BIOLOGICAL AND MICROSCOPICAL DEPARTMENT. 7 



ing laborious; opisthotonos. 2.4S. General convulsions. 2.50. Breathing 

 rapid and laborious. 3.40. Died. 



That the dogs did not die from the atropia is evident, especially by reference 

 to Dr. Harley's experiments (On the old Vegetable Neurotics, pp. 198202), 

 where as much as one-fourth of a grain was given without producing more 

 than slight poisonous action. 



I do not regard my experiments as sufficiently extended to be conclusive, 

 but as disproving a positive assertion they are of a certain importance. 



On favorable report of the Committee, the following paper was 

 ordered to be published : 



Case of Hypospadias Male Hermaphrodism. 

 By Prof. Christopher Johnston, M.D., Baltimore. 



" It is with Hermaphrodisms," says Isidore Geof. St. Hilaire, " as with all 

 other anomalies : as we approach them the marvellous disappears ; but their 

 scientific interest increases, and all particular facts, bound together by the- 

 ory, explained by simple considerations, present themselves to the observer a3 

 the diverse but concordant consequences of a small number of principles 

 which govern the whole domain of teratology. 



"Thus it is, whether we examine the reproductive apparatus of a male 

 hermaphrodite, or consider the totality of his physical constitution, or study 

 him in a moral point of view, we reach the same conclusion, namely, an 

 analogy more or less apparent with the conditions of femininity, but at bot- 

 tom an essentially masculine organization as well as tastes and proclivities." 



These reflections serve very appropriately to introduce the short history of 

 a case of so-called male hermaphrodism, in which, at the age of nineteen 

 years, the subject of it, having been previously looked upon as a girl, was 

 suddenly transformed into a boy by the decision of experts. 



The case is as follows : X. Y., aged nineteen years, is of medium height, 

 fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, face feminine, voice puerile and beard 

 sprouting rather thickly for his age and slight figure. His general appear- 

 ance indicates health. It may be added that his gait and deportment are 

 decidedly girlish, for he drops his garments when stripping for examination ; 

 and he assures us that he assumed the position of the Venus accroupie when, 

 as in Father Tom's case, " vesica sua simul erat rumpere." 



He gives of himself the history we reproduce, and which is corroborated 

 by his mother and brother. 



At birth he was looked upon as a girl normally developed, wherefore the 

 age of seven years saw him still in frocks. At this period of his life he was 

 struck by a piece of falling timber upon the abdomen, and, his body under- 

 going investigation in consequence, a peculiarity in the conformation of his 

 outer genital parts was observed, but its nature was not ascertained nor, of 

 course, understood. As he was but slightly injured no connection was alleged be- 

 tween the accident and the abnormal development; and as no importance was 

 attached to his " peculiarity," he was recommitted to frocks and the matter 

 forgotten. He continued to be regarded as a girl, wore the attire of a female, 

 and associated very intimately with girls of the period. As a child he hail a 

 remarkably fine voice, a boy's soprano, and was accustomed to sing at public 

 concerts; but at the age of fourteen his voice suddenly changed in quality, 

 became piping, and lost much of its original compass. 



A few months ago as he tells us his beard began to grow, and this cir- 

 cumstance occasioned him great annoyance, by reason of the remark it excited. 

 Failing in his attempts to suppress the growth of hair upon his face, ami stung 

 by the ill-natured remarks its presence evoked, he lopped off his long braids, 

 assumed the habiliments of a man, and fled from his maternal roof. It would 

 also appear that this conclusion was assisted by the opinion of a medical 



