OF THE FOETUS. 233 



therefore, Vv'ithin the circle of nature, that a 

 child, without the aid of the mother's imagina- 

 tion, may be born with its arms and legs bro- 

 ken. This phaenomenon may have been exhi- 

 bited ofrener than once ; the mother of this 

 child may, during her pregnancy, have feen a 

 man broken en the wheel ; and the defects of 

 conformation in the child may have been attri- 

 buted to the impulfe made, by this dreadful 

 fpedlacle, upon the imagination of the woman. 

 But, independent of this general folution, the 

 fact may be explained in a more dired manner. 

 The foetus, as formerly remarked, has nothing 

 in common with the mother. Its fundions, its 

 organs, its blood, its movements, are all peculiar, 

 and belong to itfelf alone. The only matter it 

 derives from the mother, is the liquor or nutri- 

 tive lymph vv-hich diftills from the uterus. If 

 this lymph fuffers any change, if it be infedtcd 

 with the venereal virus, the infant is affected 

 with the fauie difeafe ; and it is reafonable to 

 think that all the difeafes vv'hich proceed from 

 vitiated humours may be communicated from 

 the mother to the child. We know that the 

 fmall pox is communicated in this manner ; and 

 we have too many examples of children, imme- 

 diately afterbirth, becoming innocent vidimsof 

 the debauchery of tJieir parents. The venereal 

 virus attacks the mod folid parts of tlie bones ; 

 and it appears to adt with more force upon the 

 middle of the bones, which is the part where the 



oflification 



