942 



TERATOLOGY. 



The joints connected with the maxillary points: 1. To the original malformation of 

 apparatus of some of the animals belonging the germ ; 2. To the subsequent deformation 

 to the three lower sub-kingdoms are, as was of the embryo by causes operating on its 

 stated in the beginning, not homologous with development. 



this joint, although identical in function. For I. Original malformation of the germ. If, 

 description of these parts see the articles according to the opinions generally adopted at 

 ANNELIDA, ARACHNIDA, CEPHALOPODA, Cm- the present time, the germ may be considered 

 KIIOPEDA CRUSTACEA, ECHINODERMATA, as a product of section by the female organ- 

 ENTOZOA, INSECTA, MYRIAPODA, and ROTI- ism, upon which the male sperm acts with its 



material and vital influence, we may suppose 

 (S. R. Pittard.) that this germ may be originally malformed, 

 owing to some influence proceeding either from 

 t h e female or from the male sex. 



Such a primitive malformation of the 



FKRA 



TERATOLOGY. Under this name, 

 which we owe to Geoffrey St. Hilaire, we un- 



derstand the doctrine of congenital defvrmi- g erm se ems to exist in those cases in which 



Hex.* In a scientific sense, it constitutes a t he same kind of monstrosity is repeatedly 



part of Pathological Anatomy, and demands procreated by the same parents. The cause 



our interest as much as the knowledge of ma y De ascribed : 



those other deviations from the normal state, ttf TO the mother. It is a very important 



which is ordinarily regarded as constituting f act tna t 5 j n sucn caseS) various degrees 



that science. In fact, pathological anatomy o f tne same species of deformity are fre- 



comprises all the anomalies of the organiza- quently produced in successive progression, 



tion ; those which occur during intra-uterine so that the first born child is the most de- 



life are called congenital, and those which formed; and in the following children the 



arise during extra-uterine life acquired. We deformity progressively decreases, ,and finally 



refer to the former the imperfections of the disappears in the last born (G. Vrolik, Vering). 



primitive formation, or what we call mon- Sometimes a deformity of the mother is com- 



strosities. They are those deviations of the mim icated to her offspring ; for instance, con- 



organism which can be formed only in the genital luxation of the femur. 



earliest periods of gestation, or, at least, pre 



TO the father. Experience proves that 



viously to the termination of the fcetal con- a well-formed man may procreate with dif- 



dition. 



ferent women children with the same mal- 



The opinions now held with respect to formation (Meckel, Luber), and that a de- 



these malformations differ widely from the formity of the father may be transmitted to 



absurd notions which influence the descrip- t i ie child (Burdach, Osiander). The last is 



tions given of them by Aldrovandi, Ambrose however rare. 



Pare, Licetus, Palfin, and Rueff. Formerly, 2. A second proof in support of the pro- 



incleed, each monstrosity was considered as bability of an original malformation of the 



the presage of some misfortune, the warrant g erm i s found in hereditary deformities ex- 



of divine vengeance, the effect of witchcraft, tending over more than one generation, viz. 



&c. Lycosthenes used to go so far as to hare-lip, excessive number of fingers, hypo- 



add to the description of each monster the spadias, &c. 



picture of some calamity which was to be its 3. A third proof may be deduced from the 



sequel. To that opinion they owe their name, possibility that the ovarian ova in man and 



derived from the Latin verb monstrare. 



Their aetiology was not less strange and in- 

 correct. Rueff; in 1580, devoted a whole 



in the lower animals may be already mal- 

 formed (Bischoff). 



. Deformation of the originally well-formed 

 chapter to the inquiry, " An homines ex dae- germ. \. It is said that this may be produced 

 monibus et rursus dremones ex hominibus in- by mental impression of the pregnant woman, 

 fantes concipere possunt?" and .Casparus or wnat tne German authors call das Versehen. 

 Schottus treated the subject in about the But for this opinion no positive proof can be 



same style.f 



afforded. According to the observations pub- 



They both give negative answers to the ques- i ished thereupon, arid of which a great deal may 



tion, trusting to have proved by this means be found in the learned article GENERATION 



that monsters are not procreated by sexual o f this Cyclopedia, all the supposed mental 



intercourse of women with the devil. Other impressions, which have been considered as 



writers have endeavoured to explain the cause tne cause of malformations, took place, with 



from copulation with brute animals, or with f ew exceptions, in the last stage of preg- 



pregnant or menstruating women. Notwith- nanc y.* And even in those cases in which an 



standing our more enlightened modern ideas earlier period may be certified, we could object 



on this subject, the origin of monstrous births t h at t j, e post hoc nmst not a i ways l ea d to the 



remains still very mysterious. The opinions conclusion ergo prop ter hoc. It is of some im- 



concerning it may be reduced to two mam portance to appreciate the correctness of this 



* From ?, monster ; and >.ye?, science. 



f- I. Rueffus de Conceptu et Generatione Hominis. 

 Francof ad M. 1580. P. Casparus Schottus e 

 Soeietate Jesu, Physica curiosa, aucta et correcta, 

 sive Mirabilia Naturae et Artis. Lib. i. xxii. 



* See my publications in Tijdschrift v. Natuur- 

 lyke geschiedenis en Physiologie, d. iv. bl. 221, en 

 tolgy. en Handb. d. Ziehtch. Ontlurh. d. i. bl. 



