. In some cases it does not leave the ovary but remains and develops there. In other cases it will be taken into the tube, but not down its whole length, it will then form in the tube. I have two beautiful models representing ac- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. "^ 117 tual cases of this kind. It may even be taken, by the motion of the body, after it becomes loose, to various parts of the pelvic, or abdominal cavities, where it will attach itself and develop in the same manner. In other cases it has been known to imbed itself in the walls of the womb, and develop there. Several instances of Extra Uterine Conception have come under my notice, and I have bestowed con- siderable attention upon them. The immediate cause, most probably, is a want of action, or stricture, in the fal- lopian tube ; but what leads to that we cannot always say. Sometimes the development will be indefinite, having no resemblance to a human being; while at others it will be tolerably per- fect, and attain a large size, as large in some instances as a foetus of five months. It is always, however, a monstrosity, imperfect in some par- ticular. The placenta and cord are found, as in the Inter Uterine Concep- tion, as also the amnion and chorion, 118 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. but only occasionally a membrane ana- lagous to the decidua, this being prop- erly a product of the Uterus alone. The expulson of these products can- not of course be effected in the ordi- nary way, they have either to be re- moved by an operation, which is rare- ly resorted to, or else left to nature, in which case they may terminate in various ways. Some authors say they will occasionally be absorbed, and so disappear. More generally, however, labor pains come on at the ordinary time, decay commences, an abcess is formed, and the remains of the foetus work through the opening. If she does not immediately succumb, the wound may then heal and the woman perfectly recover her health. Cases of this kind have often been met with. I remember one in which all the parts did not come away under six months; the head was nearly perfect. Some- times the pains will return every nine months, for a long time, before decay commences. In other cases, instead THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 119 of decaying, the foetus, with its ap- pendages, will become callous, and form into a hard tumor, which may remain during the individuals life, without causing serious results. I saw a lady very recently who had carried one of these tumors for nine years! And I assisted at the dissection of an- other in whom it had existed for thir- teen years. It was as large as the head, and fixed on the right side of the abdomen, apparently just underneath the skin. These accidents, though serious, are not necessarily always fatal. Females have been known to suffer from them several times in suc- cession, though sometimes the next conception will be perfectly natural. Very generally, however, the first case is followed by barrenness. Formation of one Child within another. Foetal development will sometimes occur under more extraordinary cir- 120 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. cumstances even, than those already mentioned. One foetus may be contain- ed within another. A case of this kind occurred at Verneuil, in France, in the year 1804. A child, named Bissien, who differed in no external particular from other children, but always com- plained of something being the matter in his left side. A small tumor appeared there early, but the development of his body and mind went on as usual, and nothing particular was noticed till he was thirteen years of age. The tumor then suddenly increased in size, he be- gan to pass from his body a quantity of putrid matter mixed with long hair, fever set in and he died when about fourteen. Upon making a- post mor- tem examination there was found, be- tween the intestines and spine, the re- mains of a foetus. The teeth, nails, hair, and bones, were not like those of a mere infant, but evidently indicated that the inclosed foetus was as old as the one in whom it was formed! Such cases are extremely rare, and 1 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 121 believe this was the first that was properly observed, or explained. Sin- gular as it may appear, it can be readily explained, if the description we have given of the process, and or- gans, of generation be borne in mind. In examining the eggs of birds it is common to find some, called double eggs, that have two germs! These, if incubated, will develop two young, which may sometimes be separate, but more usually they are united in some part. In like manner one of the ova in this boy's mother must have possessed two germs instead of one. Both of these would of course be im- pregnated and begin to develop, but instead of remaining separate, one foe- tus passed into the abdomen of the other, before it was covered in. Here its development slowly continued, both before birth and after, till the death of both ensued.—[Dictionaire des Sci- ences Medicales, vol., 34. p. 175. Some speculative Physiologists have contended, from these and similar 122 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. facts, that an impregnated ovum might be developed externally, as well as in- ternally, providing it was kept warm and moist, and had connexion with some blood vessel, from which to de- rive nutriment. This, however, it is not possible to determine. These cases of Extra Uterine Con- ception effectually demolish the old absurd theory, that something passes from the ovary, at the time of connex- ion, to mix with the male semen in the uterus, and that the foetus begins to form there in consequence. If this were the case it would be necessary to suppose, in these Extra Uterine De- velopments, that the foetus was first formed in the uterus, and then, by some unexplainable process, and for no obvious purpose, taken to the out- side, or fixed in the tube, where we find it. We may rest assured that no such absurdity exists in reality, though it may in the dreamings of some fact neglecting Theoriser. We know, be- sides, that the embryo is not to be THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 123 found in the uterus before the tenth day after conception. The only discharge made by the fe- male at the time of connexion is that of mucus, the same as is poured out of all mucus surfaces when execited. This is merely for the purpose of lu- brication, and is no way essential to conception, or pleasure. False Conceptions, Moles, Sfc. A variety of abnormal productions are found in the uterus, called moles, and false conceptions, which are in no way connected with impregnation. Such as tumors, polypi, &c. The mole of generation is an abnormal de- velopment of the impregnated ovum. It has various forms, but most fre- quently resembles a mere shapeless mass of flesh, enclosed in an envelop full of fluid. On carefully dissecting this substance we can usually discover some traces of the foetal structure 5 at other times we find nothing but the 124 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. bag of fluid. Sometimes the produc- tion will remain attached to the mother by a kind of cord and placenta, and develop into a shapeless monstrosity ; at others it will be entirely discon- nected. These growths probably origi- nate from a blighted ovum, which re- tains sufficient life merely to develop, but not to organize. I have known them to attain a large size, and some females to have many of them in suc- cession. What causes moles we do not know, nor can we always distin- guish one from a natural pregnancy. Occasionally they assume the most fantastic shapes, and resemble the most incongruous objects. It is this cir- cumstance no doubt, which gave rise to the statements we sometimes hear, and read of, in old works, of women bringing forth animals, plants, See.! I have3 seen some moles, myself, which could be easily mistaken for such things, by persons who did not atten- tively examine them, and whose im- aginations were a little lively. A k'"d] THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 125 of imperfect Animacule, called the Hydatid, is also found in the uterus. It merely resembles a bag of jelly, and floats in a fluid. Its size varies from that of a pea to a chestnut. Some- times only one is found, at others a ' number. When removed from the fluid in which they live and put in warm water they will often move, which shews them to be alive. Simi- lar beings are formed in the liver and kidneys. Their origin is unknown. Deformities, Monstrosities, and Marks.. Monstrosities. These anomalous productions, called also lusus natures, are of various kinds. They may either have more parts than natural, or less, or unnatural parts. Sometimes there is a confusion of parts only. Thus we sometimes have a foetus with two heads, or an additional number of hands, or feet. And sometimes we have them with only one leg or arm. Then again we see others with super- 1126 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. numerary parts that resemble no mem- ber in particular. And at other times we find some of the parts transposed, particularly the viscera. The causes of these accidents is not well under- stood. An opinion prevails very gen- erally that they are altogether owing to some personal violence, or strong mental emotion experienced by the j mother during pregnancy. Thus fright, ' sudden joy, or the sight of any disa- greeable object, are thought to be able to produce them. In many cases this opinion is probably correct, so far as the mere fact is concerned, but some very absurd notions are entertained as to the manner in which these causes operate. I shall, therefore, endeavor to give a scientific explanation. In our chapter on Foetal Develop- ment we shewed that the different parts of the foetus were formed in succes- sion, each one at a particular period; and so invariable is this rule, that if any part be prevented from forming at the appropriate time, it will not form THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 127 at all! This explains to us at once the origin of those monstrosities, that exhibit deficiencies of certain parts. At the time when those parts should have developed, some disturbing cause deranged the principle of growth and prevented them from doing so. They, therefore, remained in abeyance while the other parts proceeded as usual. This accident frequently happens to the feet, hands, toes, and fingers, which may then often be found unde- veloped under the skin. Sometimes to the roof of the mouth, or the lip, pro- ducing a deficient palate, or hare lip. In short, in almost every part. The production of these monstrosi- ties with redundancy of parts, as two heads to one trunk, or the reverse, three or four arms, or legs, or of two foetusses more or less perfect, united at the front or back, must be explained in a different manner. In the chapter on Extra Uterine Pregnancy we stated that sometimes two germs were found in one egg, and we there gave the de- 128 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. | tails of a case where both developed, and one became inclosed within the other. This, however, is a rare oc- currence; generally these extra germs become attached, or grafted, as it were one upon the other, before their com- plete organization, thus producing the supernumerary heads, arms, legs, bo- dies, &c, which we occasionally see. It is also possible, in case of twins, that two perfect and distinct foetusses may, by some means, come in contact before the skin is formed, and so ad- here ; as in the " Siamese Twins." It may also be supposed possible for the growth of any part to be accelerated more than the others, instead of re- tarded, and thus produce deformity. Occasionally we see instances of six toes, or five fingers, &c, continued in a family for many generations, it is then called hereditary. What caused it at first, or why nature adheres to the imperfect type, we do not know. That a vivid impression made upon the mind of the mother may often THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 129 cause these derangements is probably true, but it is wrong to suppose that they always do so. If such were the case we should not be likely to find many children perfect, or, at least, monstrosities would be more frequent than they are. Besides we often rind those who have been se- verely frightened, or who have seen the most disagreeable objects, bringing forth perfect children, while others who have never felt alarm, or dislike, produce monstrosities! And, further, we find monsters among brutes, who cannot be supposed much under the dominion of imagination. In plants also it is common to see a deformed growth from some disturbing cause. The fact is that most females experi- ence some fright, or see something re- pugnant to them, while pregnant, and if they chance to bring forth a mon- strosity, they at once begin to think over these occurrences till they recol- lect one, more plausible than the others, to which they ascribe it; if the child 9 130 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. be perfect, however, the circumstance is forgotten. In this, as in predic- tions, failures are never noticed! I have no doubt, however, but that the mother's imagination may, and does, in many cases, produce these results! Though not so invariably as is sup- posed. Disease in the father or moth- er, or malformation of her organs, may do the same. There are also, proba- bly, other causes with which we are not yet acquainted. The peculiar appearance called a mother's mark, is also supposed to be caused by the mother having longed for the object which it is thought to resemble. And since most pregnant females long for various things, and these marks are very indefinite in their appearance, it is no wonder that when one appears it is connected at once with one of the desired objects. I have seen many of these marks, but never yet met with one, that did not resemble any one of half a dozen dif- ferent things, as well as another. And THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 131 in most cases, if two different persons were shown the same mark, without any previous intimation, they would probably each decide that it resembled a different object. There are plenty of marks without longing, and plenty of longing without marks. The " im- agination " is no doubt concerned in these resemblances, but it is after they are seen, not before ! The color of these marks may be brown, yellow, red, blue, or black. Their organization indicates at once their real nature, and shews that they are the result of disease! A portion of the skin has become affected by some means, and produced the same effects as a bruise, or other injury. After birth they usually remain sta- tionary, except one kind ; these con- sist of a number of little round reddish spots, like the projections on a rasp- berry. They are mostly prominent, flatish, and connected with the skin by a little neck. And are caused by an obstruction of the ends of the little 132 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. blood vessels under the skin, which makes them enlarge and become en- gorged. They are precisely the same as what are called Aneurisms, or en- largements of the arteries. In some cases it is necessary to operate upon them, or they increase so as to be dan- gerous. Some marks are covered with hair, the same as moles, and are then thought to resemble Mice, and other animals. How far, and in what way, can the Fe- tus be influenced by external agency 1 One of the most serious and impor- tant questions for the human race is, how far, and in what manner, can the child in the womb be affected, for good or for evil, by external circum- stances 1 That it can be so affected has been already shewn, while speak- ing of monstrosities, and deformities, but there are other effects which may be produced by these causes, which, though not generally known, are of THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 133 still more consequence. That disease can be communicated directly from the mother to her child is notorious, many children having been born with the same disease upon them as their mothers were suffering from. And even from the father, there is good reason to suppose, disease may be communicated also. But this is rare; v the greater number of children are born apparently healthy, though dis- ease and suffering prevail so exten- sively in after life. What is the rea- son of this, are all the diseases con- tracted after birth produced entirely by causes then operating 1 I think not. And for the following reasons! The internal organs may, undoubt- edly, be affected in a similar manner to the external ones, and this fact is of the highest importance. There is no doubt, on my own mind, but that the pre- disposition to disease, in most persons, is imparted in the womb! We have seen how disease, or strong emotion, may either prevent the formation of 134 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. the external organs altogether, or make them imperfect, and there is every rea- son to suppose that the same causes may prevent the proper development of the internal organs also. And what follows from this 1 Why, if the lungs are imperfectly formed they will be liable to contract disease from various causes, which would not affect them if they were perfect. And so of the stomach, intestines, brain, and every other part. This shows us how im- portant it is for pregnant females to avoid all mental and bodily agitation. It ought to be a matter of the most careful study, as to what circumstances are best suited for ensuring the health of the mother, and the perfect develop- ment of the child; but at the present time, though the greatest considera- tion is bestowed on this matter, so far as the lower animals are concerned, yet, when the human being is concerned, it is altogether a matter of chance, no care, or thought being bestowed upon it. The consequence of this criminal THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 135 neglect is, that many diseases are be- coming daily more prevalent than formerly, and the whole race, in many respects, much deteriorated. The cir- cumstances in which females are placed, in the present state of society, during gestation, are very frequently injurious. Some are over worked and some underworked; some are in con- tinual mental agitation, while others exist almost in a state of torpor, worn out with the very weariness of mental inactivity. The whole system of the child is affected inconsequence, it is imbecile, irritable and unstable in mind, and imperfectly formed in its body. Hence we have the present fearful liability to consumption, dyspep- sia, and other complaints; the tendency to which, I have no doubt, is imparted while in the mother's womb, by the disturbing causes around her. Some of the Ancients were much more phil- osophic in relation to this matter. They were not so depraved, nor short sighted, like many of the present day, 136 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. as to think it wrong to understand such things, but on the contrary they made it a study, as all enlightened and truly moral people would do. Among the Greeks and Romans, we are told, a pregnant female was sacred ; she was exempt from all improper labor, and no one was allowed, under penalty of punishment, to vex or disturb her in mind. To strike her was death. She had also many privileges, posses- sed by no one else. Thus if she met ' a criminal going to execution her word alone could pardon him. Some of the Greeks used to surround their women, while in this state, with pictures and statues representing the human figure in its most beautiful proportions, be- lieving that these external representa- tions would operate, through the mind of the mother, upon the child. For the same reason the Spartans took them to the battle field, that they might hear, and be influenced by the songs and triumph of the victors. Some Physiologists have contended THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 137 that the peculiar frame of mind in which the parents are at the moment of conception, has a great influence upon the future child. And, though it is not easy to give a reason for it, yet still I am inclined to think such is the case to a certain extent. Many facts are recorded, and some I have seen myself, which favor this idea. Sever- al idiots have been known to result from conceptions during intoxication ; and possibly many an unfortunate slave of uncontrollable passions, owes his failings to the merely animal state of his parents when he was conceived. It is true there is one circumstance which seems to throw a doubt on this theory, that the child may be influ- enced by the mental emotions of the mother. And that is, no nervous con- nexion has been discovered between the two! If we examine the umbilical cord we find there the blood vessels inclosed in their sheath, but no nerve! It is possible, however, that nerves may exist so small as to have escaped 138 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. notice. And, besides, we know suffi- cient of the nervous power to be aware that it will operate at some distance. Two bodies in different electrical con- ditions may affect each other without any direct connexion ; and in the same manner the nervous system of the mother may affect that of the child, without any connecting cords, the blood, or the substance of the sheath, being a sufficient conductor. In fact, the nervous system of the mother and child, are similar to the two printing machines at the ends of a magnet- ic telegraph. In these if the operator print any sentence at one end, the other becomes simultaneously affected and prints a fac-similie. And, in the same manner, if any impression be made upon the mother, it is highly probable that a corresponding one will be made on the child in her womb, at the same time! But even supposing that no nervous connexion exists at all, there is still another fact to be taken into consider- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 139 ation which fully warrants all that has been said on this matter. And that is, the ovum from which the fatus first originates, and every particle of matter which it afterwards acquires during its growth, until the time when it leaves the womb, all are derived from the mother ! At the time it is born every atom of matter in its body has been taken from the maternal blood ! -And this alone, it appears to me, makes it more than probable the child may be influenced through the mother. If the blood be impure, or if it do not contain the re- quisite materials, it is impossible for the body of the child to be made per- fect from it. We might just as rea- sonably expect an artisan to turn out a good strong article from his work- shop, when he had been supplied with bad material. And how many causes there are which tend to impoverish the blood, or make it impure. If the mother's health is not uniform the blood will differ in its quality at dif- ferent periods, so that the different 140 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. parts of the foetus will not be uniform- ly developed. Strong mental emo- tion will, we all know, accelerate or retard the circulation of the blood; and I have reason to. believe will alter its quality also. A friend of mine once told me that he bled a person who was in danger of apoplexy, brought on by violent rage, and that the blood, when drawn, had precisely the same appear- ance that it has in a high fever \ Now we should reasonably suppose that the blood, when diseased by the fever, would affect the formation of the child it was sent to; and I think it equally as reasonable to suppose that, if it be disturbed by a fit of rage, it will be equally prejudicial! Now there are few females who do not experience the most violent passions during preg- nancy, and I have no doubt but that the formation, and future health, of their offspring suffers in consequence. Another important reflection is, that the ovaries form a part of the original structure of a female child. They be- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 1.41 ing formed at the very earliest period. Therefore, when a woman is pregnant with a female child, her blood not only forms the body of that child, but also the rudiments of the ovaries from which its children are to come! So that she may be said, in one respect, to originate her child and grandchild at the same time! Here we have three generations in one individual. and it is obvious from this how true is the maxim, that, the sins of the parents are visited upon their offspring, even to the third and fourth generation ! The consequences of a single vicious act, in one individual, may afflict a great number of posterity for a great length of time. Mothers should know, there- fore, how to attend to their own health and well being, both on their own ac- count and on account of their descend- ants. It is suicide to neglect them- selves, and something worse to neglect their children yet unborn. The formation of the human foetus, either perfect or imperfect, is regulated 142 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. by fixed laws, as certain as those which move the earth in its orbit 5 It is possible for us to ascertain many, at least, of these laws, and it is our duty to do so, in order that we may know how to insure to each child, at birth, a perfect mental and bodily organiza- tion. This will be the first real step toward a regeneration of society, and unless this step be taken all others will have but imperfect success ! Causes of the difference of Six. This is one of the mysteries of gen- eration that we have not yet been able to explain. Facts have not been ob- served, nor experiments made, by which this point could be determined, we are, therefore, left almost entirely to theory. The most popular notion, and the one which appears at first sight most plausible, is that which supposes the sex to be imparted by, that one of the parents whose sexual feelings were the strongest at the time THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 143 of connexion ; but still no reason can be given for this. I have, however, made as many enquiries as 1 could, in regard to this matter, and, judging from what I have heard, there seems some foundation for the supposition. It is probable that the sex is alrea- dy established at the earliest period, possibly even in the germ. In the following chapter on the " Theories of Generation," it will be seen that some Physiologists imagine the new being to be derived from one of the seminal Animalculae, and if so we may readily conceive that they are sexual, and that the sex of the Animalcule de- termines that of the future human be- ing. This appears the most satisfac- tory theory of all. The opinion that males come from one ovary and fe- males from the other, has been already shewn to be erroneous. And so also is that which supposes the semen of the right testicle to form one sex, and that from the left the other. The se- men from both mixes together in the 144 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. seminal vesicles, and many men with but one testicle beget both boys and girls. Nevertheless, though it is not possi- ble to say what actually determines the sex, it does seem possible, some- times, to cause a change, where one sex has been produced for a long time! I have given advice on this subject very frequently, and in many cases it has been followed with success. The instructions, however, vary so much for each individual case that it is not possible to enumerate them here. I was once applied to by a gentleman who had five daughters by a first wife, and he had already three by a second. He was exceedingly desirous for a son, and we consulted respecting it. I ad- vised him to a certain course, which he pursued, and the result was as he desired. There is no certainty, how- ever, in this, and nothing could be promised beforehand. There are no means known by which the sex can be ascertained before birth, THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 145 at least none that are certain. Ob- servation, however, has gathered some loose facts bearing on this matter, by which the prediction has been often made successfully ; but these are of a nature to be disclosed only in consul- tation. Sterility and Impotence. A female may be barren from vari- ous causes, some known and others unknown. There may be some im- perfection, or disease, in the vagina or uterus ; the tubes may be imperforate, or the ova imperfect, or absent. In some of these cases assistance can be rendered, while others are irremedia- ble. Sometimes the organs are all perfect, but do not act properly. This seems owing to a peculiar torpid state of that part of the system, which can often be removed by appropriate medi- cal treatment. In treating these cases of sterility however, it should always be carefully ascertained, before resort- 10 146 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. ing to medicine, whether any defect exists in the organs themselves; for want of this care much mischief has been done. In speaking of medicine, in rela- tion to this infirmity, I wish to cau- tion my readers against supposing, that there are any remedies which have a certain and specific action upon it. Many persons are deluded by the announcement of " Cordials," and other preparations, for removing ste- rility, which are but mere impositions. The only treatment likely to succeed, is that which first ascertains the cause, and if possible, removes it. In those cases which arise from inaction of the genitals, a general plan of treatment is mostly indicated, and not a local one. Impotence in the male, may be caused by imperfect development, malforma- tion, the want of semen, or by its be- ing imperfect. Malformations are of various kinds, not necessary here to describe. The absence of semen may arise either from the loss of the testi- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 147 cles, or from their being exhausted. Its imperfection may be caused by disease, or by excessive indulgence. Many malformations can be remedied, the power of the exhausted testicles often restored, and the semen again made capable of impregnation, but the loss of the testicles, it is evident, is irremediable. Sometimes both parties will be per- fect in every respect, and each capable with another partner, but yet they will be sterile with each other. This arises from some want of adaptation, either physical or moral, which can only be ascertained by consultation with both. In many cases I have known this to result from slight physical impedi- ments, the removal of which at once removed the difficulty. Moral unfit- ness is more difficult to treat, but is often capable of adjustment. People who are too amorous, or too cold, are thought to be not apt to conceive. As also those who are too studious, or too plethoric. There are, however, so 148 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. many exceptions to these rules that they cannot be much relied upon. I have already stated that the sexual feeling is not always necessary to im- pregnation, but I must also admit that the want of it is frequently a cause of sterility. I have known many cases in which fruitfulness has resulted from sexual excitement being produced, in one or the other who were previously indifferent. The means by which this excitement may be produced, or in- creased, cannot here be stated, as they vary so much in individual cases. Suffice it to say, that, when rightly used, they rarely fail. It is often difficult to determine whether the fault is with the male or the female. But still it is necessary to do so, if possible, before any course of practice is resorted to. Females are found more often sterile then men, because they are more subject to dis- eases which destroy the tone of their organs. In one hundred cases I have found THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 149 two to arise from organic defect in the male, and fifteen from organic defect in the female. Of the remaining eighty-three, fifty appeared to arise from the female, and nine from the male; the other twenty-three were cases of unfitness for each other, of which seventeen were adjusted. Of the whole number thirty two were cured. This is a subject, however, which requires a much more extended notice, and in my other work I intend treating upon it fully. I am now collecting all the information upon it I can, and the cases constantly coming under my no- tice are very numerous. 150 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IK THE HUMAN SPECIES. THEORIES OF GENERATION. There are few subjects upon which Physiologists have less agreed, than the nature of the process by which the human being is evolved from the gen- erative elements. Drelincourt collect- ed two hundred and sixty-two different theories, which had been propounded by different writers, all of which he shows to be " groundless hypothesis," and he ends by proposing one of his own as groundless as the rest. The following are the principal ones, of THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 151 which all the others appear to be modi- fications. Theory of the Spermatists. Accord- ing to this theory the male semen is the essential element, from which all is formed, and the female ovum is merely the receptacle where it finds its appropriate nourishment. The se- men here is regarded as the seed, and the ovum as the soil. Theory of the Ovists. This is the very reverse of the other. According to this the ovum, or egg, is the real rudiment of the foetus, and contains all the materials for its first formation. The male semen merely stimulating, or exciting it to action, as the warmth of the sun does the seed in the ground. The Theory of Syngenesis supposes that certain products derived from both elements unite together, and by their combination produce the new be- ing. One modification of this theory supposes that there exists in the gen- erative organs a formative substance, which is capable, under appropriate 152 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. circumstances, of modifying itself, or undergoing a kind of metamorphosis. Another supposition is that there ex- ists a number of organic molecules, which accumulate in the genital or- gans, and constitute the rudiments of the new being. Theory of Evolution. This theory, like that of the ovists, supposes the foetus to be solely derived from the mother. But it also supposes that it existed before sexual intercourse. That is, it supposes the rudiment, in the germ, to contain the foetus with all its parts perfect, only on a small scale, and that this perfect rudiment always existed. The ordinary process of re- production, therefore, according to this view, consists merely in the evo- lution, further development, or growth, of one of these germs into a perfect human being. The celebrated Halier 'i even contended that these germs al- ways existed, previous to their evolu- tion, and that, therefore, the germs of all the human beings who are to be THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 153 born, already exist in the ovaries of our females. And consequently the first female must have contained the germs of all the human beings to come after. These rudiments were thought to be enclosed one within the other, like a nest of boxes, the outer one de- veloping first. Theory of Epigenesis. This theory is mainly based upon, and supported by, the facts which have been gathered from actual inspection of the foetus at its different stages. It supposes that there is no such thing as a rudiment or germ pre-existing, but that the or- gans are all successively formed, and undergo various modifications before being fully developed. In the same manner as the different parts of a ma- chine are formed from the raw mate- rial. Modern discoveries have gone far to make this view the most plau- sible. It has been shewn that the human | foetus, at one period or other of its growth, is organized after the same 154 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. type as each of the lower classes of animals. So that from its commence- ment till its birth it goes through suc- cessive stages of development, repre- senting the whole animal kingdom! At one period its circulatory apparatus is like that of reptiles, at another its respiratory organs are gills, like those of a fish, and so on. Many cases of monstrosities and deformities are thus explained, by supposing that the de- velopment of the foetus was arrested at the time when it resembled one of the inferior beings. Each of the lower animals, in like manner, goes through successive stages, representing all those below it in the scale of organization. Some authors explain in this manner the origin of all the different tribes of beings, both animal and vegetable, from a simple germ, originally de- rived, by electrical agency, from in- organic matter. Those who wish to see this hypotheses fully discussed, may consult the " Vestiges of Crea- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 155 tion" a work abounding with curious information on these subjects. The following extract, from " Fletcher's Rudiments of Physiology," illustrates this point very well. " It is a fact of the highest interest and moment that as the brain of every tribe of animals appear to pass, during its development, in succession through the types of all those below it, so the brain of man passes through the types of those of every tribe in the creation. It represents, accordingly, before the second month of utero-gestation, that of an avertebrated animal; at the sec- ond month, that of an osseous fish ; at the third, that of a turtle; at the fourth, that of a bird ; at the fifth, that of one of the rodentia; at the sixth, that of one of the ruminantia ; at the seventh, that of one of the digitigrada; at the eighth, that of one of the quadrumana ; till at length, at the ninth, it compasses the brain of Man ! It is hardly neces- sary to say, that all this is only an ap- proximation to the truth; since neither 156 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. is the brain of all osseous fishes, of all turtles, of all birds, nor of all the spe- cies of any one of the above order of mammals, by any means precisely the same, nor does the brain of the human foetus at any time precisely resemble, perhaps, that of any individual what- ever among the lower animals. Never- theless, it may be said to represent, at each of the above-mentioned periods, the aggregate, as it were, of the brains of each of the tribes stated; consisting as it does, about the second month, chiefly of the mesial parts of the cerebellum, the corpora quadrigemina, thalami optici, rudiments of the hemi- spheres of the cerebrum and corpora striata; and receiving in succession, at the third, the rudiments of the lobes of the crebrum ; at the fourth, those of of the fornix, corpus callosum, and septum lucidum ; at the fifth, the tu- bor annulare, and so forth; the poste- rior lobes of the cerebrum increasing from before to behind, so as to cover the thalami optici about the fourth THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 157 month, the copora quadrigemina about the sixth, and the cerebellum about the seventh. This, then, is another example of an increase in the com- plexity of an organ succeeding its cen- tralization ; as if Nature, having first piled up her materials in one spot, delighted afterwards to employ her abundance, not so much in enlarging old parts as informing new ones upon the old foundations, and thus adding to the complexity of a fabric, the rudi- mental structure of which is in all ani- mals equally simple." Neuro Spermatic Theory. This theo- ry I believe originated with myself, and was first explained by me in my lec- tures at New York, in the Spring of 1844. I consider that one of the se-1 minal Animalculae, at the time of con- j nexion, is lodged in the female ovum, ' or egg, and there finds itself in cir- cumstances favorable to its further de- i velopment into a human being. So ! far as this goes there is nothing new ! in my theory, such ideas having been j 158 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. entertained before. All former advo- cates of this view, however, have sup- posed, that the Animalcule forms the actual and essential rudiment of the whole human being; and that the ovum merely receives and nourishes it. In this form, however, the theory is liable to many objections, which make it untenable. There is every reason to suppose that, the male and female principles are both essential to the actual formation of the foetus, one as much as the other. And according to my view they play an equal part. I consider that the Animalcule is the rudiment, not of the whole body, but merely of the nervous system! And that the matter of the ovum organizes and forms the bones, muscles, and all the remainder! The shape of the Animalcule is strongly confirmatory of this view. We find it like a tad- pole, with a large, round, flattened head, tapering off to a long, thin ex- tremity, or tail. Now this is almost precisely the same form as that of the THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 159 great mass of nervous matter in the human being. This consists of a large, round, flattened mass, the brain, which tapers off into a long, thin ex- tremity, the spinal marrow, like a tail! [See Plate 6.] It is by the nervous system that we think and feel, and these functions are so different from those performed by inanimate beings, that we can scarcely imagine them to originate from unor- ganized matter. But by adopting this theory we suppose the thinking and feeling part of our system to originate from a being already animate, and possessing the germs of these func- tions. It is true we cannot explain the origin of the Animalcules, nor is it necessary. They may either have al- ways existed, or they may be produced by some agency with which we are unacquainted. The organization of the vitellus of the ovum, into bone, muscle, &c, is easy enough to admit, as .it is only similar to what is con- stantly occuring in the body. 160 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. According to this theory, therefore, the rudiment of the nervous system is derived from the male, but its subse- quent modifications occur through the female. Which agrees with the facts observed respecting the mental, and moral influence of the mother upon the foetus. And also with the fact that disease, and other bodily infirmities, are more frequently derived from the mother. The difference of sex also, as before stated, can be explained by supposing the seminal Animacula; to be sexual. It must, however, be borne in mind that this is merely a theory, like the others, and my readers must accept, or reject it, according as it ap- pears orobable or otherwise. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 161 PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. SUPERFCETATION. By this, is meant, the impregnation of a woman already pregnant! It is often asked whether this is possible, and as a question of Medical Jurispru- dence may arise from it, we will give it a little consideration. As yet this is a disputed point; but it is universally admitted that, if it be possible at all, the two impregnations must take place nearly together; prob- ably within less than an hour of each other. In my own opinion, however, 11 162 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. it is doubtful whether such an event can occur, except under circumstances, which we shall mention further on. After connexion the organs are so re- laxed that they cannot perform their functions again, till rest has restored their tone. And, in case of conception, before this capability returns, certain changes have taken place, which effec- tually prevent the same thing occuring again. Immediately after conception the uterus begins to secrete, from its inner walls, a thick mucus, which blocks up its mouth, and the entrance to the fallopian tubes; and this evi- dently prevents any further transmis- sion of the semen to the ovaries. In a short time this mucus organizes into the decidua, which closely lines the inner walls of the womb, and ob- structs the passage still more com- pletely. The second conception, there- fore, could only occur before the se- cretion of the uterine mucus, conse- quent upon the first, and in that short time it is very improbable that the or- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 163 gans would be sufficiently recovered from their exhaustion. But it appears very unlikely that such an event would have been left possible, under any cir- cumstances. The advocates for the possibility of superfoetation base their belief on cer- tain curious cases of pregnancy, which cannot, as they think, be explained by any other means, though I think other- wise. Females have been known to bring forth children at full term, and in some two or three months, or even longer, to bring forth others, also at full term. Now this seems to make it almost cer- tain, that a second conception occur- red while the woman was yet pregnant. In other cases two children have been born, at the some time, of differ- ent colors, which appears to prove still more conclusively, that a female may conceive from connexion with one man while she is yet pregnant by another! These cases, however, can be easily explained, without adopting the theory 164 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. of superfoetation. In cases of com- pound pregnancy it has frequently been found that one of the foetusses has been retarded in its growth, so that at the ordinary period of gesta- tion it will not be fully developed. Sometimes this imperfect one will Be expelled with the others, but at other times it will be retained for weeks, or months, till it is more perfect. It has even been known for one of these cases to remain for years, as in the instance mentioned by M. Chally, where a foe- tus was taken from a woman who had not conceived for thirty years. It is even possible that when two or more ova are impregnated at one time, the development of one may, by some ac- cident, be retarded till a later period. Another explanation can also be given, which will apply in many cases. The uterus has been found in some females to be double ; that is, a kind of mem- branous partition divided it into two parts, one of which communicated with one ovary by the right fallopian THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 165 tube, and the other with the opposite one by the left fallopian tube. Each of these cavities would have a sepa- rate mouth, and be quite distinct from the other. A formation of this kind I have met with myself. - Now in slich a case we may admit the pos- sibility of an impregnation taking place, in one of these cavities, from the right ovary, without interfering with the other ; so that at a later pe- riod an impregnation could take place in that also, from the left ovary. The two cavities would in fact be almost like two distinct uteri, and there would be little more wonderful in their im- pregnation, than in that of two differ- ent women. This is the only kind of superfoetation which I can admit. And I have no doubt but what every case we have recorded, if all the facts were known, would admit of one or other of these explanations. 166 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. THE SEXUAL FEELING, Its origin, and use, with the conse- quences of unnatural, or excessive^ indulgence. The sexual feeling, with the major- ity of human beings, is undoubtedly the strongest that is experienced. A proper gratification of it is, probably, productive of the highest physical en- joyment known, and is also at the foundation of the holiest and dearest moral and social delights. At the THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 167 j same time its ignorant and uncontrol- led indulgence originates more vice, and misery, than all other causes put togther. This feeling cannot be suppressed, nor even subdued, to any great extent, without even greater injury than re- sults from its unregulated license. Operating on all alike, with different I degrees of intensity, depending on pe-1 culiarities of organization, it is an uni- j versal impulse, from which society! cannot escape. We have, therefore, simply our choice between the curse of its unreasoning indulgence, and the blessings which results from its ra- tional gratification. The idea that it is necessarily im- moral, or injurious in any way, is absurd, and easily disproved both by fact and reason. Nor is it correct to speak of it as being merely an animal, or sensual, impulse; it is certainly con- nected with a physical function, but it is one from which results the deepest and most sacred, moral, and social in- 168 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. terests and obligations! Sexual de- sire originates the holy feeling of love, the great tamer of mere brute passion, and the great sweetner of life. Ob- serve, even in the lower animals, the mutual indifference of male and female when there is no sexual desire between them, and then note the difference when this desire is excited. The turbulent unruly master becomes the meek submissive slave, a tenderness is observed in their intercourse before unknown, and the enjoyment of both is increased a hundred fold. With the lower animals this delightful in- tercourse takes place only at certain periods, because the sexual feeling is only then excited; with human beings the feeling is constant, and, therefore, their intercourse is lasting, and its manner tender, and elevated. Love, in short, refines the manners, elevates the tastes, gives a new charm to life, and is the chief bond that holds society together. But this love would not be born THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 169 without the sexual instinct. It is not experienced till that instinct is awak- ened, nor when it is extinguished. It is true that the mere animal feeling may exist without the more exalted sentiment of love, but it is not possible for love to exist without the sexual in- stinct at least, if not desire, having been felt. The accounts that we have of Platonic love, or love without phys- ical emotion or desire, must be exam- ined with care, and received with cau- tion. The parties either deceive them- selves, or wish to deceive others. They either do not know the real cause of their passion, or knowing, they wish to conceal it. To prove this it is only necessary to observe those in whom the sexual organs have been destroyed, or in whom they are imperfect. Those poor victims of ig- norant tyranny, the Eunuchs of the East, never exhibit any feelings to- wards females different from what they show for males; neither love, nor yet friendship even, seem to form 170 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. any part of their character. I myself have met with some few persons natu- rally imperfect, who never experienced sexual promptings, and they all felt indifference, or even positive aversion, for the other sex. This is the case with the greater part of those who prefer-to live single. It must be admitted, however, that there are some persons who love in- tensely, and yet never have sexual de- sire, nor take pleasure in sexual inter- course. But even in these persons it is the sexual instinct which induces the fond attachment, though they may not be aware of it. For if they had been mutilated while young, like the Eu- nuchs, they would never have experi- enced any desire or fondness for the opposite sex ; nor would they, if ever so perfect themselves, have any affec- tion for another person who they knew was imperfect! All this shows that the same agent still is at work, though it may not be so apparent. In those who have become impotent in after THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 171 life, from any cause, love may still ex- ist, though all desire and capability be gone; the recollection of past pleasures, and the association of ideas still keep- ing up the flame. My object here, I wish to observe, is merely to show how far the moral emotions of love may depend on the sexual instinct, and not to put these moral emotions forward as an apology for the mere sensual feeling. I do not consider that any apology is needed for this feeling more than for any other that we experience. Like the desire for food and exercise, it results directly from a want of the system ; it is part of our nature '. and I have yet to be convinced that we are so imperfectly formed as to require any part to be removed, or so wise as to know where the pruning should be practised. That this feeling is grossly abused is no ar- gument against it, any more than it would be against temperate eating and drinking, because we would have drunkards and gluttons. It is idle to 172 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. expect that it can ever be subdued to any great extent, nor is it desirable or necessary that it should be; all that is required from human beings is, to place its gratification under the con- trol of reason. But this they will never do, so long as they are not rea- soned with about it; while they are left in complete ignorance, passion alone prevails, and of course leads them as it does the mere brutes. I consider, in short, that the sexual feel- ing is a legitimate and moral source of pleasure in itself, and that it is also connected with other sources of enjoy- ment which add greatly to the sum total of human felicity. Its develop- ment is necessary to our mental and physical perfection, and its proper gratification to our health and well being. I know there are persons whoiwill affect to condemn this doctrine as im- moral, I must, however, beg leave to say that I distrust either their judg- ment or their honesty. I have spoken THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 173 the simple truth, and without reserve. If there are any persons so unfortu- nate as to fear the truth, or doubt its propriety, I pity them, but cannot con- sent to suppress it on their account. The delights of the domestic circle also, like those of love, spring from our sexual instinct. The desire for children, our love for them, as well as their very existence, depend entirely upon it. And these things form no inconsiderable item in the amount of human happiness; besides being strong inducements to a settled and peaceable mode of life, and thus leading to civili- zation and obedience to the laws. In short it is easy to show that the development and well being of man- kind, individually and socially, de- pends, to a great extent, upon the due and proper gratification of our sex- ual feelings. We ought, therefore, to know how those feelings originate, and in what manner they should be indulged and regulated. This brings us to speak of 174 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. The Moral and Physical Causes of the Sexual Feeling. The sexual feeling, like every other i physical sensation, results from a spe- cific excitement of the nerves in cer- tain parts of the body. In the male this part is chiefly the glans, on the end of the penis. In females it is either the external lips, the interior of the vagina, or Os Tincae; but most usually the clitoris. The exciting cause is generally mechanical irrita- tion, by copulation, or otherwise, to which persons are led by an intense desire. This desire is first produced by some unknown sympathy between the brain and sexual organs; after- wards the recollection of former plea- sure increases its intensity. The nature of this feeling cannot be described, since there is none other with which it can be compared. When fully developed it is, perhaps, stronger than any other, and exerts a more powerful influence, on human THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 175 action. Like hunger, it originates from a physical want, which if not gratified, operates injuriously on the whole system. We often see instances of persons so completely carried away by this feeling, as to sacrifice to it all else that they hold dear ; fame, for- tune, nay even life itself, are madly given for its indulgence. In others the broken health, and ruined mind, bear witness either to unnatural grati- fication, or a continual harrassing struggle between unquenchable desire, and a stern sense of moral duty. Some are, happily for them, so favor- ably organized, as to be exempt from these struggles and temptations, or only exposed to them in a slight de* gree. On this particular point much ignorance prevails, and great injustice is shown. All persons are judged by the same standard, and presumed to be equal, which is far from being cor- rect. Temperate indulgence,-in one, may require more mental effort than total continuence in another; for no 176 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. two are organized alike. And many- a-one is highly praised for a virtue, which, if the truth was known, they deserve small credit for, since they had but little temptation to do wrong. While others are condemned, without mercy, for failing, under circumstances when few could have kept their stand- ing. With some persons it is more difficult, and even more annoying, to indulge, than it is with others to ao- stain! It would, therefore, be evi- dently unjust, to estimate the virtue of both by the same rule. My object in making these remarks is not to apologise for licentiousness, nor yet to give the impression that when a person abstains, or is temper- ate, it is merely from a lack of sexual desire. Though I believe such is the case nine times out of ten. My object is to state a simple fact, which, when we decide upon the virtues, or failings, of poor human nature, should always be taken into account, if we wish to act with justice and charity. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 177 The mere physical desire is con- trolled, and regulated, by the peculiar notions of duty, or expediency, which our education has implanted within us. Desire and duty are often at variance, and it depends on their relative strength as to which shall prevail. In the poor wretch whose education has been vi- cious, or neglected, and whose animal desires are strong, the sense of duty is comparatively weak, and indulgence is sought at any rfsk. But his more fortunate brother, whose moral im- pressions are strong, and who has been accustomed to control his feelings, first reflects upon the propriety, and probable consequences of such a step ; thus controlling the first impulses of passion, and possibly overcoming it altogether. This shows us that the proper way to remove licentiousness is, not to merely declaim against it, or enact laws for its suppression, but to cultivate, properly, the superior parts of man's nature. This operates in two ways ; his mere animal impulses 178 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. are counteracted, and opposed by moral ones, and are also considerably decreased in their intensity! For the cultivation of the moral and intellectual powers operates directly on the sexual organs, and diminishes their action. The immediate physical cause of the sexual feeling is, the full development of the sexual organs, from which it directly results, as hunger does from an empty stomacji. The time at which this development is complete, varies, as we have seen before, accord- ing to climate, the society which young people keep, and their mode of life. By favorable circumstances it may be long retarded. In our own society it is nearly always precocious, to the great injury of human beings. In the majority of cases, directly this feeling is experienced, the desire to gratify it becomes irresistable, and either natu- rally or unnaturally the gratification is obtained. This leads either to open licentiousness, or to the equally great evil of solitary vice. It is an indispu- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 179 table fact that there are few young persons but what fall into one or the other of these evil practices at a very early age. This is the great curse of the day, it is a physical and moral blight which is fast deteriorating our race, and it is our imperative duty to find out, if possible, a cure for it. The I only means hitherto depended upon have been, keeping young people in ignorance regarding sexual matters, and verbally declaiming against licen- tiousness. That these means are in- operative is proved by daily experience. The most ignorant, so far from being the most virtuous, are generally the reverse, and mere denounciation of any action seldom prevents its being per- formed, when inclination prompts to it. Besides, preventing young people from knowing the nature of the sexual feeling, does not prevent them from ex- periencing it! It will arise in them in > spite of us, and is much heightened by their ignorant curiosity. When they do experience it, what do they know 12 180 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. about it 1 Confessedly nothing! How then can we expect that they should refrain from any means of indulgence which come in their way. They know no reason why they should not. But, it will be said, they have heard all these indulgences denounced! So they have, verbally, but their igno- rance was so great that they did not know anything about what was de- nounced ! And they may, therefore, well stand excused, if they assume that any particular indulgence they desire, was not the one condemned; particularly as their ignorance is es- teemed a merit. Their reason being dormant respecting these things, from lack of knowledge, they are precisely like mere brutes, left to animal feeling only ! There is, therefore, no wonder that they often aet like brutes. The best course would be to treat young persons with confidence, and act honestly towards them. As soon as they have arrived at that age when the sexual instinct is awakened, let THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 181 them know its nature, the circum- staces under which it may be gratified, and the consequences of improper in- dulgences. By thus treating them as rational beings we gain their confi- dence, and they will also feel a pride in meriting that confidence in future, which will act most usefully as a re- straint. Whereas, by shunning all communication with them on the mat- ter, we leave them entirely to the in- fluence of their own blind desire, and for ever after are unable to know the truth respecting their actions. Con- fidence must be shown to them,'and in the beginning too, or we shall never have it from them in return. If this more enlighted course was adopted I have no doubt but it would diminish the evil; but still it would not entirely remove it. And for this reason, the sexual feeling is now devel- oped too early, before the mind is suffi- ciently matured to fully understand what is imparted { This is the grand cause of the evil, and it must be re- 182 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. moved before a sweeping reform can be accomplished. The origin of this precocious virility is to be found in the circumstances by which young people are surrounded. Years before Nature herself would develop it, the sights they have seen, the conversa- tion they have heard, have so led them to think upon it, and so stimulated their curiosity as to call it forth. A child cannot walk out, but his eyes and ears are assailed with sights and sounds all bearing on this topic. And in many of our public prints, and in a vast deal of the current literature, it is the same. The imprudent conver- sation of parents even, or their incau- tious actions, often lead to the same result. In short, a child very soon discovers that this is the main subject of interest with nearly every person he knows, and consequently it becomes so with him at once. The mystery that surrounds it adds powerfully to that interest, and the futile attempts THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 183 to keep him in ignorance only make him more determined to know. Giving children exciting food and drink, not allowing them sufficient bodily exertion, and leaving their minds unoccupied with some innocent pursuits, are also powerful auxiliaries. A good physical education, accompa- nied with proper diet, makes the body muscular, disposes to active exertion, and keeps down all sexual excitement by exhausting the nervous energy in another way. In like manner, when the mind is fully and pleasantly occu- pied otherwise, it cannot be directed to these matters. Idleness, of body and mind, is more closely connected with licentiousness than many people suppose, particularly when accompa- nied by high living. At the present time the sexual feel- ing is usually engendered at the most inexperienced age, and when young persons are least under the control either of themselves or other. It is on this account that advice, or warn- 184 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. ing, has so little effect, and that giving them information even, does not pro- duce all the good it is otherwise capa- ble of. But if they were properly educated and employed, both bodily and mentally, the period 01' puberty might be postponed till a more ad- vanced age, when the reason would be riper and the experience greater. It is not possible to say at what age puberty would occur, if it were not thus precociously established, though there is no doubt but it would be much later than now. Some authors, par- ticularly the celebrated Hxjfeland, in his " Art of Prolonging Life," have maintained that sexual intercourse should not be indulged in, by the fe- male, till the twentieth, and, by the male, not till near the twenty-fifth year. Whatever we may think of the possibility, or advantage, of this prac- tice, in a proper state of things, it is not practicable now, nor would it be beneficial if it were. There are few at the present time, except those who THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 185 are imperfect, that are either desirous or capable of this control, and though prudential considerations may forbid marriage till that age, they neverthe- less practice licentiousness, in one form or another. I am of opinion, my- self, that marriage should follow close upon puberty, if it do not a thousand evils result; and I do not think that, under proper arrangements, the desire would originate before gratification was proper. Over excitement of the sexual or- gans, in early life, dwarfs and deforms the body, and disposes to, or engen- ders disease ; it makes the mind im- becile, and the disposition irritable and unhappy. At all periods it is more destructive to health and happi- ness than any other cause. The amount of sexual intercourse proper for any person cannot be stated, as it varies with individual peculiari- ties. There is no doubt, however, but that, as a general rule, it is practised far too much. I cannot, however, 186 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. agree with some visionaries, who con- tend that it should only take place to a sufficient extent to propagate the species. I believe that it is also a proper and useful mode of enjoyment, under proper control, and that it brings about certain physical and moral ef- fects which cannot be produced by any other means. To understand this we must study the connexion between the sexual organs and the rest of the system. In our description of the sexual or- gans we stated that their development produced a complete change in the whole being; gradually removing all the attributes of youth, and converting boys and girls, in every respect, into men and women. The whole body perfects itself, the mind expands, the feelings alter, and the entire character changes. So entirely dependant are these changes upon the development of the sexual organs, that if the development be prevented no such changes occur. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 187 Those who are made Eunuchs in early life remain children always. Their muscles are lax and weak, their bones light, their hair thin, and their voice shrill. Some even have no beard, and little or no haitpn the pubes. The mind, like the body, is also imperfect; great numbers of these unfortunates are Idiots, and none of them exhibit but the most inferior mental power. The feelings likewise are entirely different from those experienced by others. They have no love or reverence for the other sex, no fondness for children, no friendship or attachment for any one. They are irritable and passionate, but cowardly and revengeful. Poor wretches, with all the weakness and depravity of human nature, and none of its strength or redeeming qualities. Their lives are miserable, but short, as they usually die of premature old age. Several of these beings have come under my notice, some mutilated by accident, some purposely, and oth- ers who were naturally imperfect. 188 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. Our opportunities of observing fe- males in the same state of depriva- tion, are, of course, very rare; still cases have been known, sufficient to show that it has an equally deteriora- ting effect on them. We also have many proofs of this in the case of animals when castrated. Compare the impetuous Bull with the patient Ox, the imperfect Horse with the entire one, or the Capon hatching eggs, and afterwards nursing the chickens like a Hen, with the haughty bellicose Rooster, and this will be evident. Even if the deprivation occur in af- ter life it will still produce a change. In French books we find several in- stances narrated of soldiers who were mutilated by accident, in war. In all of them the character underwent a total change. Many brave men be- came arrant cowards, and others who had previously been noted for their high spirits, and joviality, became dull and melancholy. Similar effects may THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 189 be produced by debauchery, which, by destroying the tone and power of the organs, affects the system the same as if they were destroyed. This is highly important to be borne in mind. Not only is it necessary, for the perfection of the whole human system, that the sexual organs should be fully developed, but I contend also that it is necessary for the subsequent healthy action of the system that these organs should be duly exercised. If they are not, the whole being will deteriorate. Undue continuence, in those properly organized, produces a state of nervous agitation which completely unsettles the mind, disposes the body to various diseases, and makes the disposition ir- ritable and unhappy. It is true that cases of this kind are very rare, as most persons succumb to the tempta- tion, and resort to some kind of grati- fication. Still I have known some such, and others are upon record. ! 190 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. Erotomania. Sometimes the desire for sexual in- tercourse, when ungratified, rises to a perfect furor, overpowers the reason, and causes the individual to make any sacrifice, or run any risk, to appease it. This state of excitement is called Nymphomania, or Furor Uterinus, in women, and Priapismus, or Satyriasis, in men. It is also called in both, Ero- tomania. In females it is produced by an irri- table state of the uterus, vagina, and pu- denda, and is frequently much height- ened by an over excited imagination. It is in fact a real madness, or intense degree of hysterics. Its effects are exhibited in different ways, according to the character of the individual. Some will betray the utmost degree of wantonness, or even obscenity, in their language and manners. Some will be silent and melancholy, but unable to conceal their desire, when anything THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 191 rouses them from their lethargy. Oth-N ers will be subject to a kind of fit, they will cry, laugh, shout, and be at times completely delirious. The intensity of the attack of course varies much in different persons. In some cases it merely causes a dissatisfied, unhappy, and fretful disposition, which contin- ually harrasses the individual, makes her thin and weak, makes her mind unsteady, and her disposition careless and disagreeable. Some will become completely melancholy, and lose all power to arouse themselves. While others again will become furious with excitement, they will be passionate, revengeful, and even cruel. In the company of men they are scarcely able to contain themselves, and often by their looks and manner betray the intensity of their desire. The body also is consumed by a slow fever, the head burns, all the functions are disor- dered, and the whole system suffers. The greater part of those affections that we see in young females, which 192 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. go by the name of chlorosis, or green sickness, hysterics, and nervousness, arise from this cause. There is no question but that an immense amount of disease and suffering is thus pro- duced, particularly among those who are prevented, by prudential or other considerations, from marrying so soon as they ought. It is of no use in these cases to talk about moral restraint, and self-command, or to blame these unfortunates. It is true the mind may, if it be strong enough, control this feeling, in some cases, but it can- not eradicate it; a continual struggle goes on, from which the individual suffers, let it terminate how it may. More often, however, the reason is completely overpowered, or even gives way altogether. It should be borne in mind that this is not a mere moral vagary, but a real disease, and must be treated accordingly. Marriage is, of course, the proper remedy, and in most cases it is the only one which will succeed. Much may be done, THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 193 however, sometimes by proper diet and regimen, with a little appropriate medical treatment. I have known Nymphomania to be produced by an irritating quality in the fluids of the several organs, and to be relieved by simple cleansing with water, at fre- quent intervals. From this cause it is sometimes produced in very young persons, to a degree scarcely conceiva- ble by those who have not seen such cases. The application of cold lotions, saline purgatives, or leeches, to the parts will often be efficacious. Some- times the urine is the irritating cause, and we must then attend to the kid- neys, or bladder. I have had, perhaps, as many cases of Nymphomania brought under my notice, as any one who ever lived, and I do not hesitate to say that I consider it the most distressing affection that can be experienced. The instances which I mentioned in the description of the female organs may be referred to, but I have known others equally 194 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. bad, or worse. More than once I have known delirium result from it, and oftentimes confirmed melancholy. Generally the evil is not borne long, either open indulgence, or solitary vice, being resorted to. And it is seldom that anything is known about either one or the other, till the consequences have become so obvious as to force themselves into notice. This is owing to a want of confidence between moth- ers and their daughters ; instead of encouraging, and accustoming them to tell all their experience, and so be- coming acquainted with their actual condition, the whole subject is care- fully shunned, and they are left, in the darkness of ignorance, to the sole guidance of their strong and novel feelings. Phrenologists tell us that the de- gree in which the sexual feeling is experienced, depends on the devel- opment of the cerebellum, or lower part of the brain. But I have not found that those subject to Nympho- THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 195 mania always have this part large ; though 1 have known many instances of peculiar sympathy between the sexual organs and the cerebellum. Sometimes a disposition to Erotoma- nia will appear to be hereditary, whole families being subject to it for many successive generations. In males we seldom find this disease attain the same intensity as in females. They usually have more occupation of body and mind, and are also of a less irritable fibre. Besides males more readily obtain gratification, in one mode or other. The exhibitions of Satyriasis are mostly the same as those of Nymphomania, but modified by the difference in character of the two sexes. The confessions of several religious devotees, give a terrible pic- ture of the trials to which its victims are subject; and my own observations have proved to me that their state- ments are no exaggeration. In Gall's work " On the Functions of the Brain," is the following instance. 13 196 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. " A man had lived many years in a happy and fruitful union, and had ac- quired by his industry a respectable fortune. After having retired from business, and led an idle life, his pre- dominant propensity gradually obtain- ed the mastery over him, and he yield- ed to his desires to such a degree that, though still in possession of his rea- son, he looked on every woman as a victim, destined to gratify his sensual appetite. The moment he perceived a female from his window, he an- nounced to his wife and daughters, with an air of the utmost delight, the bliss that awaited him. Finally this partial mania degenerated into general mania, and he died in an Insane Assy- lutn at Vienna." Several other instances of a similar kind will be found in the above work ; and I have met with many such my- self. A young man, of the most moral and exemplary character, once confess- ed to me that, at times, this propensity came upon him so strongly, he had to THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 197 confine himself in his chamber till it abated, as he dare not trust himself in sight of a female. Some of the most distressing cases of Erotomania I have known have been in married persons, through one party being excessively warm, and the other unable to meet their advances. The misery which results from this unfor- tunate state of things is incalculable. I have no doubt but this leads to many of those unfortunate deviations from the path of rectitude, which we so often see; and I do not doubt but that the offending party is more frequently to be pitied than deserving of blame. I have known instances of men who were completely impotent, often from debauchery, marrying young females of ardent temperaments, whose ad- vances they were utterly incapable of meeting. And yet these unfortunate, and much abused females, are expected to be as virtuous as if they were prop- erly mated, and if they happen to fail are as harshly condemned as others. 198 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. To the honor of the female sex I must say here, that I have known many, under similar circumstances, who have endured with uncomplaining patience, for years and years, a struggle which ' their husbands would not support a single day. It is seldom necessary, however, except from actual exhaustion by ex- cess, or natural deficiency, that either one need remain thus indifferent; we know of means by which the coldest temperaments may be warmed, and excited to action. But these are topics for the consultation room, and not for an unprofessional treatise. The sudden gratification of long restrained desire has often led to un- expected results The orgasm has been so intense in some cases of first connexions, as to produce paralysis, apoplexy, sudden blindness, deafness, or rupture of a blood vessel. I knew one young man who was attacked with lock-jaw, from over excitement on his wedding night, and a friend told me THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 199 of another who was delirious for some time after. Death has even been known to follow from the same cause, The question is often asked whether males or females experience the sexual feeling most generally and intensely. This we cannot positively tell. My own impression, derived from exten- sive observation, leads me to the con- clusion that it is much more general among males ; but that it attains the greatest intensity in females! It is not unusual for females to faint away, from excess of pleasure ; but it is sel- dom that males do so. On the con- trary we find many females indifferent to connexion, but few males that are so. It is also asked whether females may indulge at all times. In reply to this I can only say that their own ex- perience will best guide them. I be- lieve, myself, that nature will never prompt to connexion at any improper time ; and that whenever desire arises without undue means being used, it is 200 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. proper to gratify it. During the men- strual period I never knew a female who desired connexion, but on the contrary they are generally repugnant to it; this shows it is improper at that time, even if other considerations did not forbid it. During pregnancy it will sometimes produce abortion, but this I have nearly always found to be in those who did not really desire it, but gave way to their husbands. I do not think that any pregnant female will suffer from sexual congress, so long as it is perfectly agreeable to her, and not in excess. Indeed it is often more desired at that time than at any other, and I am inclined to think that more evil would result from restraint, in such cases, than from gratification. The same remarks will also apply to nursing, and other conditions. Some Physiologists have contended that the sexual feeling is universal, among living beings, both animal and vegetable, but this of course we can- not tell. That it is experienced by I THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 201 all animals who copulate there is no doubt, and it is possible also in those who have no connexion, as in fish. Plants may also have some peculiar sympathy of which we are not aware; and certainly the curious efforts which the male and female organs sometimes make to unite, seem almost to make it probable. This, however, is only spec- ulation,-and we have not time to in- dulge in it. Effects of Excessive Indulgence. Sexual congress exhausts the ner- vous energy more, perhaps, than any other act; in the male it also drains the fluids. It should, therefore, be in- dulged in only when a superabundance of these exists, which is indicated by nature creating the desire. If it be practised at any other time, or too frequently, it of course takes more or less of the energy, or nourishment, which is needed" for other purposes, and thus impoverishes the system. 202 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. The amount of intercourse which may be proper, differs of course in each person, and can be best determined by their own experience. Nature should never be forced, by either physical or mental stimuli, and then it is not like- ly that she will overtask herself. The immediate effect of excessive coition are, great lassitude and depres- sion of spirits. This is followed, after a time, by other symptoms, many of which are never suspected to arise from this cause. Most generally the memory soon begins to fail, and the mind cannot be directed to one thing for any length of time, but wanders continually; sometimes it even be- comes unsettled altogether and com- plete fatuity results. The senses arc very apt to fail, particularly the eyes, which become affected in various ways, from mere weakness to every degree of inflammation, and even blindness. The hearing will often become affected, and the head will be subject to a dis- tressing fulness, with dizziness, noises, THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 203 and soreness all over. The individual becomes excessively nervous, full of apprehension, irritable, and wretched. He dislikes society, from mere inca- pability of exertion, becomes at last melancholy, or mad, and often termi- nates his existence by suicide. The different organs become more or less deranged and perform their" functions imperfectly; this is particularly the case with the digestive apparatus, the kidneys, and bladder. The genital organs themselves begin to fail, but little semen is secreted, erection is im- perfect, they shrink away, the gratifi- cation becomes less, and finally com- plete impotence and aversion follows. This is also frequently attended with inflammation of the prostate gland, swelled testicle, and involun- tary emission of the urine and semen. All these symptoms are, it is true, seldom found in one person, but more or less they characterize every case. Some persons will begin to experi- ence them very soon, while others 204 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. will not for a long time. It is but rare, however, that any one who abuses himself will miss them alto- gether. I do not hesitate to say that a very large portion of the human race are guilty of this excess, probably the great majority, and that a great por- tion of the evils and suffering which afflict society are produced by it. In- deed I believe that licentiousness, in one form or other, is the cause of nearly all the disease, both of body and mind, which exists! In fact I have sometimes almost thought it was the sole cause, for I know of no single disease but what it will either cause directly, or indirectly lead to! Even if it lead to nothing more than its un- failing offspring the venereal disease, it would still do more than all other causes put together ! For this may truly be called in itself the mother of diseases, poisdning life at its very source, and carrying horrid decay to the very bones and marrow. Consumption, THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 205 king's evil, cancer, and other scourges of the like kind, all depend on what is called a scrophulous taint in the sys- tem ; and what is more likely to be the origin of scrophula, than this same venereal disease 1 Is it not in fact nearly identical with it in all its" phases 1 Many an estimable father and hus- band, ruins his health, unfits himself for his duties, becomes miserable him- self, and a source of discomfort to others, and all through an unthinking excess. And many a man, even while young, finds to his despair, when mar- ried, that his previous debauchery has deprived him of all pleasure with his partner, and of all hope of ever be- coming a father! Fearful, indeed, is the penalty which Nature exacts for infringing her laws, and deeply im- portant it is for us to understand those laws, and accustom ourselves to keep them. Females I do not think are so addict- ed to excessive indulgence as men, at 206 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. least not generally; nor does it ap- pear to affect them so much. This is owing to the circumstance of the woman being comparatively passive, and not having any drain upon the fluids. Still it injures them and se- riously too. The same effects are often produced in them as in the male, though not so violently. Sterility frequently results from it; and this is the reason why those who indulge too much, as prostitutes for instance, sel- dom conceive ; the sexual organs lose all tone and power from their abuse, on the same principle that the stomach suffers from indigestion when it has been overloaded. In short, excess in early life pre- vents the proper and full development of the system, it afterwards engenders disease, and finally brings on prema- ture old age and death, with pain and suffering, which might otherwise be unknown. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 207 PHYSIOLOGY OF GENERATION IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. SOLITARY VICE, ONANISM, OR MASTURBATION. This kind of licentiousness is more prevalent than any other, and much worse in its effects. Dreadful as are the consequences of excess, in the natural way, they are but trivial com- pared with those which follow from solitary vice ; nor do I think they can, under any circumstances, equal them. Most persons are aware that this practice prevails, and that it is injuri- ous, but it is only those who have 208 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. long been familiar with it, as a subject of practice and study, that can be aware of its great extent and fearful effects. The truth in fact can scarcely be believed by those not familiar with it. My own opportunities for acquir- ing information have been very great, so as to make me acquainted with this terrible evil in every particular, and I do not hesitate to say that it is the master evil of the present day ! I am firmly convinced that it leads to more disease, of body and mind, more suf- fering, and premature decay, than all other causes put together ! Here I make no reservation, nor do I exaggerate, but, on the contrary, 1 feel convinced that my statement is under rather than over the truth. This vice is almost universal, the exceptions to it being very rare, par- ticularly in the rising generation. I believe it may be safely asserted that ninety-nine out of every hundred are ad- dicted to it! And such are the circum- stances in which young people are now THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 209 placed, that, instead of its decreasing, it is every day becoming more con- firmed and extended. I have reason to suppose that it is as general in the one sex as the other. If there be any difference it is probable that females practice it most; but sim- ply because they less frequently have natural indulgence in their power. It is often commenced in extreme youth, nay even in childhood. I have known instances of children not more than eight years of age, and even younger, being addicted to it. In most of these cases no such thing was suspected, and the poor victims were fast hurrying to an untimely grave. Even when told, their guardians could scarcely believe the statement, till their own observation convinced them it was true ; they were then extremely anxious to have the evil removed, which, fortunately, was in most cases accomplished. It is not merely an error of youth, however, but becomes a confirmed and growing habit, to 210 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. which the individual is a victim all his days. I have known middle aged, and even old persons, who had never been able to emancipate themselves from it. The objects of this practice is, to excite, by artificial means, the sexual feeling. This is accomplished by fric- tion, of the most sensitive parts of the genitals, usually with the hand, but often by other means; assisted by a highly excited state of the imagina- tion. In males the penis is the part most frequently operated upon, and in females the clitoris, or labia. Some females, however, use an instrument of some kind, to enter the vagina, or even reach the Os Tincse. Incredible as it may appear, articles of this kind are actually manufactured in great quan- ties, and sold, in most of our large cities, with a full knowledge of the purpose for which they are intended! A friend of mine, who was skeptical on this point, a short time ago sent for one, and to his great surprise obtained THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 211 it as readily as any ordinary article ; this was at an establishment where nothing of the kind would be suspect- ed, by those not previously informed. With regard to the commencement of this practice, some persons have sup- posed that it must always be learned from another, or at least that some in- timation must be had of its nature before it is begun. This, however, I know is not always necessary. From various causes, most of which we have stated in a former part of this work, the genital organs become precocious- ly developed, and highly sensitive. This produces slight irritation and un- easiness, to relieve which the hand is directed to them; the friction of which produces a new and pleasant sensation before unknown. When once this has been experienced, the desire to create it again becomes irresistible, and with each new indulgence the habit strength- ens and becomes more confirmed. In most cases the individual is complete- ly ignorant of the nature of this new 14 212 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. indulgence, and knows nothing of its probable consequences. This know- ledge, if given in time, would often destroy the habit, but it is seldom given till too late to be of service; in- deed, in most cases, the victim has to find it out by dear bought experience. Nevertheless, this practice is most generally acquired from others, and for this reason prevails in nearly all institutions where young persons are congregated ; nor can this be prevent- ed under present arrangements. Many conductors of these establishments are unacquainted with the existence of the evil; others use every means they can devise to prevent or suppress it; though often without success. From the nature of the practice it cannot be prevented, when there is a disposition to it, unless the offender is kept under constant surveilliance ! In my public lectures I have always made this a special topic, speaking the truth upon it without reserve, but in charity, and with a sincere desire to THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 213 do good. This has made me the con- fidant of hundreds, who would never have disclosed their failings to any one else, and has enabled me to gather more facts bearing on the subject than, perhaps, ever came in the way of any one individual before. It is neither useful nor just, however, to expose the weaknesses of human nature, more than is necessary for their correction ; I shall therefore only make use of the information I have thus acquired in a general way, and for that purpose. When in New York City, in the fall of 1844, I was accosted, after my lec- ture on this subject, by an old gentle- man, who desired to speak with rne in private. When we were alone he said to me, " Doctor you are the first per- son I ever heard speak plainly on this evil practice, and as I am, unfortunate- ly, aware, by sad experience, of the truth of your assertions, I felt much interested in your discourse, and re- solved, if you thought fit, to commu- nicate the details of a case with which 214 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. I am but too familiar." I thanked him for his confidence, and be gave me the following particulars. He had a son, a fine healthy, lively child, aged eleven years old, whom he sent to a celebrated accademy for young gentlemen in the suburbs of a neighboring city. For the first six months he continued to receive the most flattering accounts of his son's progress, and was highly pleased with him when he returned home at the va- cation. In a short time after he was surprised and grieved to hear that his health was failing, and that he was much more backward than formerly. Medical advice was sought immediate- ly, and the assurance was given that there was nothing serious the matter, and that he would probably rally in a short time. The child kept on in this manner for twelve months longer, gradually becoming worse, until at last he was brought home. The father described his condition at this time as most distressing. He was thin as a THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 215 skeleton, weak in body and mind, and completely sunk in a deep desponden- cy, from which nothing seemed per- manently to rouse him. At last he took to his bed and died before he was thirteen. One night, however, while he was sick, the father was sitting up with him, and, being weary, leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed as if asleep. While in this state some motion of his son partially roused him, and through his half open eyes, he saw him in a situation which left no doubt that he was practising Masturbation. The feelings of the father can better be conceived than described ; being a man of information he partly knew the consequences of this vice, and imme- diately the idea rushed upon him that this was the cause of his son's sick- ness, and he at once resolved to dis- cover if his suspicions were true. In the morning after, he began to talk with his child about his school-fellows, asking him as to their practices in play, &c.; and at last fixing his eyes '216 THE ORIGIN OF LrFE. upon him, he asked him if any ever practised this habit before him 1 The child burst into tears, and laid his head in his bosom. By a little gentle management he led him to confess • that he had been addicted to this vice ever since he went to school, having been taught it by a playmate. Some- times he practised it three or four times in a day. He also assured his father that there was not one he knew in the school but what did the same, it being considered a meritorious thing, and one which every boy should aim at. The poor fellow had become part- ly aware, himself, that it was causing his misery, and wished he had not done it, but it had become so much a part of his nature he could not refrain. The father felt as if a thunderbolt had broken upon him ; here was his only child stricken before his eyes, and no- body suspecting the cause till it was too late. Said he to me, " I hope my sad experience may enlighten some one else in time." THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 217 A short time after while lecturing at the city where his son was sent, I was introduced to the principal of the very school, whom he had already mentioned to me by name. Finding him a man of intelligence I commenced talking on the subject of solitary vice, and observed that he appeared much interested. As confidence became es- tablished he at last confessed, that the prevalence of this practice, among his pupils, was a constant annoyance to him. " I know," said he, " that my es- tablishment is only like others, for I do not think there is one in which it does not prevail more or less, but as I know how baneful it is I am deeply concerned about it. I find it impossi- ble to prevent it altogether, do what I will. All our scholars sleep seperate, and we keep a constant eye upon them, but still I know the evil exists ; and, by some accident or other, each new comer becomes tainted with it. I am firmly convinced that there is no in- 218 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. stitution where young people are brought together but in which the practice may be found ; and I have no faith in any means of preventing it but such as you propose." Numerous, indeed, are the melan- choly instances of this kind daily to be met with. Many a youth robust with health, and with every indication of the highest talents, is sent by his pa- rents to some seminary to complete his education, and returns after a time, debilitated in mind and body, and without either hope, energy, or capa- bility. They mourn over his ruin, but never dream of what caused it; and even if told could not, in many cases, understand how it had been brought about. I have a case of this kind in my mind now. It is that of a young man who had made the highest at- tainments, and who gave promise of being one day among the first and greatest in the land. His friends looked upon him with pride and confi- dence, and gloried in the prospect of THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 219 his future exaltation. But, alas, a blight came over their hopes ; he be- gan to fade, his mind became imbecile, and at last he sunk far below the or- dinary standard, without even the de- sire to rise. He was pointed out to me by a relative, who also told me that it was the practice of solitary vice, learnt at college, which had made him the melancholy wreck he was. On another occasion an old man spoke to me after my lecture, and told me that he had a son who had long been in a desperate condition, whose • cause of complaint he had never been able to ascertain. " But," said he, " from what you say of the effects of this practice, I think that must be it; I will, however, ascertain if possible immediately." The next week I saw him again, and he told me that he had asked the medical man, who had his son in charge, whether he thought such was the case . and he immediate- ly replied, " Yes! now you have asked me I can tell you; it is that practice, 220 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. and nothing else, which has brought your son to his present pitiable condi- tion. I did not like to mention it to you before, for fear you might be, like many others, merely offended with me for speaking the truth ; but since you ask, I presume you desire to know." The young man was then so weak he could scarcely stand, and so much af- fected in his mind, that a person was kept with him continually, to prevent him committing suicide. I saw the father a little time after again, and he told me, with tears in his eyes, that his son had died in the mean time. " Had it not been for you," said he, " I should never have known what killed him. I have now another child much younger, who might have died in the same way ; but now I know the evil I trust I shall be able to prevent it." Another case, somewhat similar, came under my notice, of a little girl, who had been taught the practice by a female servant with whom she slept. THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 221 The mother fortunately discovered it, before the evil was gone too far, and by a proper course of moral and medi- cal treatment it was soon suppressed altogether, and she perfectly recovered. In one instance I knew a boarding school, where fourteen young females resided, which had to be entirely broken. up, on account of this practice. One after another fell sick, and all eventu- ally were sent home. Previous to which, the principal ascertained, from the confession of one among them, that for a length of time they had all been addicted to this vice. Nine out of these fourteen died in less than five years after! I am every dajr receiving written or verbal confessions, of persons who have suffered from this practice. They are all much of the same character, so that one will suffice to give an idea of the whole. The following letter is very explicit, and full in its statements, I therefore select it from among my collection. 222 the origin of life. " Dear Sir : "In the course of your lecture last evening, at which I was present, you spoke upon the subject of Mastur- bation, and requested any of your au- dience, who thought fit, to ask you for any further information they might desire, either verbally or by writing. I am myself a sufferer from the effects of this practice even now, though over thirty years of age; and I wish to know whether any relief can be ob- tained. To enable you better to de- cide, I will make a full confession of my past conduct, and present condi- tion. " I was first taught this practice when at school, being then about four- teen. At first I did not resort to it much, but when about sixteen I used to masturbate often, as much as three or four times a day, till I became so weak and unwell that I had not power to do it so frequently. I still, how- ever, kept on at intervals, till I was twenty-two or three, but at that time THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 223 my sexual power, which had been gradually weakening, seemed to die away altogether, and I had no longer either desire or capability. During all this time I had never carnally known a woman. When about twenty-eight my friends wished me to marry, and I too was desirous of doing so, being ten- derly attached to an amiable female, whom I had known from childhood, who also reciprocated my affection. But then came the reflection—was I fit for marriage 1 This troubled me much, and I knew not what to do. At last 1 confided my trouble, in part, to an acquaintance, who advised me to procure the company of a female and test my powers. This I did,, and found, to my shame and mortification, that I was perfectly powerless and im- potent ! My grief and chagrin were un- bounded ; I was compelled, by means of one excuse or other, to put off the marriage, hoping in the mean time to procure some assistance. I tried va- rious Cordials and Tinctures which I 224 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. saw advertised, but none did me any good, and I was ashamed of speaking to any Physician. I am now about thirty-one, no better, and in sad per- plexity what to do. I cannot bring my mind to abandon the woman I love, without giving a sufficient reason, and yet the only sufficient one, that is the true one, I dare not give. " Is there any hope for me 1 If so tell me what to do immediately. " The effects produced upon me by the practice. were these. At first I merely felt disinclined to much exer- tion, either of body or mind, but this gradually became worse, till at last it required great effort to rouse myself sufficiently to proceed with my daily avocations. My strength failed and I became very weak. My head was all along heavy and dizzy; my eyes weak, and as if a cobweb were before them, obstructing the view. I had pain, particularly in the small of the back, which appeared as if it would give way. My digestion became much THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 225 impared, and I suffered extremely from dyspepsia. Flying pains occur- red at intervals all over my body, of- ten at night, preventing my sleep. I was also subject to erections while asleep, sometimes accompanied with emissions, though not always; when such was the case I was always worse next morning. My memory was very bad and I could scarcely bring myself to think, two minutes together, on the same subject. I was very irritable, and so wretchedly low spirited, that I was frequently on the point of com- mitting suicide. In fact I was so mis- erable that life was a burden. After I became completely impotent I seemed to recover a little, though still very uncomfortable. I am at present a lit- tle stronger, but most of my symptoms appear at times. I still suffer from the heaviness in my head, and the cloudiness in my eyes, which some- times seem full of black specks, float- ing in them. My memory is no bet- ter, nor am I any more capable of 226 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. mental effort. My digestion is better. The erections at night occur yet, al- though I cannot procure one while awake. My spirits are very low> and my present condition makes them worse. My genital organs appear as large as in other persons, and no one would suspect, from their appearance, that I was impotent. I have not had any signs of semen existing for the last twelve months, and when it did appear, which was in consequence of an exciting dream, it was in small quantity, and very thin. 1 have re- peatedly tried lately to have'connexion, but am never able to do so ; having but little desire, and scarcely any power of erection. " Now tell me candidly, doctor, do you think that any course of treatment can be depended upon, with any rea- sonable prospect of success, for do- ing me good, and recovering my lost power 1 " An early answer will oblige, "Yours, &c.---------." ' ' ' • THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 227 This letter gives a faithful picture of most of those cases which come under my notice. Some are much worse it is true, and others not quite so bad. The effects produced depend upon the extent of the practice, the constitution of the individual, his mode of life, and other circumstances. The most general symptoms are, such as those described under the head of ex- cessive indulgence, and in the cases we have just narrated. Perhaps the most general results, at first, are, loss of memory, inability to apply the mind to any one'object, low spirits and irri- tability ; accompanied by heaviness and dizziness of the head, and cloudi- ness or inflammation of the eyes, with more or less derangement of the stom- ach, kidneys, and bladder. After- wards the system becomes more ex- tensively affected, and many other ef- fects are produced; particularly loss of sexual desire, and impotence or sterility. This often prevents men from marrying, or makes them and 15 228 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. their partners wretched for life, if they do. Insanity often results from it, in- deed I believe more frequently from this cause than from any other. Our Lunatic Assylums often present us with lamentable instances of this kind. The termination is usually an untime- ly death, either by premature decay, or hasty suicide. A gentleman from Cuba once told me, that he had a valuable slave who was made insane by this practice, and whom they had to confine in conse- quence. He had been kept on a plan- tation remote from any females for a long time ; and so thoroughly addict- ed was he to the habit, that when in- sane they had to confine his hands to prevent it! He at last died in a per- fect fury of madness. In such cases it is sometimes ad- vantageous to decrease the sexual feel- ing ; and this, I have accidentally dis- covered, may be nearly always accom- plished, by the external application of a perfectly harmless substance. It * —> P< I I ■ •n*P»««l|V>M«HH III' THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 229 has the advantage also, of operating only while used, and producing no lasting effect. The reason why Masturbation is more injurious than excessive indul- gence is, because it is accomplished solely by an intensely excited imagi- nation, without any natural and ap- propriate associations, either physical or moral. This completely drains all nervous energy, and leaves the indi- vidual in a state of complete exhaus- tion. It can also be practised so readi- ly ; and, from its not appeasing the de- sire, is so often repeated. Females do not always appear to suffer so much from it at first, as males, probably because no seminal discharge takes place. It will event- ually, however, produce the same ef- fects in them, as well as some others peculiar to them alone. It is very apt to make the skin sallow, the eyes hol- low and dark underneath, and some- times to produce eruptions on the skin. When instruments are used, it also de- 230 THE ORIGIN OS LIFE. stroys the hymen, and brings the or- gans to the same state and appearance as after marriage. It has not unfre- quently happened that young women have been accused, by their husbands, of unchastity on this account; and certainly, in a moral point of view, the charge might be considered as well founded, as much so as if they had had actual connexion with one of the other sex. It may appear strange to some, why it is that medical men are not aware of this evil, or, if they are aware of it, why they do not more frequently inform parents of its existence. Med- ical men, generally, are aware of the great extent of this practice, and also of its effects; but, from the ignorance and predjudice which prevails, they dare not say what they know. A Physician once remarked to me, after one of my lectures, that he had nu- merous instances in his practice simi- lar to those I described ; " But," said he, " I scarcely ever dare speak to the THE ORIGIN OF LIfS. 231 parents about it, even when I am cer- tain, much less when I only suspect. There are few but what would either feel, or affect to feel, insulted at the very suspicion of such a thing in their children, and if I were to mention my thoughts I should probably give of- fence, and be discharged for my pains." This I know to be-the case, having often met with similar treatment my- self. The fact is, before we can re- form the children we must enlighten the parents! They will then act with us, and much may be accomplished. With regard to the means to be em- ployed in removing the effects of Mas- turbation, and the prospect of their succeeding, little can be said, since they must vary in every individual case. The first requisite, however, in every instance, is the total abandon- ment of the practice ! Without this be done nothing else will be of much service. It is but seldom, however, that any individual can emancipate himself from this vile habit, let him 232 Ae origin of life. be ever so well aware of its effects. I have had persons confess to me, that they were utterly unable to abandon it, though fully aware that it was ruin- ing them body and mind. Indeed I do not know of a single instance where a person deliberately left it off, unless they had become impotent, or proeured natural gratification; but in most cases it soon unfits them for proper indul- gence. In some cases, particularly in young persons, the tendency to it may be much decreased by a little medical treatment, attention to diet, regimen, &c. The fear of the consequences, when these are properly placed before them, may operate a little; and still more the fear of detection ! Let them know, that it produces a certain effect upon their appearance, which, to a practised eye, points them out as cer- tainly as if they had it written on their foreheads ! So that in spite of the se- cresy with which they practice the habit, it still betrays them. I do not expect, however, that much can be • —mfc— II II THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 233 done in the way of curing the evil when it is established ; the only prac- ticable plan of removing it is, to en- lighten young people in time, as I have before stated, and so prevent it from being begun ! Till this plan be adopted, but little good will be done. FINIS. ADDENDA, To make this work more eomplete, I have determined to add to it, most of the curious cases to be found in the different authors on Medical Jurisprudence, which may serve to elucidate the different topics touched upon. This plan I thought better than embodying them all in the work it- self, as it leaves the explanations more brief, and less confused. These additions can be studied with advantage, after the work itself is read, and each particular case will easily be referred to its appropri- ate place. These extracts have principally been made from " The Principles of Fo- rensic Medicine, by Wm. A. Guy," Edited by Ch. A. Lee, M.D. First American edi- tion, Harper & Brothers, New-York, 1845. 2 addenda. That being the most valuable summary of information on these subjects, now extant. Those who desire to push these enquiries further, cannot do better than consult that excellent work. HERMAPHRODITES. Many vulgar errors prevail on this sub- ject; which the following facts and auth- orities, may tend to remove. " There are three different conditions of the organs of generation which may present difficulties to the medical examiner. 1. "Male organs resembling the female. (Androgyni.) The most common malfor- mation of this sort is where the scrotum is divided into two parts, which sometimes contain the testicles, while at others those organs, one or both, are situated behind the external ring. The cleft scrotum corres- ponds to the labia of the female. There is also in some cases a cul de sac correspond- ing in situation with the vagina. The pe- nis is short and imperfectly formed, and, like the clitoris, imperforate. The canal of the urethra opens at its base, or in the perineum, near the anus. It is often en* ADDENDA. 3 larged at its commencement, so as to re- semble the vagina; and instances have occurred in which sexual intercourse has taken place through this enlarged canal of the urethra. From the position of the opening of the urethra beneath the imper- forate penis, these persons are called hy- 1pospadians. " The existence of the testicles in the folds resembling the labia, the communica- tion of the opening beneath the imperforate penis or in the perineum with the bladder, the absence of all communication of the cul de sac which occupies the place of the vagina with the cavity of the uterus, and, in the adult, the absence of menstruation, —will enable us at once to distinguish the sex. It will scarcely be necessary to exa- mine the conformation of the body general- ly, which, in most of these cases, nearly approaches that of the male. The devel- opment of the muscles, the tone of the voice, the tastes and habits, are more those of a man than of a woman. Nevertheless there are eases in which an enlargement of the breasts and a preference for the society of the male exist, which, in the absence of a careful examination of the organs of gen- eration, might lead us into error. In other instances the sexual passion is absent. 4 ADDENDA. Many cases of this sort are related in books, and the majority of them are referred to by Beck. There are also preparations illus- trative of these malformations in most of our museums. " Sometimes the penis, whether well or ill-formed, is found confined to the scrotum( by a particular formation of the integu- ments. This malformation, with the other deviations from the normal structure just described, occurred in two cases, one a negro, the other a European, of which Cheselden gives engravings. In the case of a child baptized and brought up as a girl, Mr. Brand, by a slight incision, liber- ated the restricted parts, and proved to the parents, that they had mistaken the sex of their child. " There is still another malformation be- longing to this division, and which might possibly give rise to doubt as to the sex, viz. a deficiency of the urinary bladder, and of the lower and anterior portion of the abdominal parietes, the place of which is occupied by a red and sensitive mass of an irregular fungus-like substance, with the ureters opening upon it. This defect is generally accompanied by important alter- ations in the organs of generation. ' The urethra is deficient, and the penis conse- ADDENDA. 5 quently imperforate. It is also very short, never exceeding two inches even in the adult. The vesiculae seminales open near the fungous mass above-mentioned, or in the urethra, or in a small tubercle at the root of the penis. The testicles are gen- erally natural, either contained in the scro- tum, or they have not descended. The sex- ual appetite in some of these individuals has been weak; in others strong; in others ' altogether wanting.' The persons who have this malformation are called Epispa- dians. 2. " The female organs may resemble the male. (Androgynse.) An enlarged cli- toris is the most common form of malforma- tion belonging to this class. Sir Everard Home relates an instance of this kind occur- ring in a Mandingo negress, and other cases occurring in Europeans are also on re- cord. None of them presented any real difficulty, though some have excited great interest. The absence of testicles from the labia, the presence of a vagina and uterus, the occurrence of menstruation, either of these singly or all combined, render the distinction easy. " Another malformation belonging to this class is a prolapsus uteri. Sir Everard Home mentions the case of a Frenchwo- 6 ADDENDA. man who was shewn as a curiosity, and whom he himself examined- The prolap- sus was evident on inspection. She pre- tended to have the power of a male. The following case is from Mahon: ' Marga- ret Malaure came to Paris in 1693, dressed as a man. She considered herself as pos- sessing the organs of both sexes, and stated that she was able to employ both. Her person was exhibited; and several physi- cians and surgeons agreed with the com- mon opinion so much, as to give certifi- cates that she was an hermaphrodite.' She was consequently ordered to change her name and wear male attire. 'Saviard, an eminent surgeon, was, however, incredu- lous. He examined her in the presence of his brother practitioners, and found that she had a prolapsus uteri which he reduced.' The difficulty thus solved, she was allowed again to resume her female attire. " A similar case is mentioned by Sir Ev- erard Home: also one in the Pandects of Vaientini, (Vol. 1, p. 38.) In the former, the woman was exhibited as a curiosity, and in the course of a few weeks, made JE400. The prolapse was evident on in- spection, though she pretended to have the powers of a male. All cases of supposed hermaphrodites may be referred to one of -------__------------------------.., ....... .,, ,., ■ , ADDENDA. 7 three classes. 1. They are either males with some unusual organization or position of the urinary or generative organs ; or 2. Females with an enlarged clitoris, or pro- lapsed uterus ; or 3. Individuals in whom the generative organs have not produced their usual effect in influencing the devel- opment of the body. For the most part they are incapable o? exerting any sexual function. It is possible that in some of the supposed cases of hermaphrodisms, as Vel- peau has suggested, congenital hernia of the ovaries may be mistaken for testicles. Such cases have been observed by Marjo- lin, and Professor Mayer of Bonn. (Lon- don Lancet, Vol. 9, p. 169.) 2. " The organs of the two sexes may be blended, some one or more organs of the one sex being superadded to, or substitu- ted for, those of the other. " Many cases of this malformation are on record. An ovary has been found on the left side and a testis on the right, in cases reported by M. Sue, Professor Rudolphi, and Professor Mayer, as also in a case dissected by Varole. The reverse malfor- mation occurred in the case of Hubert Je- an Pierre, and in a case mentioned by Ar- naud. In other instances again the exter- nal organs have approximated closely to 8 ADDENDA. the female type, and the internal to the male, or the reverse. " It is unnecessary to add that no case of real hermaphroditism is on record. ' No monster has been described, having both a penis and clitoris; nor with a testis and ovarium on the same side—we may ven- ture to say, with testes and ovaria; nor having a prostate *nd uterus.' There can be little doubt that what was really a prostate has been called a uterus, and that the testicles and ovaries have been mis- taken for each other." AGE WHEN THE MALE IS CAPABLE. Age.—"A too tender or too advanced an age may be regarded as a cause of im- potence. Before puberty, that is, before the seminal secretion has taken place, com- plete sexual intercourse may be assumed to be impossible. As this age is variable, it will not be possible to define it: we must therefore rest our judgment on the general conformation of the body, the character of the voice, the growth of the hair, and the development of the organs of generation themselves. " There is considerable difficulty in de- termining the question at how early a pe- ADENDA. 9 riod the male is capable of procreation. It was decided in the reign of Henry VI., in England, that the issue was a bastard, when the husband was within the age of four- teen. And yet we read in the Berkeley manuscripts, that Maurice, the third Lord Berkeley, (Edward I.,) was married at eight years old, and a father before he was fourteen. The historian adds, ' more than a dozen instances of paternity occur before that age. " But impotence may arise from the in- firmity of age as well as from immaturity ; and the question arises, At what age do the powers of procreation cease ? " This question has acquired an unusual interest in consequence of the celebrated Banbury Peerage Case, which was brought before the House of Lords and decided in the year 1813. The principal argument urged against the claimant was, that the ancestor under whom he claimed could not have been the son of Lord Banbury, be- cause that nobleman was eighty years old when the child was born. In reference to this question of age, Sir Samuel Romilly expressed himself as follows: « The ob- jection to the age of Lord Banbury may at once be dismissed. The law of England admits of no age at which a man may not 10 ADDENDA. become a father; and many medical au- thorities may be cited to show that this rule is founded on reason. Dr. Gregory, of Edinburgh, whose name must be familiar to all admirers of science, says upon this subject,—' Magna autem de his rebus dif- ferentia ; decantantur enim exempla senum in castris Veneris strenue merentium, post- quam centum annos compleverant; neque sane dubium, aut adeo rarum octogenarum patrem fieri.' Halier likewise pronounces a man of ninety to be capable of procrea- ting. Parr became a father in his one hundred and fortieth year. In short, the liberality of the law on this subject is ex- cessive; for there is no age, from seven upwards, at which a man is denied the privilege of having children.* On the same occasion, Lord Erskine made the fol- lowing remarks: 'But what evidence is there of Lord Banbury having been impo- tent ? There is no statute of limitations on the powers and faculties of man. In- stances of robust longevity might be cited still more extraordinary. Sir Stephen Fox married at the age of seventy-seven, and had four children ; the first child was born when the father was seventy-eight, the second and third were twins in the follow- ing year, and the fourth was born when the ADDENDA. 11 father was eighty-one. Parr became a father when even his son was of a more advanced age than Lord Banbury.' The Attorney-General, Sir Vicary Gibbs, who opposed the claimant's title in the House of Lords, evidently felt the objection on the score of age to be far from valid, for he shifts his argument as rapidly as possible from it to more secure ground. He says, ' age may not be a proof of impotency, but it is evidence of it. The probability of the Earl's begetting a child at eighty is very slight, and it is not increased by the ap- pearance of another child two years later. Instances have been adduced of these ex- troardinary births, but none have been cited in which a man at eighty-two, having be- gotten a son, had concealed the birth of such son.' We may conclude that the ob- jection here urged did not appear to the ob- jector himself to have any great weight from the slight stress he lays upon it, and from his anxiety to escape to an objection altogether different. With regard to age, then, it is clear that no limit is fixed by law, or can be assigned by soience, at which the power of procreation ceases. Old age, pro- vided it be a robust old age, is obviously no impediment to procreation; and in the case of Lord Banbury there is ample evidence of 12 ADDENDA. his having been capable of strong exercise Until within a short period of his death." AGE WHEN THE FEMALE IS CAPABLE. "Age.—The limits of child-bearing in women are commonly the first and last menstruation; but, in rare instances, con- ception has been known to take place be- fore or after this occurrence. Cases of pre- mature fruitfulness are related by high au- thorities. Thus, Montgomery delivered a female of twins before the completion of her 15th year; La Motte and Sir E. Home gives instances of pregnancy in the 13 th year; the last-named author another in the 12th; and Bruce, in Abyssinia, and Dunlop, in Bengal, met with mothers of 11 years. In this country the limit may be probably stated at 12 years, and pregnancy at an earlier period must be looked upon as high- ly improbable. " The singular example of a lady who was a grandmother, was seen at the Ball- ston Springs about the year 1828, whose age was not quite 28 years. In the Tran- sylvania Journal, (vol. vii. p. 447,) there is recorded the case of menstruation at one ADDENDA. 13 year, and pregnancy at nine. The girl was delivered on the 20th of April, 1834, of a female child weighing 7 1-2 lbs., while she was aged but 10 years and 13 days. " On the other hand, cases are recorded of pregnancy at very advanced periods of life. Bartholomew Moses mentions four cases of women pregnant in their 51st year, and Dr. Labatt of Dublin one; Knebel and La Motte each one in the 52nd year ; Bar- tholomew Mosse and Knebel each one in the 54th year ; a case of pregnancy at the same age (that of Mrs. Ashley,) is also re- lated in the Edinburgh Annual Register, for 1816. In a French case, in which the succession to an estate was disputed on the ground of the mother being 58 years old when the child was born, a decision was given in favor of the fact. Pliny, Valescus de Tarenta, and Marra of Venice, record cases of pregnancy at 60; Capuron states that a woman of 63 was generally believed in Paris to have given birth to a daughter; and, lastly, Beck quotes a case from the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of a woman at Whitehall (State of New-York) becoming a mother at 64. " Instances are not unfrequent in this country, of the child-bearing faculty being preserved to the period of 50 years and up- 14 ADDENDA. wards. Dr. Vandeveer, of Long Island, attended the accouchement of a lady in the 62d year of her age. Mrs. R. of this city was delivered of a child in her 55th year. " Mr. Robertson states, that out of 10.000 pregnant females registered at the Manchester Lying-in Hospital, 436 were upwards of 46 years of age. Of these there were— 397 from 40 to 46 13 in their 47th year 8 „ 48th „ 6 „ 49th „ 9 „ 50th „ 1 „ 52d „ 1 „ 53rd „ 1 ,* 54th „ " In all question of this kind, the safest rule to adopt would be not to regard any case as worthy of implicit belief unless supported by one or more cases of the same kind ; where a case stands quite alone,, we are justified in viewing it with distrust, and in giving full force to all the objections that may be urged against it. If we adopt this rule in the question now under consi- deration, we shall be constrained to con- sider the age of 54 as the probable limit of fruitfulness, though we shall not be justi- fied in denying the possibility of pregnancy ADDENDA. 15 occurring at a more advanced age. Legal decisions may, in all these cases, be safely rejected, and the narratives of authors, un- less they are very circumstantial, and con- tain some better evidence of age than the statements of women, may be received with scepticism. "It is a common opinion that puberty occurs earlier in hot climates than in those lying within the temperate zones. Muller says, that it is stated that in the hot re-.. gions of Africa the changes of puberty take place in the female sex as early as the eighth year, and during the ninth year in Persia. With respect to negresses, Mr. Robertson, of Manchester, has published the following statement, obtained from the superintendents of the Moravian Missions in Antigua and Jamaica, by whom regis- ters of births had been kept, the registry being important in fixing the date of the first appearance of the catamenia. Out of 21 cases, menstruation appeared in one aged 16, in three at 15, in three at 14, in three at 13, and in two at 12; while it had not appeared in one aged 14, in two aged 13, in one aged 12, in one aged 11, one aged 10, one aged 9, and two aged 8. In rela- tion to the North American Indians, in whom, it has been believed, menstruation 16 ADDENDA. occurs at a later period than among Euro- pean nations, it has been ascertained that it happens at as early an age as among any other people. " Instances of precocious puberty and menstruation are by no means rare. Sir Astly Cooper relates a case in the Medico- Chirurgical Transactions, Vol. IV., where the menses appeared at the4th year cf age; and another in the Lond. Med. and Phys. Journal, at three and a half. In these cases the female system was developed as at puberty. Dr. Francis (Ed. Denman's Mid. p. 223) records an "instance at four and a half years of age, in which the pudenda and mammae were similar to what may be seen at the ordinary period when the cata- menia commence. " It is stated that the celebrated Mad- ame de Stael menstruated at 60. Ilicher- and mentions an instance at 70 years. Ma- gendie and Dr. Rush both relate cases of menstruation at the same age. Dr. Town- send has noticed a singular case of perio- dical discharge of blood in a male, which, for 39 years, supervened at every lunar month, and unaccompanied with pain. ADENDA. 17 DIFFICULTY OF DECIDING AS TO VIRGINITY. " Tin- Hymen.—Strange as it may ap- pear, there has been much difference of opinion among authors as to the very exis- tence of the hymen. Devergie and Beck both give long lists of those who affirm and deny its existence. Among the form- er are Dulaurens, Bohn, Dionis, Ambrose Pare, Palfyn, Pinaeus,De Lamothe, Buffon, Fallopius, Vesalius, Columbus, and Ma- hon ; among the latter, Zerbus, Fabricius, Riolan, Fugmore, Albinus. Ruisch, Mor- gagni, Winslow, Halier, Desault, Diemer- broek, Heister, Gavard, Sabatier, Cuvier, Zacchias, Brendel, Teichmayer, Mayer, Blumenbach, Belloc, Boyer, Cloquet, Den- man, Fodere, and Orfila. The latter class has the advantage both in numbers and authority. Orfila states that he has examined more than 200 subjects, and has never found it wanting. Gavard, who devoted much at- tention to this subject, found it in the foetus, in the new-born infant, in young women from 23 to 25 years of age, and in one of 50 years old. Bennach of Marseilles saw it in a woman of 60. Devergie himself has found it invariably present in new-born 2 IS ADDENDA. infants, and has met with it in women of different ages exposed at the Morgue. Of these one Was 65 and another 72 years old. The same author has twice observed the labia minora united through the whole ex- tent of their free edge, and leaving above a small aperture corresponding to the meatus urinarius. In another case a false membrane existed internal to the labia minora, and closed the vagina, leaving above a small opening for the urine. On cutting through this false membrane, the hymen was found posterior to it quite per- fect. .Devergie concludes from a careful review of all his authorities, that the hy- men is an almost constant formation, and that the differences of opinion which have existed in former times have arisen from the great varieties discoverable in its form and size. " The most usual form of the hymen is that of a semilunar fold, bounding the en- trance of the vagina below, and of which the extremities lose themselves behind the labia minora in the circumference of the aperture of the vagina, Its convexity is behind and its concavity before. Another form of the hymen is that of a circular membrane, perforated in the centre, and adhering by its entire circumference to the ADDENDA. 19 opening of the vagina. In a third case the hymen fills up the entire orifice of the va- gina, with the exception of a small open- ing above corresponding to the meatus urinarius. Lastly, the most unusual form is that of filaments of mucous membrane uniting the carunculae myrtiformes. From all this Devergie concludes, that in 99 cases out of 100 the hymen is to be found, and recognizable by marked characters. " At birth the hymen is limited in ok- ' tent; little by little, and especially during the period which precedes puberty, it j grows. Its free edge then becomes relaxed j and folded, so that there is reason to believe that when the rupture takes place it is chiefly in its folds or depressions, and that it is in this way that the carunculae myrti- formes are formed. These remnants of the j membrane afterwards undergo changes, > become hard, are rounded after child-bear- j ing, but rarely if ever entirely disappear. " In addition to these carunculae myrti- , formes, Boyer describes two projections! situated posterior to the hymen, which art- , nothing more than the projecting extremi- ties of the anterior and posterior columns of the vagina. The pyramidal tubercle-; with fringed edges, three, four, five, or six in number, as they form the remains if 20 ADDENDA. the hymen, may be regarded as conclu sive proof of the previous existence of that membrane. " From what has been stated there can be little doubt of the existence, in by far the majority of females, of the hymen, in s.ome one of the forms already described, nor can there be any difficulty in ascertain- ing its existence or its recent destruction by violence. The recent destruction of the hymen would, of course, furnish conclusive evidence of the recent employment of force, and if it co-existed with other marks of violence on the parts of generation and on the person of the female, there could be no reasonable doubt of the commission of a rape, as far as that crime can be proved by physical signs. " On the other hand, the absence of the hymen, and the substitution for it of the carunculae myrtiformes, would prove that the hymen had been destroyed at some earlier period; and supposing it to be al- . leg 3d that the female previous to the ac- cusation of rape was a virgin, this circum- stance might be thought to disprove her assertion. It is scarcely necessary, how- ever, to state that the hymen may be de- stroyed by other force than that employed in sexual intercourse: from within, if the ADDENDA. 21 aperture be small, by the first menstrual flux, or by the accumulation of other dis- charges ; from without, in consequence of accident, or by the intentional introduction of foreign bodies for lascivious purposes. The membrane may also be destroyed by disease, or it may be originally wanting, as in a case related by Capuron. The ab- sence of the hymen, therefore, is no proof that a female has had previous sexual in- tercourse. " On the other hand, the presence of the hymen must not be accounted a certain sign of chastity, inasmuch as sexual inter- course has taken place, and children have been born, and yet the hymen has remain- ed intact. Thus Ambrose Pare tells us of a mother who applied to him to examine the membrane, and on dividing it, it was seen to be of the thickness of parchment. Ruisch relates a similar case of a female during labor, in whom he had to divide not only the hymen, but a second membrane placed farther back; and immediately after the operation the child was born. Capuron also relates a case where the expulsion of the child was powerfully impeded by the resistance of the hymen. He incised the membrane, which had naturally but a small aperture, and shortly after a pair of 22 ADDENDA. large and lively children were born. Bau- delocque quotes the case of a Woman whom he delivered, and whose hymen he was about to rupture, had not the head of the child saved him the trouble. Lastly, Tol- berg quotes a case observed by the elder Meckel, and illustrated by a drawing: here a woman preserved her hymen circular and tense after having given birth to a foetus of five months,enveloped in all its membranes. "The presence of the hymen, then, is no proof of chastity, nor is its absence evi- dence of the reverse. At no time a sign of any great value, it is now become less ne- cessary than ever to insist upon it, as proof I of penetration is held to be complete even where the membrane remains intact. It is only necessary to add, by way of explain- ing the apparent anomaly of its existence in married and pregnant females, that there is naturally very great difference in ihe size of the parts of generation in different fe- males, and that at the menstrual period and during delivery they undergo a very con- siderable degree of dilatation, and are so relaxed as to admit the passage of bodies of considerable size in both directions. The effect also of habitual discharges in causing a relaxed state of the parts must not be overlooked. ADDENDA. 23 " Besides the intact condition of the hy- men, other signs of virginity have been enumerated, as the fresh color, firmness, and elasticity of the labia, the entire state of the fourchette, the narrowness and ru- gose stale of the vagina, and a plump and elastic condition of the breasts. The diffi- culty attending intercourse, the pain which the female suffers, the rupture of the hy- men and the flow of blood, have also been mentioned as signs of previous virginity. All these signs are fallacious. The condi- tion of the labia already described is not destroyed by repeated acts of intercourse, and in the state of the breasts many wid- ows and mothers may compare with un- doubted virgins. The fourchette may re- main unruptured after repeated intercourse, and even after child-bearing ; and the nar- row and constricted state of the vagina is not only not peculiar to virgins, but it may be artificially imitated by the use of astrin- gents, whilst the opposite state may be in- duced by the leucorrhoeal discharge, or by profuse menstruation. It is also present, as has been already stated, during the men- strual period. As to the other supposed signs of virginity, viz. the difficulty of a first connexion, the pain alleged to attend it, and the show of blood,—these are still 24 ADDENDA. more fallacious, as all of them may occur from relative disproportion. " The difficulty of ascertaining whether or not a female has had previous sexual in- tercourse, and the possibility of the usual signs of virginity remaining after long habits of unchastity, is well illustrated by the following case, related on the authority of M. Parent Duchatelet. " * Several years ago, two young women of genteel appearance were attacked in the public streets by some young men, who called them gross and opprobrious names, and told the passers by that they were nothing better thau common prostitutes. Some good-natured persons resented this conduct, and took the girls' part. A com- plaint was lodged on their behalf against their defamers, and the latter were sum- moned to appear before a magistrate. The defendants pleaded a justification, while the females, on the contrary, stoutly insis- ted on their purity; they even offered to submit to a personal inspection by a medi- cal examiner,—which the opposite party dared them to do. A sworn inspector, a clever and conscientious man, was appoint- ed by the magistrate, and the result of his investigation was this,—That it was total- ly out of his power to say anything certain ADDENDA. 25 in regard to one of the females ; she might or she might not be a virgin ; but for the other, she probably had had some inter- course with men, but he could not assert the fact positively. The issue of the dis- pute I know not; but this is certain, that it subsequently came out that these same young women had actually been for some time entered on the registers of the police, and one proof of their being anything but virgins was, that they had both been, on several occasions, affected with the vene- real disease.'" CAN CONNEXION TAKE PLACE DUK1NG SLEEP, WITHOUT THE FEMALE'S KNOWLEDGE . "That a female may be violated dur- ing stupor produced by narcotics, there i« no doubt; that a female, accustomed to sexual intercourse, may be violated during profound sleep, is also highly probable: but that a virgin should be violated during sleep may be held to be in the very highest de- gree improbable. In the absence of facts this is all that can be said on the subject; but that it may be a matter of doubt, is proved by the fact that the medical faculty 26 ADDENDA. of Leipsic, in 1669, answered the question in the affirmative, and the juridical faculty of Jena, in the negative. Violation is here used in the sense of sexual connexion ac- companied by a certain degree of force. When discussing the question of pregnan- cy, cases will be cited which go to prove the possibility of sexual intercourse which has taken place during sleep bein£r follow- ed by pregnancy, which event has come upon the female by surprise—a proof that connexion was not accompanied by violence. " In the year 1840, I was consulted by a poor woman who, after mentioning other complaints of little importance, stated that she was somewhat alarmed by the fact of her sleep being so heavy that she was with difficulty aroused. She added, by way of illustration, that her husband had assured her, that he had frequently had connexion (>with her during sleep." CAN PREGNANCY FOLLOW RAPE, OR UNCON- CIOUS CONNEXION ? " The facts just referred to prove that pregnancy may follow unconscious co'mex- lon, hence the venereal orgasm is not a ADDENDA. 27 sine qua non of conception. It is also ad- mitted that pregnancy may follow a first intercourse with consent; hence there is nothing in the nature of a first connexion to prevent conception. The question, therefore, becomes very simple. Is there in the aversion with which the female re- ceives the forcible embraces any sufficient obstacle to conception ? There is here not only an absence of all fact to guide us, but a preconceived notion, that pregnancy fol- lowing alleged rape forms a sufficient evi- dence of consent, to mislead us. All that can be said, therefore, is, that it is in the very highest degree improbable that an event which may follow an act unconcious- ly performed, and which is not prevented from happening by the suffering attending a first intercourse with consent, should be prevented merely by the repugnance which a female feels to the party offering her violence. " Can a woman conceive while in a state of unconciousness? The answer to this question must be in the affirmative, for there is no doubt that a participation on the part of the female in the act of sexual in- tercourse is not necessary to conception, and as little doubt that intercourse may take place and the female remain quite un- 28 ADDENDA. concious of what has happened. Capuron says, «It is a fact which experience has more than once confirmed, that a woman may become with child while in a state of hysteria, under the influence of narcotics, during asphyxia, drunkenness, or deep sleep, and consequently without being con- scious of it, or sharing the enjoyment of the man who dishonors her.' To prove the possibility of intercourse and conse- quent conception under the use of narco- tics, the following cases may be cited: Ca- puron gives the case of a young woman who conceived during a deep sleep pro- duced by punch given her by her para- mour, and who became aware of her con- dition for the first time when she felt the motions of the child in the fourth month. Another case of the same kind is mention- ed by M. Desgranges in a letter to Fodere. He says, 'I am certain that it is possible for a female to conceive during sleep, by the fact of a young person who, in the midst of our revolutionary miseries (at Lyons) became the victim of the wicked- ness of a "young man and one of his rela- tions. He enjoyed her during the effect of a strong dose of opium, and she became pregnant without knowing it, and with the assurance that she had never exposed her- ADDENDA. 29 self to the risk of it.' The following case is cited by Beck :—' A pregnant female in her last moments solemnly declared that to her knowledge she never had connexion, but that a person in the family some time previous had given her some wine to drink, after which she fell into a profound sleep. She was not, however, conscious of any- thing having occurred during that state, but mentioned the circumstance as proba- bly explaining her situation.' " As examples of conception taking place from intercourse during profound sleep, the following cases may be cited: ' A maid at an inn, who was always thought to be vir- tuous, and bore a good character, began to enlarge in a way which excited suspicions of pregnancy; she solemnly declared that she never had connexion with any man. At length she was delivered, and was af- terwards brought before a magistrate to swear to the father ; but repeated her for- mer declaration. Not long afterwards, a post-boy related the following circum- stance: that one night he came late to this inn, put his horses into the stable, and went into the house ; he found all gone to bed except this girl, who was lying asleep on the hearth-rug, and without waking her he contrived to gratify his desires.' Dr. 30 ADDENDA. Montgomery relates an analogous case, on the authority of Dr. Cusack: *A servant woman, at an hotel in Neuagh, proved pregnant, and solemnly declared that she was not conscious of having had inter- course with any man. Suspicion, how- ever, fell upon an ostler in the establish- ment, who subsequently acknowledged that he believed he was the father of the child ; that having found the woman in a deep sleep from fatigue, caused by long continued exertion, and being kept out of bed two or three nights in succession, he had connexion with her, and as he believ- ed, totally without her knowledge, as she did not evince the slightest consciousness of the act at the time, or recollection of its occurrence afterwards: the parties were married with mutual consent.' " The possibility of conception taking place in consequence of unconscious con- nexion during asphyxia or apparent death, is proved by the following case: ' A young friar being on a journey, arrived at a house where they were about to bury a young girl, whom they believed to be dead. He proposed to pass the night in the chamber with the coffin and watch the body. In the course of the night, while examining the body, his passions were so excited by the ADDENDA. 31 beauty still remaining, that he determined on satisfying them even under such circum- stances. He departed early next morning, and in the course of the day, the apparen- tly dead revived, proved to be pregnant, and at the end of nine months brought forth a child, to the great amazement of her friends as well as her own. The friar returned to the place about this time, con- fessed himself the father of the child, and married the mother, having procured ab- solution from his vows, which he had taken against his will.' " It appears then that there are various states of the system accompanied by insen- sibility, during which connexion may take place followed by conception, the female being quite unconscious of what has hap- pened. In the cases just quoted, it seems highly improbable that the act of inter- course was accompanied by violence, for had it been so, the females could scarcely have failed to suspect the real cause of the injury which they had sustained. This leads to the second question." 32 ADDENDA. CAN A WOMAN BE IGNORANT OF HER PREG- NANCY, UP TO THE TIME OF HER DELIV- ERY ? " It is obvious that in the case first quo- ted this is quite possible. A woman who is not conscious of having exposed herself to the risk of becoming a mother, would naturally attribute her enlargement, and all the symptoms of pregnancy accompany- ing it, to any cause but the true one. There is another case in which such ignor- ance is possible ; and that is where the fe- male has yielded to the solicitations of a lover in consequence of solemn assurances that under certain circumstances, connex- ion may take place without danger. Thus Fodere cites a case on the authority of M. Desgranges, in which a young girl, after resisting the repeated solicitations of her lover, yielded to his desires in a bath, un- der the assurance that in that situation she could not conceive. She became a mother, however, but appeared to remain ignorant of her situation till the last. M. DesgTan- ges states that she always affirmed to him that the circumstance of the connexion having taken place in the water had re- moved all idea of pregnancy. There is also an opinion prevailing that a single act ADDENDA. » . ,v 331 of intercourse is unattended with danger ; and another popular prejudice, that provi- ded the act of intercourse is incomplete, and the hymen remains uninjured, impreg- nation is possible. Fodere states that many cases have occurred of females asserting that they were not pregnant up to the last, on the strength of the precautions which they had taken. « Now in all such cases it is obviously possible that the female may attribute the symptoms of pregnancy to disease, and I really believe what she so much desires should be true. But it is" in the highest degree improbable that a woman who has had connexion under any circumstances should not have serious misgivings as to the real cause of her altered state, and as to the infallibility of the popular belief on which she had acted. In this, as in other things, the wish is father to the thought; and as the married woman, anxious for off- spring, construes every unusual sensation into a sign of pregnancy, and makes serious preparations for the important event which is to crown her wishes, so the single wo- man, whose wishes all tend the other way, may sincerely attribute to any cause but the true one, every symptom of an event which threatens her with shame. 34 ADDENDA. SUFERFO2TATI0N. This curious subject of enquiry has already been a subject of explanation with us, and here will be found all the known and credible facts which throw light upon it. " It Superfcetation possible ?—As this ques- tion has an important bearing upon legitimacy, it demands a careful examination. Superfce- tation is defined as the conception of a second embryo during the gestation of the first, the products of the two distinct conceptions being born either at the same or at different times. Some light is thrown upon this question by more than one well-authenticated case in which a woman has been delivered of twins of different colors, and both of them fully formed. The two following are taken from many similar ones quoted or referred to by Beck: ' A female at Charleston, in South Car- olina, was delivered in 1714 of twins, within a very short lime of each other. One was found to be black, and the other white. This variety of color led to an investigation ; and the female confessed that on a particular day, immediately after her husband had left his bed, a negro entered her room, and by threat- ening to murder her if she did not consent, had connexion with her.' This case is related on the authority of Buffon. The following case is mentioned by Dr. Mosely as occurring within his time at Shortwood estate, in the ADDENDA. 35 island of Jamaica: c A negro woman brought 1 forth two children at a birth, both of a size; one of which was a negro, and the other a mu- latto. On being interrogated upon the occasion of their dissimilitude, she said she perfectly well knew the cause of it; which was, that a white man belonging to the estate came to her hut one morning before she was up, and she suffered his embraces almost instantly after her black husband had quitted her.' A case still more remarkable than either of the fore- going is quoted from the Rev. Dr. Walsh's Notices of Brazil. ' It was communicated to I me,' says Dr. Walsh,< by the sargente Mor of the San Jose gold district (Brazil.) A Creole woman with whom he was acquainted in the neighborhood had three children at a birth, of > three different colors, white, brown, and black, with all the features of the respective classes.' In the first two cases there is nothing very re- markable. It is easy to imagine conception taking place in the same ovary or in different ovaries, from the nearly simultaneous applica- tion of semen whether of the same man or of different men. " It is remarkable, that none of these cases, in which children of different colors (were the product of one birth) were attended or wit- nessed by medical men, but depend for authen-, ticitv on popular report, and some of them, as Dr. Chapman has remarked, (Eclectic Reper- tory, vol. I, p. 375,) carry wiih them internal ______-------———------------------————J 36 ADDENDA. evidence of condemnation; 'There eonld not/ says he, ' under the alleged circumstances of the connexion, be a white and black child, but one must have been a mulatto, according to the invariable result between the negro and white I' Such cases, however, if substantia- ted, would not be instances of superfoetation, which supposes the children to be of ditferent ages and sizes, but were probably of contem- poraneous conception. " Now these are cases in which the two children are of the full size, and differ in nothing but color from children of one father and one conception. There is another class of cases equally easy to believe and to under- stand, in which the birth of two children is- separated by a short interval, or by an inter- val closely corresponding to their respective size and degree of development, on the sup- position of their being twins. Of the former class of cases the following, taken from the Consilia of Zacchias, is an example:—' J. N. Sobrejus lost his life in a quarrel, leaving his wife pregnant. Eight months after his death she was delivered of a deformed ehikl> which died in the birth. Her abdomen remained large, and it was suspected that a second in- fant was contained in it, but all efforts to pro- cure its delivery proved fruitless. One month and a day thereafter, (he widow was again ' taken in labor, and brought forth a perfect living child. The relations of the husband -II III I I ■ ADDENDA. 37 contested its legitimacy, on the ground that it was the fruit of a superfoetation, and Zacchias was consulted on the subject. He agreed that the two infants could not have been the pro- duct of one conception, since the interval be- tween their birth was so great: but advanced it as his opinion, that the first was the produet of a superfoetation, and conceived a month af- ter the other. This he strengthened by the fact that the husband died suddenly while in a state of perfect health. His opinion pre- served the character of the mother, and also gave her those legal rights to which her situa- tion entitled her/ Zacchias seems, in this ease, to have chosen the most improbable of two suppositions. It is certainly more easy to suppose that the birth of twins, the product of the same conception, may take place at two different times, than that they should be the products of two different conceptions ; and it is by no means easy to understand on what data Zacchias could found his opinion that the child first born was the last conceived. In a question of so much difficulty, the wisest course seems to prefer that interpretation which involves the least difficulty, and which is most consistent with experience. Now the expulsion of twins ot different times is allowed to be a common event, of which examples are to be found in most works on midwifery. The most feasible opinion, then, seems to be, that this was a case of twins conceived at the same 1 38 ADDENDA. time, but of which one was discharged before the other. " Such, indeed, is the nature of most of the cases which have been recorded as instances of superfoetation. For example, in the Am. Jour, of Med. Sciences, (vol. xx. p. 481,) a case, headed ' Superfoetation,' is quoted from a German Journal, in which a female, set. 35, who had been married eleven years, and the mother of four children, was delivered on the 16th Oct. 1833, of a female infant, fully devel- oped i and on the 18th Nov. following, 33 days subsequently, gave birth to a second daughter, also lully developed, but feeble. Such instances are not uncommon, but they are not strictly cases of superfoetation. A dead foetus may be retained in (he uterus many months without apparent change or decompo- sition. We have extracted a foetus which had been thus retained over a year j and Dr. Ches- ton, of Chester, England, has recorded a case, where a dead foetus remained in the uterine cavity over forty years. In cases of twins, moreover, the growth of one may, from some cause, be retarded ; while that of the other proceeds, at the usual rate of development. " But there are cases on record which do not admit of so easy an explanation, and which certainly countenance the theory of a double conception. " ' The wife of Raymond Villard, of Lyons, married at the age of twenty-two, and became ADDENDA. 391 pregnant five years thereafter, but had an abortion at the seventh month, on the 20th of May, 1779. She conceived again within a month; and on the 20th of January, 1780, eight months after her delivery, and seven months from her second conception, she brought forth a living child. This delivery was not, however, accompanied with the usual symptoms—no milk appeared, the lochia were wanting, and the abdomen did not diminish in size. It was accordingly found necessary to procure a nurse for the child. "'Two surgeons visited the female, and were at a loss with respect to her situation. They called Dr. Desgranges in consultation, who declared that she had a second child in the womb. Although this was strongly doubt- ed, yet, three weeks after her delivery she felt the motions of the foetus ; and on the 6th of July, 1780, (five months and sixteen days after the first birth,) she was again delivered of a living daughter. The milk now appeared, and she was enabled to nurse her offspring.' " It is not possible, adds Dr. Desgranges, that this second child could have been con- ceived after the delivery of the first, for no sexual intercourse took place between the hus- band and wife till twenty days after, which would have made the age of the second child only four months twenty-seven days. " The narrative of this case was accompa- nied by a legal attestation of it under the oath I ----------------------------------- 40 ADDENDA. - <*■ of the mother; and on the 19th of January, 1782, both children were still living. " Assuming that the facts of this case are correctly stated, it must be admitted to be nearly conclusive as to the possibility of su- perfoetation ; for if we deny this, and assume both children to have been the product of a simultaneous conception, and the last child to have been at full term, the first child, which, Ibe it remembered, in common with the other, survived its birth between one and two years at the least, must have been born alive at three months and a half; or, if the first child be ad- mitted to be seven months old, the second must have been born alive at six weeks, which is obviously absurd. The only other possible supposition is also in the highest degree im- probable, viz, that the seeond child was the fruit of sexual intercourse taking place subse- quent to the delivery of the first. If such were the fact, a child born at about the end of the fifth month was reared ! As no allusion is made to any peculiar difficulty in rearing the' child, this supposition must be regarded asin- admissable. " Dr. Matton has also related a well-au- thenticated case, in which two male children (both of which were ' born perfect') were brought forth at an interval of nearly three calender months. If this had been a case of simultaneous conception, the one would have ADDENDA. 411 been six months or less, the other nine months or less. " Additional cases are referred to by Beck, in three of which there was an interval of one month, in three an interval of two months, in one an interval of four months, and in one an interval of four days. " In deciding this question, those cases only must be admitted to have any weight in which the interval between the births is considerable; for, where the interval is short, if we suppose the child last born to be mature, the first may have been eight or seven months old, which is quite reconcilcable with the supposition of its being reared. When, however, the interval is one of four months, if we assume, as before, that the child last born is mature, the first can- not be more than five months old, an age at which it is in the highest degree improbable that a child could be reared. " We have examined, we believe, all the in- stances of alleged snperfoetation which have ; been hitherto published, and with the cxcep- '. tion of the case of Dr. Desgranges at Lyons, ■ there seems to be little, if any, difficulty in ex- plaining them all as examples of contempora- neous conception. Indeed, the case of Des- granges may be thus explained, if we but allow that a child of six months is viable, instances of which are not unknown, and two of which occurred in the practice of Dr. Boyd, of this city ; in one, the infant lived three days, and 42 ADDENDA. in the other, several weeks. Dr. Francis has also recorded two instances, (See Stewart's Bil- liard, Appendix, p. 611-12,) which happened within his own practice; in one of which, the child was born the 23d week of pregnancy; in the other, iu the 20th week; in the latter case, the infant lived but one hour; in the other, it is still living, (1843.) Dr. Rodman, likewise, {Ed. Med, 4r Surg. Journal,) has re- corded a case, in which the child survived, though born in the 19th week of pregnancy. We should also bear in mind, that a disorder- ed condition of the cord, impairing the foetal circulation, will impede the growth and di- mensions of the foetus; an instance of which kind occurred to the venerable Dr. William Barrow of this city; where the foetus, though born between the seventh and eighth month of gestation,weighedbut littleover fiveounces. This preparation is now in the collection of Pathological Anatomy, in the Museum of Ge- neva College, N. Y. "In any cases that may hereafter occur, it will be important to observe the size and de- gree of development of the children, as this must always be an essential element of the in- quiry. But it must not be forgotten that even the products of the same conception may dif- fer greatly in size, and yet both be healthy children. " This fact is well illustrated by a case brought under my notice by Mr. Streeter, in ADDENDA. 43 which female twins, five and a quarter months old, were born enveloped in a common chorion. The one was more than twice the size of the other, but the smaller foetus alone had made successful efforts to respire. " If the single case of the wife of Raymond Villard be allowed to be correctly stated, tfTe doctrine of superfoetation must be admitted to be highly probable; but, as there may still be room for doubt, it may be useful to subjoin the chief arguments employed by the advocates and opponents of that doctrine. "The opponents of superfoetation allege that the occurrence is impossible, because, 1. Shortly after conception the os tincae, as well as the internal apertures of the Fallopian tubes, are closed by a thick tenacious mucus. 2. The membrana decidua, which is also form- ed soon after conception, lines the uterus, and aids in obliterating the openings into its cavity. 3. That when the uterus is impregnated, the Fallopian tubes, instead of running horizon- tally to the ovaria, lie parallel to the sides, so that if a second embryo were formed within the ovarium, the tubes could not embrace it in order to convey it to the uterus. And 4. That the arrival of a new embryo in the ute- rus would prove destructive to the first. "The last objection is founded upon a bare assumption, and may therefore be summarily dismissed. The third objection, if valid, must prove fatal to the doctrine of superfoetation ; 44 ADDENDA. but though this obstacle may exist in the fully developed uterus, the ovary and Fallopian tubes are not more prevented from coming in- to contact with each other in the early stage of utero-gestation, at which alone superfoeta- tion is alleged to take place, than in the un- impregnated slate. The answer to the first two objections is an obvious one. Neither the tenacious mucus nor the newly-formed de- cidua, though in contact with the orifices and cells of the uterus, adheres so firmly to it as not to admit the passage of the aura seminis, or even of the semen itself. The fact of men- struation in numerous cases occurring during a part or the whole of pregnancy seems to prove, that the adhesion of this tenacious mucus and of the decidua is by no means so firm as to forbid the passage of fluid; and this argument is strengthened by the frequent oc- currence of haemorrhage in the advanced stages of pregnancy in consequence of partial detachment of the placenta. The arguments advanced against the doctrine of superfoeta- tion are certainly not of weight sufficient to set aside such cases as those already adduced ? and until those cases can be shown to be un- trustworthy, we have no alternative but to admit the truth of the doctrine. "If, then, we admit the possibility of super- foetation, the question arises, Can we explain this occurrence in such a manner as to avoid the objections of its opponents? The exist- ADDENDA. 45 ence of double uteri, and more rarely of dou- ble vaginae also, suggests the required explan- ation ; and as the recorded cases of this mal- formation are much more numerous than those of superfoetation, it is quite possible that some of the latter may be explained by the malfor- mation in question. - • " That this malformation does really explain some cases of superfoetation is proved by a case related by Scheider of a woman who, six weeks after marriage, bore a four months' child, and forty weeks after marriage mature twins. On examination, the uterus and vagi- na were both found double, and each vagina had a separate orifice. It must be recollected, however, that this is a'solitary ease of the co-existence of superfoetation and a double uterus. Though some other cases may possi- bly have depended on the same malformation, there is no reason to believe that this was the case in all." CAN PREGNANCY REStTLT FROM A SINGLE COITION 1 I am myself very dubious as to impregna- tion following a first connexion in a virgin, but still I cannot declare it impossible. It is probable that Masturbation, if not carried to excess, mav so prepare the organs in a virgin 46 ADDENDA. as to make her conceive from a first coition. This practice in fact would have nearly the same effect, in that respect, as actual con- nexion. " Dr. G. C. Howard testifies, that 'concep- tion would not follow one connexion, under < the circumstances sworn to by Miss Murdock, once in a hundred thousand cases. In fact,' he remarks, {I do not believe the instances ever occurred in the world.' Dr. Thomas L. Everett testified, that he' deemed it impossible for a man to have complete connexion with a virgin, without producing laceration and some considerable loss of blood ; and that a single connexion with a virgin would not produce conception. Such consequence is impossible. I have very little faith,' he says, 'in such re- sult from a single coition between any parties, however much they have been accustomed to sexual intercourse with others !' "Drs. Elwood, Strong, Ely, Backus, Smith, and Long, tesiified, that 'the ordinary period of gestation was forty weeks, or two hundred and eighty days; that variations of a few days over or under that period were frequent; that they should not consider it very extraordinary if it exceeded that period ten days, although it would be unusual; that there were cases in the books which showed that the period of gestation had been prolonged to three hundred days, and some even over that. They also concurred in saying that they knew of no phy-1 ADDENDA. 47 sical impediments from conception following the first coition, although the probabilities would be against it; that they thought the probabilities would be against conception from any single act of coition, but not mueh more from the first act than from any later one, when the health and uge of the parties favored conception; that they knew of no physical reason why conception might not follow when the connexion was forcible, as the mind, in their opinion, had nothing to do with the mat- ter. They also concurred in saying that young females, with their first child, were more like- ly to fall short of, than to exceed, the usual period of gestation," " Impregnation has often followed a single act of coition, both in the virgin and in the married state; and it is a well-known fact, the same occurs, as a general rule, among the inferior animals. It is absurd to say that such a result is 'impossible.' " Dr. Dewees relates the following case. ' The husband of a lady who was obliged to ab- sent himself many months, in consequence of the embarrassment of his affairs, returned one night clandestinely, his visit being only known to his wife, her mother, and myself. The con- sequence of this visit was the impregnation of his wife. The lady was at this time within a week of her menstrual period ; and as this did not fail to take place, she was led to hope she bad not suffered by the visit of her husband. 48 ADDENDA. But her catamenia not appearing at the next period, gave rise to a fear that she had not es- caped ; and the birth of a child, nine months and thirteen days from the time of this clan- destine visit, proved her apprehensions too well grounded.' {Dewees' Midwifery, p. 129.) A parallel case is related by Desormeaux. (London Medical Gazette, Dec. 1819, p. 344.) A similar case is mentioned by Dr. Francis. Dr. Beck remarks, that ' it is quite common, in cases of seduction, to swear that there has been only a single coitus; and although this may be doubted in some, yet in others there is hardly just ground to disbelieve a solemn af- firmation.' {Med. Juris, vol. 1, p. 150.) Dr- Gooch in giving in his evidence in the Gard- ner Peerage cause, stated, that' the exact dura- tion of pregnancy could be accurately calcula- ted in cases where respectable females had been seduced, and the intercourse had been sin- gle, the evidence of this being the oath of the female, there being no motive whatever for misstating the fact.'" FACT* AND CASES CORROBORATIVE OT THE THEORY OF IMPREGNATION AS LAID DOWN IN THIS WORE. Malformation or defect of the penis.—" In this place it is necessary to premise that it is ADDENDA. 49 now generally admitted, that impregnation may take place, provided the semen be intro- duced within the orifice of the vagina; it will also be shown, when speaking of the possibil- ity of impregnation taking place in a state of .unconsiousness, tha,t the venereal orgasm is not essential to render sexual intercourse fruit- ful. Small size or partial mutilation of the pe- nis, therefore, cannot be accounted as a cause of impotence. Provided what exists or remains of the penis if sufficiently large to admit of in- troduction witnin the orifice of the vagina, and there be no impediment to the emission of se- men, fruitful intercourse may take place. Thus a removal of the glans penis, of the cor- pora cavernosa, (as in the case quoted by Dr. Paris from Piazzoni,) or of a very considerable portion of the organ, (a3 in the case of a sol- dier quoted by Frank, in whom a large part of the penis was carried away by a muskst- ball,) did not produce impotence. A still more extreme case is related by Mr. Hurd, in which, in consequence of disease followed by ampu- tation, there was only a very small protrusion of the organ on pressure, and yet the patienV after the amputation became the father of two children. An amputation of the penis close to its root would in all probability cause impo- tence, though for the reasons already assign- ed, fruitful intercourse is perhaps not altogeth- er impossible. . . « For the same reason^ the opposite maltor- 50 ADDENDA. mation, viz. an excessive development of the penis, whether normal or as a consequence of disease, can scarcely be regarded as a cause of impotence, inasmuch as though intercourse, in the ordinary sense of the term, were impos- sible, still impregnation might take pluce. " Another malformation of the penis (hypos- padia) was described in the last chapter. Here the urethra opens either upon the penis, be- hind its usual situation, or in the perineum. In most of these cases, the question of impo- tence admits of easy solution. When the ori- fice of the urethra is situated on the penis it- self, especially on those parts of the organ which would be introduced into the vagina du- ring sexual intercourse, the party cannot be accounted impotent. Several cases of this kind are recorded. ' Belloc says that he knew a person at Agen, in whom the orifice was at the bottom of the franum, and who had four children resembling their parent, and what is still more remarkable, two of them had the same malformation.' Frank has seen a case of this sort transmitted through three genera- tions. " Dr. Francis witnessed a similar case of malformation in this city, in $ lines from the extremity of the glans. Dr. Blun- ... ---------------------j ADDENDA. 51 dell says,' I know an individual, the father of a very fine child, marked strongly with the paternal resemblance, and in this person the urethra opens in the corpus spongiosum, be- tween one and two inches of the glans.' " Beck has collected seven other cases of hypospadians who had children. " In the cases now quoted, the orifice of the urethra was situated upon the penis : in other rare instances the opening of the canal is in the perineum. It is obvious that in such cases, provided the penis be well-formed, nothing more is necessary in order that fruit- ful intercourse may take place than that the lemen should be introduced into the vagina. Sir Everard Home has published an interest- ing case of fistula in perineo, in which the celebrated John Hunter accomplished this pur- pose by causing the semen to be injected by means of a syringe immediately after coition. The wife afterwards proved with child, and Mr. Hunter entertained no doubt of the im- pregnation having been due to this cause. Spallanzani's experiments upon animals were instituted, according to Sir E. Home, several years after this proposal of Mr. Hunter, and were attended with success. This fact should render us cautious in giving an opinion in ca- ses of supposed impotence ; for it is possible that the semen which has been ejected from an opening remote from the penis may come into contact with the mucous membrane at ■ " ' 52 ADDENDA. the orifice of the vagina, and thus cause im- pregnation. " Another cause of impotence, about which }ess difficulty exists, is the malformation" al- ready noticed under the head of doubtful sex, viz. epispadia. Here the orifice of the ure- thra is above the penis or prostate; and as it is extremely improbable that the semen can be introduced into the vagina,, such persons must be impotent, unless, as in the case just related, artificial means are resorted to. In some of these cases, the penis is entirely want- ing, in others bifid, and in almost every in- stance umisually short. " That impotence is not the natural conse- quence of such a malformation, may also be inferred from the fact that it had repeatedly occurred in cases where the hymen has not been ruptured, and there has been no pene- tration. ' Four impregnations,' says Dr. Blun- dell, ' in which the hymsn remained unbroken, have fallen under my notice; the diameter of the vaginal orifice not exceeding that of the smaller finger, and this, too, though the male organ was of the ordinary dimension.' And again, 'I know of three cases in which the male organ was not suffered to enter the vagi- na at all, and where, nevertheless, I suppose, from the mere deposition of the semen upon the vulva, impregnation took place.' These cases all prove that if the semen be deposited in the Vagina, or even in the Lips, ADDENDA. 53 it may impregnate. The Law respecting Rape, also admits the same, for according to this the smallest possible penetration, even though the Hymen be not ruptured, constitutes a rape: because, if the female be old enough, impreg- nation may result from it. The crime is the same however whether there be emission or not. HOW FAR DEFECTS OF THE TESTICLES MAY AFFECT A MAN'S VIRIB1LITY. "Defect or Disease of the Testicles.—The loss of both testicles early in life occasions impotence ; where they are removed after pu- berty, the question may arise whether the party is necessarily rendered impotent. That sexual intercourse may take place for a con- siderable period after the removal of both tes- ticles, is proved by a case related by Sir Astley Cooper. For about twelve months after the loss of the second testicle he had emissions in coitu ; after that period coitus at distant inter- vals, but without emission ; sexual intercourse became less and less frequent, till it ceased entirely at the end of ten years. Sedillot cites a case on the authority of Boyer, in which, after the removal of both testicles, a man be- came a father; and Beck states that similar I results have occurred with animals recently 54 ADDENDA. castrated. Otto, too, mentions one case in which he found plenty of apparently good se- men in the vesicula seminalis of a man who had castrated himself a year before, in a fit of melancholy. „" Much unnecessary discussion has arisen as to the possibility of a man having only one testicle being capable of fruitful intercourse, and as to the impotence of persons in whom the testicles have not yet descended. With regard to the question of impotence: in cases where there is only one testicle, it is only ne- cessary to observe, that, as impregnation can- not be supposed to depend upon the quantity of semen introduced into the vagina, we may safely affirm that one sound testicle is to the full as efficient as two. So also the mere po- sition of the testicles cannot be reasonably supposed to alter their functions ; it is there- fore unnecessary to inquire whether those in whom the testicles are situated in the abdo- men or in the inguinal canal are capable of procreating their species. If we can discover the testicles either in the scrotum or in the groin, and we have reason to believe that they are healthy and well-formed, we may safely decide that the parties are not impotent, if the testicles are to be found neither in the groin nor in the scrotum, our opinion must be founded on the general appearance of the body, the sound of the voice, the growth of the hair, ADDENDA. 55 &c.; and these cases are the only ones which can present any difficulty. " The question of impotence has sometimes been raised in cases in which the testicle is un- usually small. This is not a sufficient ground for inferring impotence. Thus, though Dr. Baillie relates the case of a middle aged man, in whom the size of the testicles did not ex- ceed that of the extremity of the little finger, and there was a total absence of sexual desire, the following case, given on the authority of Mr. Wilson, shows that we are not always justified in regarding such persons as impotent. 'I was some years ago consufted by a gentle- man on the point of marriage, respecting the propriety of his entering into that state, as his penis and testicles very little exceeded in size those of a ybuth of 8 years of age. He was 26, but had never felt desire until he be- came acquainted with his present wife. Since that he had experienced repeated erections, with nocturnal emissions. He married, be- came the father of a family, and those parts, which at 26 were so small, at 28 had increased to the usual size of those of an adult man.' "We not unfrequently meet with cases of arrest of development of the testicle, where in an adult, they are no larger than in a boy of 6 or 7 years of age. In such cases, the indi- vidual presents the appearance of a person void of sexual characters. There are no beard, or whiskfcrs, and no hair on the pubes. HI!........ 56 ADDENDA. Curling mentions cases where one testis in an adult weighed but two scruples and one grain, whereas the average weight of a fully devel- oped testis is six drachms, In these cases, moreover, there are no spermatozoa in the seminal fluid. Where a testis weighs less than three drachms. Mr. Curling thinks it must be regarded as in a state of atrophy. Where a testis is undergoing the process of wasting, not arising from disease of the gland, it usually preserves its shape, but feels soft, having lost its elasticity and firmness. The epididymis does not usually waste so soon nor in the same degree as the body of the testis." SPONTANEOUS GENERATION. This subject has already been referred to in the Chapter on Theories of Generation ; to do full j ustice to it would require more space than the present work will allow. It is but just however that I should state the facts that many scientific men are decidedly of opinion that it is possible. It is true that we odina- rily see Generation carried on in some one of the models I have described, nor is it possible to refer to any instances which are conclusive to the contrary. Slill there are many curious cases in which Life has been originated, ap- parently, without the agency of similar beings ADDENDA. 57 previously existing, and many strong argu- ments are adduced on this side of the question. The production of Insects by Galvanism, in the experiments of Mr. Crosse, the appearance of new Animals, and Vegetables, in places where they were previously unknown, merely by some change in the circumstances of the place, are particularly insisted upon. This Question has been in fact too little studied, at present, to enable us to arrive at any certain de- cision ; it is however deserving of much more attention than it has received. I consider it myself to be of great interest and importance, and earnestly deserving of consideration, but as my purpose is simply to state the facts con- cerning the ordinary process of Generation, which we know to occur, I must pass this topic by. Those who wish to see the subject fully treated should read the " Vestiges of Creation," in which it is ably discussed. For my own part I offer no particular opinion of my own, because I have not facts enough to base it upon; I am disposed to seek for data, and to suspend my judgment till sufficient has been obtained to guide me. FINIS. ft /-<- ■^23-^ NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NLM DlDD12m S ■_!^r^ ■ . > ■ -1,' --...I NLM010012415