272 Dr Mehiiss on Viriiescc?ice, 



terial, by means of slowly operating actions in the solid masses ; 

 my observation on this point is the following, — that it would 

 be a much more beautiful result of such investigations, if we 

 could believe that even the mass of the earth is at all times in 

 a condition to advance onwards to a state of greater perfection, 

 and that individual development from the chaotic may likewise 

 proceed gradually, instead of our regarding the body of the 

 earth a» a cadaver in which all processes merely tend to a re- 

 trograde movement, to chemical decomposition and mechanical 

 ruin. 



Observations on the Virilescence, Feminescence, and Rejuvenes- 

 cence of Animals. By Dr Mkhliss.* 



In animal bodies there are three distinct periods or epochs, — 

 viz. of formation, of growth, and of decay. The less perfect 

 animals cease to exist as soon as they have attained their full 

 growth, and become capable of propagating their species : the 

 act which marks the perfection of their development is but the 

 prelude to their destruction. In the higher animals, however. 

 a longer or shorter period elapses after they are no longer ca- 

 pable of procreating their species ; a period of gradual decay 

 and progressive exhaustion of all the powers of Hfe. This pe- 

 riod is longer in man than in any other animal, and presents 

 some phenomena which are well deserving of attention. 



Dr Mehiiss of Liebenwerda, in his curious work,f has 

 chosen two of these as the subjects of discussion : the as- 

 sumption of the characters of the male by aged females, and 

 the reappearance of the characteristics of youth in the aged 

 of both sexes ; to the former he gives the name of Virilescence, 

 to the latter that of Rejuvenescence. H(? might likewise have 

 added another new term, indicative of the appearance of some 



• British and Foreign Medical Review, No. xi. for July 1838. 



t Ueber Virilescenz und Rejiivenescenz thierischor Korper. Ein Beitnig 

 zur Lehre von der regehvidrigen Metamorphose organischen Korper. Von 

 Dr Carl Wilhelm Mehiiss, praktisclien Artze, &c. in Liebenwerda.— Leipzig, 

 1838. 



