486 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO J 799- 



The causes of monstrous productions of every kind are at present equally un- 

 known, but it is highly probable that they are very similar ; and, when once they 

 have been brought into action, it would be reasonable to suppose, that the influ- 

 ence should be continued to several young, in succession ; this is however by no 

 means the case, for, of all the monstrous productions that have come under my 

 observation, none of them have been either immediately preceded or followed, 

 by a monster of the same, or of any other kind. In the neat cattle, the free- 

 martin is most commonly met with where there are twins ; one is a free-martin, 

 and the other is always a perfectly formed male. In the human species, there have 

 been instances of mothers having alternately a perfect and a monstrous child ; so 

 that these observations lead to the idea, that monstrous productions do not follow 

 immediately on each other ; that they sometimes alternate ; but are commonly, 

 as in the child with the double head, an account of which has been laid before this 

 Society, only one in a family, of which the others are perfectly formed. From 

 Mr. Hunter's observations we learn, that in all the instances of free-martins which 

 he examined, none had the complete organs of the male and female, but partly the 

 one and partly the other, forming a mixture of both ; and, what is deserving of 

 notice, the ovaria and testicles in all of them, were too imperfect to perform their 

 functions. 



There is much reason to believe, that no instance of an hermaphrodite, in the 

 strict sense of the word, has ever occurred in the more perfect quadrupeds, or in 

 the human species ; for, when we consider the bones of the pelvis, to which the 

 organs of generation are connected, it is difficult to conceive in what way the 

 complete parts of the male and female could be placed, distinct from each other ; 

 and no instance of its having happened is to be found, in any record which can be 

 depended on. 



As much has been said by authors, respecting hermaphrodites, particularly in 

 our own species, and histories of them have a place even in the Phil. Trans., it 

 may not be improper to explain the different kinds of monstrous production, which 

 have been frequently mistaken for a complete mixture of male and female organs. 

 This inquiry into the subject of hermaphrodites, I shall pursue in the following or- 

 der: 1°, examine into such malformations of the male, as led to the belief 

 of the persons being hermaphrodites. 2°, such malformations in the female, 

 as have led to the same conclusion. 3°, such males as, from a deficiency in their 

 organs have not the character and general properties of the male, and may be 

 called neuters. 4°, those in which there is a real mixture of the organs of both 

 sexes, though not sufficiently complete to constitute double organs ; which I be- 

 lieve to be the nearest approach towards an hermaphrodite that has been met with 

 in the more perfect animals ; and it is extremely in favour of this opinion, that 

 every account I have met with in authors, may be referred to one or other of 

 these heads. 



Baron Haller, who has laboured this subject with his usual perspicuity, has col- 



