326 
ANIDIAN MONSTERS. 
against recognizing an animal and a vegetable kingdom in 
particular; — a principle of classification in general. We 
have dwelt thus at length upon the advisability of classifying 
monsters, because this is one of the first attempts of the kind 
in the veterinary profession amongst ourselves. We hope, 
eventually, to prove the scientific advantages which are to be 
derived from a cultivation of this system ; meanwhile, we give a 
few reasons in support of the name Anidium , which we have 
adopted for the monsters above described. It was suggested 
by GeofFroy St. Hilaire, as indicating absence of specific form ; 
practically it proves very serviceable, for a class of monsters, 
as our observations prove, presents itself in which none of 
the ordinary animal forms are recognizable. Gurlt suggested, 
and Alessandrini adopted the generic name Amorphus , which 
appears to us more objectionable, because less precise. Em- 
ployed as it is, commonly by scientific writers, to express 
absence of structure, it cannot strictly be applied to masses 
of animal matter, which, however shapeless as a whole, 
present a high degree of structural development in their con- 
stituent parts — e.g., skin, blood-vessels, &c. 
Reviewing the cases related in this communication, we are 
struck by the fact that Dr. Bland’s, Yrolik’s, Alessandrini’s, 
and my own, may be distinguished by the specific name 
Anidium Cephalicum , as having a rudimental head ; moreover, 
they present a rudimental alimentary canal. The other speci- 
mens described by Ruysch, Yrolik, Gurlt, and Poletti, were 
absolutely destitute of the latter, and of any signs of a head : 
hence we would suggest for them the name Anidium Ace - 
phalicum. 
In conclusion, we would advert to the specimen under 
consideration as illustrating the process of formation from the 
incubated egg to the perfect animal. With all the changes 
which are set up in the egg as produced in the female ovary, 
so soon as it has been acted upon by the prolific secretion of 
the male, it is not our intention now to deal. Suffice to 
observe, that those changes gradually progress until the ner- 
vous, the vascular, the nutritive, and the locomotive systems, 
are developed in perfect harmony, and constitute the animal. 
In this ascent from the simple to the complex, parts may 
fail, such as a limb or an eye ; even organs of the highest 
importance may be lacking, such as the brain and heart ; or, 
on the other hand, organs or parts may be developed in ex- 
cess — e. g., double heads, one or more extra limbs, &c. This 
defect or excess of formation leads to appearances, mon- 
strous, as compared with the common beautifully regular pro- 
ductions of nature, and as such they are popularly designated 
