320 OF THE GENITAL FUNCTION IN MAN. 



cate, abounding in cells, and divided into compart- 

 ments by prominent ridges, like those found in the 

 cervix of the gall bladder.* 



527. In these passages is slowly and sparingly se- 

 creted and contained after puberty, the semen, a very 

 extraordinary and important fluid, of a milky yellowish 

 colour,f of a peculiar odour, of the same viscidity as 

 mucus, and of great specific gravity, of greater indeed 

 than any other fluid in the body. % 



528. Semen has also this peculiarity, first observed 

 by Lewis Hamme of Dantzic, in the year 1677, § — of 

 being animated by an infinite number of small worms 

 visible by the microscope, of the kind denominated 

 infusoria, and of different figures in different genera of 

 animals. In man, || these spermatic animalcules are oval 

 and have very fine tails : they are said to be found in 

 prolific semen only, so that they are in some degree an 

 adventitious criterion of its prolific maturity; I say 

 adventitious, because I hope, after so many weighty 

 arguments and observations,** there is no necessity 



* See, besides the figures by Graaf, Haller, Albinus, and Monro, II. cc. 

 especially the beautiful one by Fl. Caldani in his Opusc. Anat. p. 17. 



f The opinion of Herodotus respecting the black semen of Ethiopians, 

 refuted in ancient times by Aristotle, has, to my surprise, been taken up in 

 modern times by Le Cat, de Pauw, Wagler, &c. 



J F. B. Ossiander asserts, " that fresh semen emitted under certain circum- 

 stances, is occasionally phosphorescent." De causa insertion** placrntte in 

 uteri orificium. Gotting. 1792. 4to. p. 16. 



§ Vide Fr. Schrader, De microscopior. usu in nat. sc. et anatome. Gotting. 

 1681. 8vo. p. 34. 



N W. Fr. v. Gleichen, TJber die Saamen-und Infusumstkiercken. Nurenb. 

 1778. 4 to. tab. i. fig. 1. 



*• Consult especially Laz. Spallanzani, both in his Opuscoli difisica animate 

 t ve/retabilr. Milan. 1776. 8vo. vol. ii. and in his Disscrtationi, Sfc. ibid. 1780. 

 8vo. vol. ii. 



