330 OF THE GROWTH, &c. 



anus perforated, and yet large quantities of me- 

 conium are found in their inteftines. 



Though the foetus has no immediate connec- 

 tion with the uterus, but is only attached to it 

 by the fmall external papillae of the placenta; 

 though it has no communication with the blood 

 of the mother, but, in fome meafure, is equally 

 independent of her as the egg is independent of 

 the hen which covers it; yet it has been main- 

 tained, that, whatever afFeds the mother, pro- 

 duces a fimilar efFed upon the foetus, and that 

 the imprefTions received by the former are com- 

 municated to the fenforium of the latter. To 

 this imaginary influence have been attributed all 

 thofe relemblances, monftro/ities, and peculiar 

 marks which appear on the fkin of particular chil- 

 dren. Many of thefe marks I have examined, 

 and they uniformly appeared to be occafioned 

 by a derangement in the texture of the fkin 

 only. Every mark muft neceflarily have a faint 

 refemblance to fomething or other ; But fuch 

 refemblances, I am perfuaded, depend more on 

 the imagination of thofe who fee them, than up- 

 on that of the mother. On this fubjedl, the 

 marvellous has been pullied to an extreme de- 

 gree. The foetus has not only been faid to bear 

 the real reprefentations of the appetites of the 

 mother, but that, by a fmgular fympathy, the 

 marks which reprefent ftrawberries, cherries, &c. 

 aflumed a deeper colour during the feafon of 

 thefe fruits. A little attention, however, will 



convince 



