VOL. LXXIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 535 



VIll. Of a particular Change of Structure in the Human Ovarium. By 



Matthew Bailiie, M. D. p. 71. 

 The ovaria in women are subject to a great variety of changes from their 

 natural structure. Many of these are exactly similar to what take place in oilier 

 parts of the body; but there is one which seems peculiar to them, the n .ture of 

 which has probably not been hitherto very well ascertained. The change of 

 structure here alluded to, is a conversion of the natural substance of an ovarium 

 into a fatty mass, intermixed with hair and teeth. This sort of change is rare, 

 though it occurs sufficiently often to have been seen by most persons who are 

 very conversant in the examination of dead bodies. There are many cases of it 

 related in the different books of dissections, but most commonly without any 

 remarks on the mode of formation;* or they have been considered as very 

 imperfect attempts at the growth of a foetus in the ovarium, in consequence of 

 connection between a male and a female. This conjecture rests no doubt on 

 strong circumstances of probability, and yet there are many powerful reasons 

 which seem to oppose its being well founded. Generation is a process always 

 depending on the action of a certain cause, viz. the usual connection between a 

 male and a female; and when effects similar to those in generation are perceived, 

 it becomes very natural to conclude that this cause has been employed. The 

 bias to such an opinion will become the stronger, from reflecting on the passions 

 that are known to influence so powerfully mankind, by which the agency of this 

 cause is frequently excited. When a change therefore was observed in an 

 ovarium, by which it was converted into a fatty mass with hair and teeth, this 

 should seem to correspond so much with a change taking place in consequence of 

 generation, that the mind would scarcely entertain a doubt of its arising from 

 the same cause, and would readily infer, that it had been preceded by a connec- 

 tion between the sexes. This doubt would still be the less, from the circum- 

 stance, of a complete foetus being sometimes formed in the ovarium, where the 

 usual means of generation had been employed. The following case however 

 exhibits many reasons why we should be led to believe, that the ovaria in women 

 have some power within themselves of taking on a process which is imitative of 

 generation, without any previous connection with a male; and it is with this 

 view that it is here related 



In a female child, about 12 or 13 years old, which was brought to Wind- 

 mill-street for di>section. Dr. B. found the right ovarium converted into 

 a sub&tauce, doughy to the touch, and about the size of a large hen's egg. On 



* It has been the opinion of some, that hair, teeth, nails, feathers, &c. are animal vegetables or 

 plants J and, agreeably to this opinion, Dr. Tyson considers the growth of hair and teeth in the 

 ovarium as. a lucus naturae, where nature endeavours to produce something, and being disappointed 

 in forming an animal, produces a vegetable. Vide Hooke's Lectures and Collection, N° 2, p. 11 

 and 15. — Orig. 



