276 Dr Mehliss on Virikscence, 



.which do not usually bear them, — as, for instance, the hare,— 

 is justly treated as a fable; and the growth of horny excres- 

 cences on the skin of men and animals, is shewn to have no 

 connexion with the phenomena of virilescence. The change of 

 the colour of the skin, too, which is observed to take place in 

 old animals of both sexes, is shewn not to be allied to viriles- 

 cence. 



In the human species, the phenomena of virilescence consist 

 in the growth of hair, partly on the face, in the form of a beard, 

 and partly in other situations, where, in ordinary circumstances, 

 it does not exist to any extent, even in men ; and in a strength* 

 ening of the tone of the voice, so as to resemble that of the 

 male. The facts which are quoted by our author are not very 

 numerous, amounting only to eight detailed cases, and a few 

 references to others. With the exception of the case of extir- 

 pation of the ovaries, related by Pott, the phenomena of viriles- 

 cence are referrible to suppression of the menstrual discharge, 

 occurring as well at an early period of life as in more advanced 

 age. The growth of hairs on the upper lip in young persons, 

 a short time before the appearance of the menstrual discharge, 

 is regarded by the author as an event of not unfrequent oc- 

 currence. 



The following general conclusions are drawn by Mehliss 

 from the facts adduced by him : 



1. The changes which take place in animal bodies during 

 virilescence are either organic or dynamic. To the latter be- 

 long the changes of the voice and of the sexual characters* 

 The former are of two kinds : in some cases a degeneration of 

 structure occurs, as the gradual wasting away of the sexual 

 organs ; in other instances there is an actual development of 

 parts which, in the natural state, exist only in males. The 

 new growths which thus take place, either already existed in a 

 rudimentary form, and are merely more' fully developed (for 

 example, the comb in the common fowl, hair in women, crista 

 pectoralis in the turkey) ; or they already existed in the female 

 under a different form, and merely undergo a change (for in- 

 stance, the feathers of birds) ; or, lastly, they were originally 

 absent, and must be considered as entirely new^ formations (as 

 horns in the hind, spurs in the common fowl). 



