Observations on Human Spermatozoa. By Dr. B. L. Maddox . 3 
the original cell adhering, and furnishing between them but one 
filament. I have not found more than two heads with one stalk, but 
these are sometimes so curiously placed that I have considered they 
should he classed with the abnormal forms. In two instances the two 
heads were seen united to a larger, irregularly shaped body (fig i), 
which, as far as I could determine, appeared to be caused by the 
swollen agglutinated filaments of the original spirals. In few cases 
only had the very minute flagella (as originally discovered, I believe, 
by Mr. E. M. Nelson, and photographed by Mr. A. Pringle) remained 
adherent, as seen in fig. i. Sometimes the two heads may simply 
diverge, as in fig. m, or there may be for a little distance a short neck 
to each, as in fig. n. It has struck me as very singular that in one 
of the primary or initial elements necessary to the perfect evolution 
of the fecundated ovum there should be any sport or straying from 
the perfect form, especially in the highest mammalian. I am not 
aware that any similar deviation has been noticed in phanerogams ; 
the only difference in the pollen-grains, as far as my knowledge 
extends, being a difference in size, although in evolved parts teratology 
is common. 
I am aware that the products of a cell are liable to great variation, 
as in many pathological structures, but this scarcely removes the 
difficulty attendant on such a sport as has been noticed in the fore- 
going in an initial element. Naturally the question follows — has it 
finally any importance should it find an entrance and mingle with 
the contents of the female ovum ? I think we can hardly doubt that 
it must have some definite influence for good or otherwise, though it 
may be impossible of proof. Does it furnish additional parts, or con- 
tribute to superabundant stimulation to growth ? A facetious friend 
has suggested that two tails may be the origin of twins. This cannot 
be seriously entertained, as the head is also necessary for the proper 
evolution of the embryo, and this would not dispose of the two heads 
to one filament, nor of the case of triplets and more. Possibly it may 
give an extra impetus to the growth of the future product, or addi- 
tional parts, or it may decay as useless. An answer in our present 
state of knowledge must remain conjectural, for we are yet ignorant 
how far there may be a dynamical preponderance of either the male 
or female initial energy, or whether both equally share in the genera- 
tive impulse, and determine together the further activity of the 
resulting fusion — a fusion that determines inherited conformity in the 
final unit, a significant likeness, yet often marred in the fashioning. 
By those who have not made a study of these potent motile 
bodies, the question may be asked, what is the general form and 
appearance? As seen without preparation and under a variety of 
methods of staining, the ovoid body or head appears as a mass of 
homogeneous plasm of considerable refrangibility ; or, if granular, 
only so far as to cause a slight greyness on the transmission of light. 
The anterior end, with its minute filament, is generally paler than the 
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