28o OF THE FORMATION 



placenta and membranes. Since there are no 

 parts either in the male or female bodies from 

 which they could be detached, whence do thefe 

 particles proceed ? It muft be admitted, that the 

 organic feminal particles of each fex being 

 equally active, uniformly produce organized 

 bodies every time that they can fix themfelves, 

 by their mutual action upon one another ; that, 

 of the particles deftined to produce a malejthofe 

 peculiar to the male fex will fix firft, and form 

 the fexual parts ; that the particles common to 

 both fexes may afterwards fix themfelves indif- 

 ferently, in order to form the reft of the body ; 

 and that the placenta and membranes are pro- 

 duced by the excefs of organic particles which 

 liave not been employed in the formation of the 

 foetus. If, as we have fuppofed, the foetus be 

 a male, all the organic particles peculiar to the 

 female fex, w^hich have not been employed, as 

 alfo the fuperfluous particles of both individuals 

 which have not entered into the compofition of 

 the foetus, and which cannot be lefs than one half 

 of the whole, remain for the formation of the 

 membranes and placenta. If the foetus be a 

 female, the fame quantity of fuperfluous organic 

 particles fiill remain, and are occupied in form- 

 inc; the plac&pta and membranes. 



But it may be faid, that the membranes and 

 placenta, upon this fuppofitlon, ought to become 

 another foetus, which would be a male, if the 

 firft was a female, and a female, if the firft was 



a 



