THE 



PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



INTRODUCTION 



Since the time when physiology first became an organised science 

 many volumes have been written on the digestive, excretory, 

 nervous, and other systems of the body, but no attempt has 

 yet been made to supply those interested in the reproductive 

 processes with a comprehensive treatise dealing with this branch 

 of knowledge. Indeed, in most text-books on physiology now 

 commonly in use either the section devoted to the reproductive 

 organs is restricted to a few final pages seldom free from 

 error, or else the subject is entirely omitted. Yet generative 

 physiology forms the basis of gynaecological science, and must 

 ever bear a close relation to the study of animal breeding. In 

 writing the present volume, therefore, I have been actuated by 

 the desire to supply what appears to me to be a real deficiency ; 

 and in doing so I have attempted, however inadequately, to 

 co-ordinate or give a connected account of various groups of 

 ascertained facts which hitherto have not been brought into 

 relation. For this purpose I have had occasion to refer to many 

 books and memoirs dealing with subjects that at first sight might 

 have been supposed to difEer considerably. Thus, works on 

 zoology and anatomy, obstetrics and gynaecology, physiology and 

 agriculture, anthropology and statistics, have been consulted 

 for such observations and records as seemed to have a bearing 

 on the problems of reproduction. 



My sources of information are duly acknowledged in the 

 footnotes, but I am glad to take this opportunity of mentioning 

 the following works from which I have obtained special help : 

 " The Evolution of Sex," by Professors Geddes and Thomson, 

 " Obstetrics," by Professor Whitridge Williams, the sections on 



A 



