426 OF PUBERTY. 



Vitj of the parts, which prevent the fecretlon 

 of the feminal fluid. Thefe organic particles, 

 therefore, remain in the mafs of blood, and ne- 

 ceflarily extend the extremities of the bones, 

 nearly in the fame manner as happens to eu- 

 nuchs. Thus young people, after recovering 

 from a long ficknefs, are often taller, but v\rorfe 

 fhaped, than formerly. Some, for inftance, be- 

 come hunch-backed, and others crook-legged ; 

 becaufe the ftill dudile extremities of the bones 

 have been unneceflarily extended by a fuper- 

 fluity of organic particles, v^^hich, in a ftate of 

 health, would have been exhauited in the for^ 

 mation of feminal fluid. 



The produdion of children is the chief inten- 

 tion of marriage. But this intention is fome- 

 times fruftrated. Of the different caufes of fl.e- 

 rility, fome are common to both fexes. But, as 

 thefe caufes are more apparent in men than in 

 women, they are, therefore, more commonly 

 afcribed to the former. In both fexes, fterility 

 is occafioned either by a defed in the original 

 conformation, or by accidental injuries done to 

 the organs themfelves. In men, the moft per- 

 nicious defeds of conformation are thofe v^^hich 

 affed the ten.icles, or the mufcles called ereSlores 

 pejiis. A wrong diredion of the urethra, which 

 is fometimes not only oblique, but improperly 

 pe''forated, is another obftable to generation. 

 The adhefion of the prepuce to the fraenum is 

 another obftacle ; but it is not infurmountable. 



In 



