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as it may ferve to eftablifh a fad of much importance in the 

 fubjed of generation, may be well worthy the attention of the 

 Rcyal Iri/h Academy. 



There is no appearance which has hitherto thrown fo much 

 light upon the fubjed of generation as the formation and 

 growth of foetufes without the womb. Of extrauterine fcetufcs 

 none are fo deferving of particular notice as thefe which have 

 been formed in the ovarium, both on account of their rarity, 

 and becaufe a celebrated naturalift (who may be juftly fliled the 

 modern Pliny) confefTes, that it is difficult, and I believe he might 

 have added mpoj/ibk, according to his theory, to account for 

 their formation in the female tefticle. 



His words are as follow : " On conceit tres-aisement par 

 " ce que nous venons de dire, comment il fe pent qu'il s'en 

 " forme quelque fois dans les trompes ; mais a I'egard des tefti- 

 " cules, I'operation me paroit beaucoup plus difficile," &c. &c. 



Again, Monfieur le Cpmte de BufFon, finding it fo difficult to 

 account for the formation of a foetus in the ovarium, like a true 

 theorift, feems to rejed the fad altogether, and thinks his coun- 

 tryman, Monfieur Littre, ought not to be credited, when he 

 affcrts that an embryo was found in the ovarium of a woman 

 he opened. The expreffion ufed by our author is, " I'obferva- 

 " tion de Monfieur Littre a paru fort fufpede." Why Monfieur 

 de Buffon has not taken notice of many other inftances where 

 it would appear from bones, teeth and hair being found in the 

 ovarium, that conception had taken place there, I cannot fay, 



unlefs 



