Femlnescence, and Rejuvenescence, 277 



2. The changes take place gradually, obey the laws to which 

 the development of the same parts in the male is subject, and 

 follow the same order. 



3. In all the individuals which have exhibited the pheno* 

 mena of virilescence, the characters of their own sex were al- 

 ready fully developed ; the greater number, too, had been fruit- 

 ful ; and it is only in some individuals of the human species 

 that the power of reproduction has been wanting. 



4. The appearance of virilescence was, in all cases, attended 

 either by an entire loss, or a remarkable diminution of the 

 power of reproduction ; and, as the virilescence increased, the 

 power of reproduction diminished, at length entirely disappear- 

 ed, and never returned. 



5. On the other hand, virilescence seems to have commenced, 

 in most instances, before the usual period of the disappearance 

 of the sexual functions ; so that it did not begin with the com- 

 mencement of old age, but a longer or shorter time before iU 

 In men, and in the mammalia, it occurs proportionably earlier 

 than in birds. 



6. All the individuals in whom virilescence has been ob- 

 served, have been placed under favourable circumstances* 

 They all appear to have been remarkably robust, powerful, 

 and healthy, and to have reached a good old age. 



7. In no case was the liealth of the individual impaired by 

 virilescence ; nor was the occurrence of the phenomena accom- 

 panied by feelings or symptoms of sickness. 



Feminescence. — After closing his account of Virilescence, the 

 author notices more briefly the reverse condition, or the as- 

 sumption of some of the male characters by the female, which 

 we might term Feminescence. The two principal circumstances 

 noticed under this head are, the appearance of the catamenia, 

 or, at least, of a sanguineous discharge in the male ; and the 

 secretion of milk by the male breast. Our author quotes the 

 authority of the ancients for the occurrence of the first-named 

 phenomenon ; but not a single credible instance, as might be 

 believed, is adduced. The most curious statement under this 

 head is the assertion by certain authors that the catamenial 

 lustration from the penis was inflicted on the Jews as a divine 

 punishment ! On the other hand, the secretion of milk in the 



