VOL. XIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 649 



But farther to Increase the wonder of this so extraordinary a birth, we ob- 

 served a little below the bone first mentioned, a large lock of hair of a bright 

 brown-colour, having its end intricated and entangled in a large quantity of 

 hair of a more faded and yellowish colour, which was fastened to the end of the 

 cystis opposite to the teeth. But that this lock of hair was of a considerable 

 length, we easily guessed by the several small curls observed in this yellowish 

 hair, which were of the same bright colour with the former lock. 



In the middle of the circle of the 8 teeth I observed a small hole, but which 

 did not lead far; and though these teeth, hair, and a strong imagination might 

 create a fancy of some monstrous head here designed to be formed, yet consi- 

 dering how many and far more considerable parts were wanting, I cannot but 

 rather choose with the sceptic ociri^siv, and suspend my belief thereof, or with 

 Pliny to say, hoc nobis miraculum, sibi ludibrium ingeniosa finxit natura. 



What most I can parallel it with are those instances I have formerly given in 

 the Philosophical Collections, N° 2, of teeth, bones, and hair, I have met with 

 in the ovariums of women ; as in one a dens caninus, or eye-tooth, on the 

 outside of the cystis, and within, a large quantity of a fine white long hair, as 

 in fig. 8, pi. 18. In a second woman 3 dentes molares, or grinders, perfectly 

 formed, and a 4th budding forth, all set in their distinct sockets in a bone, as 

 in fig. 9, and in this cystis a great deal of yellowish hair. In a third woman, 

 dissected by Dr. Sampson, in each testicle (ovarium) was a large tumor or 

 cystis, which inclosed a very large quantity of hair, and there was fastened to 

 the sides of them 2 bones, represented in fig. 10 and II, which though not 

 teeth, yet as to their substance, though not shape, approached something near 

 them ; and a like instance. Dr. Needham has informed me, he has met with, 

 of teeth and hair in the same part.* 



But our present instance differs from the former, in that this was in the 

 womb, and firmly adhering to it, the others in the ovarium. In this the hair 

 was on the outside the cystis, and rooted in its tunicle ; in the others it was 

 contained within it. But as the child, which was perfectly formed, and with 

 much difficulty at last was brought from this woman, I doubt not at first be- 

 ing included in the egg^ descended from the ovarium: so likewise this subven- 

 taneous egg, I question not, might be transmitted from the same place; and 

 nature, who is never idle, being disappointed of forming in this a perfect foetus, 

 made the best of what the matter would afford, and might produce the teeth, 

 bones, and hair, which may be reckoned as animal vegetables. 



* A case of this sort is also recorded in the 79th vol. of the Transactions by Dr. Baillie, whose 

 reflections hereupon are well deserving attention. 

 VOL. II. 4 O 



