OF THE HUMAN SYSTEM. 409 



periods in different climates, to say nothing of particular 

 individuals and families.* (C) 



658. The epiphyses of the bones, hitherto distinct 

 from their diaphyses, now become intimately united, 

 and, in a manner, confounded with them. 



659. At manhood — the longer and more excellent pe- 

 riod of human existence, life is, with respect to the cor- 

 poreal functions, at the highest pitch (82), or, in other 

 words, these functions are performed with the greatest 

 vigour and constancy; in regard to the mental func- 

 tions, the grand prerogative of mature judgment is now 

 afforded. 



660. The approach of old age f is announced in wo- 

 men by the cessation of the catamenia (556), and not 

 infrequently by an appearance of beard upon the chin ;% 

 n men, by less alacrity to copulate : in both, by a se- 



* For man has no peculiar privilege of not experiencing the effects of cli- 

 i late in common with other organised bodies, which are commonly known to 

 : rrive at their growth much later, cseteris paribus, in cold than in warm 

 i limates. 



As to the giants of Patagonia and the dwarfs of Madagascar, mentioned by 

 < ommerson, I have reduced the exaggerated accounts of the former to a true 

 s atement, and have shewn that the latter are diseased Cretins, in my Treatise 

 J >e gen. hum. var. nativ. p. 253, 260. ed. 3. 



f J. Bern. Fischer, Tract, de senio ejusque morbis. Ed. 2. Erf. 1760. 8vo. 



Benj. Rush, Medical Inquiries and Observations. Vol. ii. Philadel. 1793. 

 1 70. p. 295 sq. 



Burc. W. Seiler, Anatomiee c. h. senilis specimen. Erlang. 1799. 8vo. 



Const. Anast. Philites, 1. c. 



X Vide J. Burlin, De fctminis ex suppressione mensium barbatis. Altorf. 

 1 !64. 4to. This remarkable phenomenon, that deserves further investigation, 

 \t analogous to a change frequently remarked in female birds, which, after 

 I asing to lay eggs, lose the feathers peculiar to their sex and acquire those cha- 

 rs cteristic of the male. Examples of this occur in the columba cenas, pbasianus 

 c( Ichicus, pavo cristatus, otis tarda, pipra rupicola, anas boschas, &c. 



