198 Scientific Intelligence. — Zoology. 



of large size. On measuring it, from the projection of its eyes, 

 its length was found to be twenty inches. The upper region of 

 the cranium was wanting. The woman had been attended by 

 Madame Fremaux, midwife, and Dr Brion, both residing in 

 the same street. The latter has drawn up a notice, in which he 

 has described the defects of the conformation which the child 

 presented. M. St Hilaire remarked, that it is to him, therefore, 

 that the observation in question belongs. At a meeting of ana- 

 tomists called by Dr Brion, one of the medical men present 

 made the most singular assertions as to the causes of the mon- 

 sti'osity. " The monster has large eyes," said he, " which is 

 because the mother had her view constantly fixed on large eyes 

 which she singularly loved. It has long and pointed ears, be- 

 cause the imprudent mother had her caressing hands continual- 

 ly upon the long ears of her dog."" M. GeofFroy St Hilaire 

 mentioned this fact, for the purpose of ridiculing the explana- 

 tions which some medical men still give of cases of monstrosity. 

 After enumerating the different kinds to which the monster in 

 question may be referred, he shewed that it comes neai'est to 

 the Thlipsencephali. Now, in this monstrosity, the foetus go- 

 ing on in a regular manner until about the fourth month, only 

 deviates at a later period, and under the influence of some vio- 

 lent cause, from the normal organisation. Confiding in his pre- 

 vious researches, he did not hesitate to declare, that the mother 

 of the new and very singular thlipsencephalus Avhich was before 

 him, had been rudely struck about the third or fourth month of 

 gestation, and even added that it was probably by a violent 

 kick. This explanation was utterly rejected by the medical 

 man who had proposed the singular one mentioned above. On 

 questioning the woman, it was in fact discovered, that, at the 

 period of four months' gestation, she had actually been struck 

 and severely wounded by a violent kick, which hit upon the 

 right side of the uterine region. Dr Brion's inquiries led him 

 to the following results : 



Conception took place on the 19th June 1828 ; 

 Lesion produced by wound, I7th November 1823 ; 

 Birth accomplished on the 26th April 1829 ; 

 Total duration of gestation, 282 days. 



Until the period when she was struck, that is to say, during the 



iirst four months of gestation (112 days), the mother enjoyed 



