HERMAPHRODITISM. 



685 



bases on which we shall found some further 

 subdivisions of this order. 



True hermaphroditism, as above defined, 

 comprehends also, as shall be afterwards more 

 particularly shewn, several very distinct varieties 

 of malformation. If we conceive for a mo- 

 ment all the reproductive organs to be placed 

 on a vertical plane, (as we may suppose them 

 to be, though not with strict correctness, in the 

 human body when in the erect posture,) we 

 shall find that the principal of these varieties 

 may be all referred to three sets of cases : 

 1st, those in which, if we drew a vertical 

 median line through this supposed plane, the 

 two lateral halves will be seen to present organs 

 differing in this respect, that they belong to 

 opposite sexual types ; 2d, others in which, 

 if we bisect the same plane by a transverse 

 horizontal line, there exist organs of a different 

 sex in the upper from what are present in the 

 lower segment ; or, in other words, the internal 

 genital organs belong to one sex, and the ex- 

 ternal to another. Tn the two preceding classes 

 of cases there is not necessarily, as we shall 

 afterwards more fully point out, any malforma- 

 tion by duplicity in the sexual apparatus of the 



malformed individual ; there is only one set of 

 sexual organs present, but in some parts these 

 organs are formed upon the male, and in others 

 upon the female type. In the 3d and re- 

 maining set of cases, however, there is really 

 present to a greater or less, though most gene- 

 rally only to a very partial extent, a double set 

 of sexual organs, having opposite sexual cha- 

 racters, so that upon the same body, and usu- 

 ally upon the same side, or upon the same 

 vertical line in our supposed plane, we find 

 coexisting two or more of the analogous organs 

 of the two sexes. In accordance with this 

 view, we shall consider the cases of true her- 

 maphroditic malformation under the three 

 corresponding divisions of, 1st, lateral; 2d, 

 transverse ; and 3d, vertical, or, more properly, 

 double or complex hermaphroditism ; and each 

 of these genera will admit of some further 

 convenient subdivisions. But the mode in 

 which we propose to classify and consider the 

 subject will probably be at once more accurately 

 gathered from the following table, than from 

 any more lengthened remarks upon it in the 

 present place. 



Classification of hermaphroditic malformations. 



From excessive development of the clitoris, 



'In the Female 



Hermaphroditism 



Spurious 



&c. 

 From prolapsus of the uterus. 



f From extroversion of the urinary bladder. 

 In the Male. . < From adhesion of the penis to the scrotum. 

 C From hypospadic fissure of the urethra, &c. 



/- Testis on the right, and ovary on the left 

 > side. 



r Lateral 



True .. 



\ Testis on the left, and ovary on the right 



Transverse 



Vertical or 

 Double . 



In commenting upon and illustrating the 

 different varieties of hermaphroditism in the 

 particular order in which they are placed in the 

 above table, we shall, we believe, by following 

 that order, be able to take a graduated, and, at 

 the same time, a correct and comprehensive 

 view of the subject, beginning with the more 

 simple, and ending with the more complex and 

 complete species of hermaphroditic malforma- 

 tion, as seen in the primary sexual characters, 

 or the structure of the genital parts themselves. 

 We shall then consider at some length the 

 curious and important physiological subject of 

 hermaphroditism as manifested in the secondary 

 sexual characters of the system. After having 

 done so, we shall endeavour to show how far 



side. 



c External sexual organs female, internal male. 

 ( External sexual organs male, internal female. 



/-Ovaries and an imperfect uterus with male 

 vesiculae seminales, and rudiments of vasa 

 deferentia. 



1 Testicles, vasa deferentia, and vesiculse se- 

 minales, with an imperfect female uterus 

 and its appendages. 

 Ovaries and testicles coexisting on one or 

 both sides, &c. 



the diversified forms of hermaphroditic malfor- 

 mation can be explained upon our present 

 knowledge of the laws of developement ; point 

 out the actual anatomical and physiological 

 degree of sexual duplicity which is liable to 

 occur, and the numerous fallacies with which 

 the determination of this question in individual 

 cases is surrounded ; and lastly, in conclu- 

 sion, we shall offer some general observations 

 upon the causes, &c., of this class of abnor- 

 mal formations. 



I. SPURIOUS HERMAPHRODITISM. 



A. In the female. There are two circumstances 

 in the conformation of the genital organs of the 

 female, the existence of each of which has oc- 



