Dr. Bail lie’s Account of a 
growth of a foetus in the ovarium, in confequence of connection 
between a male and a female. This conjeCture refts no doubt on 
ftrongcircumftances of probability, andyet there are many power- 
ful reafons which feem to oppofe its being well founded. Gene- 
ration is a procefs always depending on the aCtion of a certain 
caufe, viz. the ufual connection between a male and a female ; 
and, when effects fimilar to thofe in generation are perceived, it 
becomes very natural to conclude, that this caufe has been 
employed. The bias to fuch an opinion will become the 
•ftronger, from reflecting on the paffions that are known 
to influence fo powerfully mankind, by which the agency of 
this caufe is frequently excited. When a change, therefore, was 
obferved in an ovarium, by which it was converted into a fatty 
mafs with hair and teeth, this (hould feem to correfpond fo much 
with a change taking place in confequence of generation, that 
the mind would fcarcely entertain a doubt of its arifing from the 
fame caufe, and would readily infer, that it had been preceded 
by a connexion between the fexes. This doubt would ftill be 
the lefs, from the circumftance of a complete foetus being 
fometimes formed in the ovarium, where the ufual means of 
generation had been employed. The following cafe, however, 
exhibits many reafons why we fhould be led to believe, that 
the ovaria in women have fome power within themfelves of 
taking on a procefs which is imitative of generation, without 
any previous connection with a male; and it is with this view 
that I proceed to relate it. 
In a female child, about twelve or thirteen years old, which 
was lately brought to Windmill* ftreet for diffeCtion, I found 
the right ovarium converted into a fubftance, doughy to the 
touch, and about the fize of a large hen’s egg. Upon cutting 
into the fubftance, I found an apparently fatty mafs, inter- 
mixed 
