412 OF THE GROWTH AND DECREASE 



without disease ; nevertheless, if human longevity * be 

 compared, caeteris paribus, with the duration of the life 

 of any other known animal among the mammalia, we 

 shall find that, of ali the unreasonable whinings about 

 the misery of human life, no one is more unfounded 

 than that which we commonly hear respecting the short- 

 ness of its duration. (F) 



NOTES. 



(A) For a minute account of ossification I refer to Mr. How- 

 ship's papers in the Medico-Chirurgical Transactions. 



(B) Instances continually occur in both sexes of early puberty, 

 sometimes joined with very rapid growth. The mind however 

 does not usually keep pace with the body, (or rather the brain 

 with the rest of the body) nor are such individuals commonly 

 long lived. Some males are reported to have been adult before 

 the completion of their first year, an instance of which will pre- 

 sently be given in note C. One of the earliest examples of fe- 

 male puberty is related in the Medico-Chirurgical Transactions : f 

 the girl began to menstruate when not three years of age, and 

 soon after acquired large breasts, broad hips, &c. Schurig 

 quotes numerous, and for the most part probably fabulous, in- 

 stances of fecundity in either sex between the seventh and twelfth 

 year, and one of a little couple, he nine and she eight, who ma- 

 naged to beget a child 4 



The activity of the grand organs of generation, — the testes in 



* Bacon de Verulamio, Historia vita et mortis. Opera, vol. ii. p. 121 sq. 

 J28 sq. London. 1740. fol. 

 Chr. W. Hufeland, Makrobiolik. T. i. page 90. and elsewhere. Edit 3. 1805. 

 f Vol. iv. 

 J Sptrmatol. p. 185 sq. 



