VOL. LXXXVII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 1JQ 



feeling for the ovaries, in order to have better evidence respecting their bulk, and 

 by that means to form a juster comparison. The disposition to propagation de-» 

 clined as evidently in this animal as in the 2 former; and dissection equally evinced 

 a change of the ovaries; for at the expiration of 3 months, they had lost nearly 4. 

 their size. Feeling but little encouragement to persevere in a repetition of these 

 experiments, I determined to change the mode of inquiry, and to try the effect of 

 a division of one tube only. From reasoning I was led to think, that if a division 

 of both tubes destroyed the harmony of the generative system, a division of one 

 only might permit that harmony to continue in some degree. I wished also, if 

 possible, to have this point determined on a virgin rabbit, the better to guard 

 against any deception which the remains of a former impregnation might occasion. 



Exper. A full grown virgin rabbit had 1 of the tubes divided at a little distance 

 from the extremity of the cornu uteri. The wound soon healed up, and its health 

 was soon restored, but it betrayed no disposition for the male. I attributed it in 

 part to the coldness of the season, for it was in the middle of Dec, 1794; but the 

 effects of its inclemency were much moderated by having a fire in the room during 

 the day. I kept her till the first of May; during this interval the male was fre- 

 quently offered to her, but she always refused, except once in Feb.: it however 

 was unproductive. From examination after death, it appeared that the divided 

 tube was completely obliterated, but the other was sound: both ovaries were evi- 

 dently shrunk, proving, in addition to my previous observations, that their actions 

 had been languid. 



The result of this experiment disappointed me much; for no reasoning a priori 

 had led me to entertain the smallest suspicion that a mutilation of one side only 

 could destroy the harmony of the whole uterine system. But my disappoint- 

 ment originated chiefly from the apprehension that this effect would be uniform, 

 that it was the result of a determined law of the part; and if so, it formed an 

 insuperable obstacle to my research. Its importance to my project was too great to 

 be discouraged from a single obstacle; therefore in justice to my undertaking, I 

 was in some measure compelled to push the inquiry to such an extent, as should 

 enable me to say with precision, whether it is possible to impregnate an animal in 

 the situation just described. " 



Exper. Two other rabbits full-grown and perfectly healthy were made the sub- 

 ject of a repetition of the last experiment. The male was offered to them several 

 times during the space of 3 months. They generally refused him, yet received him 

 1 or 3 times each during this interval; but neither were impregnated. As the 

 signs of degeneracy from their proper sexual character became daily more evident, 

 they were devoted to anatomical inspection, and exhibited appearances in the ova- 

 ries like the former, but somewhat less in degree. The rabbit- keeper informing 

 me that those which had already had a litter were more certain of breeding than 



