[ n ] 



The Hijiory of an OVARIUM, •wherein were found TEETH, 

 HAIR ^«^ BONES. By JAMES CLEGHORN, M. B. 

 Communicated by ROBERT PERCEVAL, M.D. 



CjENERATION is a fubjed fo myfterious in itfelf, and from Read May 



the nature of things fo wrapt up in obfcurity, that any fadl 

 which may ferve to throw light on this operation, by which the 

 creation is continued, becomes invaluable to fcience. The 

 greateft philofophers, of antient and of modern days, have fpent 

 much labour, and much induftry, in order to difcover the means 

 by which nature has ordained the various tribes of animals to 

 continue their fpecies. But it is to be lamented that their obfer- 

 vations have tended rather to fhew the brilliancy of their imagi- 

 nation, than to elucidate the fubjed which they treated ; and 

 inftead of leffening the number of difficulties which we had to 

 encounter, they have only drawn oft' the attention of the world 

 from fads, and mifled mankind by the fplendour of their fan- 

 ciful hypothefes. Ir is by a careful colledion of fads only, and a 

 fair indudion from thofe fads when eftabliflied, that we can 

 ever arrive at knowledge on this fubjed. At prefent it is my 

 objed to fubmit a cafe to the confideration of the Academy, which 



K as 



28, 1787. 



