Sixth Annual Meeting. 85 



were found fastened upon the inner sphere. Two spermatozoa 

 entering an egg would not make a double fish or Siamese twins, 

 as we see frequently, but the egg must have been a double-yolk 

 egg, or with two germ spots more likely. 



Mr. Green : There is a great deal of force in that — in its 

 being a double-yolk egg. A double-yolk egg would do it, and 

 that I should think would be the natural cause. 



Mr. Evarts : This discussion seems to have been brought 

 about by the difference of the two things that are spoken of. 

 Mr. Wilmot spoke of the impregnation of the egg, and Mr. 

 Mather of the growth of the spermatozoa after it got into the 

 egg. Impregnation, physically, through all animal life, must be 

 instantaneous. The amount of spermatozoa that are in semen is 

 sufficient, so that the first one that finds the egg will get there 

 as quick as he can. The number is so great that they do not 

 stop a great while to find it, and the first one that gets there gets 

 in. That is instantaneous throughout physical life. 



Mr. Edmunds : Mr. Green's idea in regard to the age of the 

 animal is well understood by physiologists, that where an undue 

 amount of sexual intercourse has taken place with any animal 

 in early life they very soon become unfit for use. It is well 

 known among horsemen and farmers that a horse that is used too 

 much when he is two or three years old, will be spoiled for 

 impregnation ; and so also with the bovine family ; and it may 

 be that it is due to the cutting off of a portion of the spermatozoa 

 that he speaks of. 



Mr. Stone : I would like to ask Dr. Edmunds if Dr. Hastings, 

 whom he referred to, has published any of his observations. 



Mr. Edmunds : No ; it was in a casual conversation that I 

 had with him in regard to the matter, and it is well known that 

 the cell-structure in an egg changes almost instantaneously 

 after the passing in of the spermatozoa. 



