54 PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. 



but what they knew before, so just is the observation 

 that truth proposed is much more easily perceived than 

 without such proposal is it discovered."* 



Dr. Carpenter, speaking of phenomena analogous to 

 what are here alluded to, says : 



" Some of these cases appear referable to the strong 

 impression left by the first male parent upon the female ; 

 but there are others which seem to render it more likely 

 that the blood of the female has imbibed from that of 

 the fcetus, through the placental circulation, some of 

 the attributes which the latter has derived from its 

 male parent, and that the female may communicate 

 these, with those proper to herself, to the subsequent 

 offspring of a different male parentage. This idea is 

 borne out by a great number of important facts. * * 

 As this is a point of great practical importance it may 

 be hoped that those who have the opportunity of bring- 

 ing observation to bear upon it, will not omit to do so." 



In the absence of more general and accurate observa- 

 tions directed to this point, it is impossible to say to 

 what extent the first male produces impression upon 

 subsequent progeny by Other males. There can be no 

 doubt, however, but that such an impression is made. 

 The instances where it is of so marked and obvious a 

 character as in some of those just related may be com- 



* Edinburgh Journal Medical Science, 1849. 



