MOySTROSITIES. \ 1 5 



Weakness of the procreativc powers may also tend to the development 

 of monsters. 



A too small uterus may likewise act mechanically in distorting the 

 foetus ; while the health or disease of the organ, or of the foetal mem- 

 branes, must exert a powerful influence on its development and con- 

 formation. It is not improbable that tlie Celosomian monstrosity 

 {Schistosomiis rcjlcxiis), observed only in the Bovine species, is due to 

 the form of, or pressure in, the uterus ; and to the same cause may also 

 be ascribed the greater frequency of double and triple monstrosities in 

 this species than in any other. 



The amputation of limbs, or portions of them, may be due to the 

 action of the umbilical cord, which, in the Mare at least, is perhaps 

 sutticiently long for this purpose. 



Hereditary influence is here undeniable. In the human species it 

 has often been remarked, and scarcely less frequently in animals. 

 Hornless Cattle, double-headed Puppies, tail-less Cats, and other 

 anomalies, are commonly reproduced. Franck' mentions the case of 

 a Mare which constantly had Foals whose lower jaw was so short that 

 they could not suck ; consequently they died. Gurlt alludes to a 

 Bitch which brought forth four litters of Puppies ; the first litter con- 

 sisted of six, two of which were minus their fore-feet and were hare- 

 lipped ; there were five in the second litter, four of which were 

 monstrosities ; in the third litter there was the same number, and the 

 fifth Puppy, which was otherwise normal, had a hump in the middle 

 of its back ; four Puppies were produced in tlie fourth litter, three of 

 which were anomalous. 



A psychical or mental influence has often been invoked to account for 

 certain monstrosities, and the vulgar opinion since Old Testament 

 times is certainly entirely in favour of its existence ; but, on the other 

 hand, it has often been denied. While there can be no doubt that the 

 popular mind has greatly exaggerated this influence, yet it would 

 appear from the interesting observations collected by Trehonnais, as 

 well as the curious instances recorded by Buhler, Weber, Herbst, 

 Bagge, Kueff. and others — and which we regret we have not space to 

 quote — that it does operate to some extent in animals ; fear especially, 

 as has been already said, will react on the embryo or fu'tus. 



Disease of the fu'tus itself, or maladies transmitted from the mother, 

 may play an active part in the production of anomalies and mon- 

 strosities. 



Frequency of Monstrosities. 

 Monstrosities are far from being rare in the domesticated animals, 

 but they do not occur with the same frequency in all the species. 

 Gurlt- tabulates 740, which shows the proportion furnished by the 

 different animals. This is as follows : — 



Ass - - - - 3 



Mule .... 3 

 Goat - - - - 24 



Mare - - - - 56 



Cat - - - - 71 



Bitch - - - - 78 



Sow - - - - 87 



Ewe - - - - 179 



Cow .... 239 



' Ilandfmch iltr Ihitrarztlichtn Oehurtnliulfe, p. 434. 

 - Pathol. Anatomie, vol. ii., p. 5. 



