274 J. F. GUDERNATSCH 



Such is not improbable since in malformations of this kind a great 

 difference between left and right genital glands has often been 

 observed, Salen, for instance, describes a case of true hermaphro- 

 ditism, in which the right side contained an "ovotestis," while 

 on the left a perfect ovarium was found. Lilienfeld states that in 

 all cases of disturbed development of the genital region the female 

 type is predominant on the left side. In this individual a 

 large ovary may have been present on one or both sides higher 

 up in the abdominal cavity, or there may have been more ovarian 

 tissue present during an earlier period of life than can now be- 

 detected. This latter suggestion would account for the develop- 

 ment of the strong female characters of the individual. Ker- 

 mauner states in Schwalbe's "Die Missbildungen des Menschen 

 und der Tiere" that "whether the entire defectrmay be regarded 

 as primary aplasia, or later involution, cannot always be decided. 

 In no case can it be entirely denied that microscopic remnants of 

 ovarian tissue, perhaps transformed beyond recognition, may be 

 located somewhere in the abdominal cavity." 



Whatever circumstances were responsible for the strong female 

 characters of this person, it is interesting that along with them the 

 male sexual apparatus developed to the perfection here described. 

 The cavities and the concrements of the epididymis would indi- 

 cate that a secretory function was performed by the epithelium. 



This case of true hermaphroditism recalls the old theory of 

 Waldeyer according to which there is a bisexual anlage of the geni- 

 tal gland, as opposed to Lenhossek's idea of an indifferent anlage. 

 Instances in which male and female genital tissue are found 

 next to each other speak at least for Waldeyer's view that the 

 ovary develops from a different region of the genital ridge from that 

 of the testicle even though they may not entirely support his 

 theory of hermaphroditism. In all the cases of true hermaphro- 

 ditism the ovary occupies the same relative position to the testicle. 

 It seems strange that there should always be a sharp distinction 

 between the two kinds of tissue and never an undefined mixing 

 of both elements (true ovotestis) as might be expected, if all cells 

 of the germinal epithelium could produce either male or female 

 tissue. *■ 



