bony sockets; and in one of seven months, the small bones, subservient to the organ of hearing are so perfect, as scarcely to differ from those of a complete child.

"7th. From the umbilical cord, which is very slender.

"8th. From other curious circumstances which attend this little embryo, such as a constant indulgence in sleep, an abstaining from crying, an intolerance of cold, an indisposition to suck, or to use its limbs, or the muscles of other parts, such as those which are subservient to the evacuation of urine, or. the depositing of the meconium.

"The signs by which we distinguish a perfect child are taken,

"1st. From its size; its length being at least one foot six inches.

"2d. From its weight, which should be at least six pounds. "3d. From the formation of its bones, which is known only by experience. But in general, a child can hardly be called complete, all whose bones, and every part are not entirely formed, though age may give some addition to their substance. "4th. From the umbilical cord, which is thick and firm.

"5th. From other circumstances, opposite to those in that which was imperfect; such as that he cries, moves his limbs, opens his eyes, sucks at the breast, is not always asleep, can bear cold, has a white skin, can evacuate urine and the fæces,. has long nails, and his head covered with hair.

"That which relates to the conformation of a child, after it is brought into the world, is distinguished into monstrous and not monstrous: the former including all deviations from the ordinary figure of man. Monsters are again divided into perfect and imperfect. A perfect monster is that which absolutely differs in all its parts, from the human appearance, as when it resembles any brute animals, as a dog, an ape, &c. An imperfect monster is where only a partial alteration is made in its figure; and this may again differ, according as this partial alteration is made in the head or other parts; and this as it may be born without a head, or with the head of a beast, &c. Where a monster differs from a complete child, in other parts besides the head, it is distinguished into two sorts; as any parts in general are affected, or as more particularly the change is

wrought in the genitals only, and then it is called an hermaphrodite, which is likewise perfect or imperfect.

"In an enquiry into the nature of monsters in general, three objects of consideration present themselves. 1st. What is the cause of monsters? 2d. Whether are they possessed of life? 3d. Whether a perfect monster can be considered as a human being?

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1st. The cause of monsters is various, as depending on such changes in the constitution of the mother as can hardly be accounted for.

"Whatever view we take of the theory of generation, whether a germen be formed in the ovarium of the female, which is only impregnated by the semen of the male, or whether the homunculus is contained in that semen, and the female affords a nidus for its formation; still we see a strong resemblance to both parents in their offspring: and accidents or other causes contribute to make an entire alteration in the form of the fœtus, and produce monsters. We will not suppose unnatural connections, or that any impregnations can arise from that source; but imagination has a great power over the body of a female, especially during gestation; and the fluid in which the fœtus swims, or the womb itself may be disordered, so as to occasion great changes. Neither need we have recourse to the theory of the ingenious Buffon to explain how these are brought about; or suppose that every part of the human body has a representation in the fecundating quality of both parents, to form its construction. The first rudiments or germen of the human body is not a human creature, if it be even a living one; it is a foundation only upon which the human superstructure is raised. This is evident to anatomical observation. Were a child to be born of the shape which it presents in its first stages of pregnancy, it would be a monster indeed, as great as any which was ever brought to light. How easy then is it for disorder to prevent the exertion of that plastic force, which is necessary to form a complete animal.

"2d. Monsters may live, but it depends on what parts are affected, how long life shall be continued them. Where the monstrous parts are confined to the extremities, or even to those places which distinguish hermaphrodites, we find from

experience, that the vital powers are strong and vigorous; and were it not that such beings often fly from society, lead sedentary lives, and are deprived of some wholesome exercises to the human constitution, life might be enjoyed by them, and to as great an extent as by any other persons.

"3d. With regard to perfect monsters, most of the authorities which assert that any thing of that kind can exist, seem to be of no credit. But should any ever appear, we should consider that it is not form or shape, but reason and intelligence, which distinguish human creatures from brute animals.

"We are next to consider the nature of hermaphrodites; and as these are living beings, and sometimes capable of all the functions of society, such distinctions ought to be made relating to them, as will place their situation in the most proper light, and the most favourable to their happiness. They are great objects of our pity and complacency; for they are not only deprived of the common pleasures of mankind, but are subject to disorders which are painful, uncomfortable, and inconvenient. A perfect hermaphrodite, or a being partaking of the distinguishing marks of both sexes, with a power of enjoyment from each, is not believed by any one ever to have existed. Imperfect hermaphrodites, or monsters, whose organs of generation are affected, are frequently presented to us. They may be divided, according to the sexes, into what are called androgynus, and androgyna. The first is the male, who has in general his own organs tolerably perfect, but has some division in the flesh above, below, on, or in the scrotum, which puts on the appearance of the female pudendum. The penis likewise may be so obliterated, as to give no external appearance of the male; but the beard, and the constitution of his body, confirm him to be of that sex. The androgyna is a woman, who has the parts of generation nearly like another, but at the same time the clitoris grows to a great size, and gives the form of the male penis. This is a very inconvenient disorder, as she is sometimes deprived of the pleasures peculiar to her sex, and suffers much from disorders of the part. From her breasts, and the deficiency of beard, however, she is distinguished from the male; though it frequently and unfortunately happens, that such women are more subject than others to

robust and masculine constitutions. It is evident that the sexes here are as completely marked as in other persons, and, to all legal intents and purposes, they are man and woman.

"Some important enquiries may arise upon this subject. As, 1st. How far they are to be considered as impotent. This is, I believe, generally the case, but not always, and must depend upon proof. 2d. Whether they should be permitted to marry? This depends upon the former, but must, I should think, be left to their own choice. 3d. Whether change of the sexes might be allowed? This is certainly contradicted in the terms, and will admit of no dispute.

"With regard to the state of life of a child, the following question remains to be decided: At what time may a fœtus be supposed to begin to live? To answer this, we must consider, that conception is made in the ovarium of a female after coition with a male, when the subtile aura of the semen hath so far penetrated into the germen, which may be supposed to contain the outline of the future man, as to produce a turgescence and motion of its circulating humours. At this time, it may be said that life begins, i. e. immediately after conception. Hence those seem to err: 1st. Who would persuade us, that the fœtus acquires life when it is so particularly active, that the mother becomes sensible of its motions. 2d. Those who think that life does not begin till the seventh or fourteenth day, or even till a month after conception. And, 3d. Those who suppose that a fœtus, as long as it continues in the womb, where it does not breathe, cannot be called a living animal. The whole depends on our ideas of life and animation, and the act of generation to create it. If generation be the cause of animating the rudiments of the future being, and if that animation be construed to be understood by what is meant by life, then it must certainly begin immediately after conception, and nothing but the arbitrary forms of human institutions can make it otherwise.

"On this occasion we may enquire, what part of the human body is the seat of animation, or the soul? To which we answer, that evidently it resides most conspicuously in the brain, because that substance being hurt, all the faculties of the soul become disordered; and because all the nerves of the body, which are the great instruments of action, are derived from it

as a fountain. But it cannot be supposed that the whole of the brain is the immediate seat of the soul; it is probably confined to what is called the sensorium commune, or a small part from whence the nerves, destined to sense and voluntary motions, draw their origin; as they do likewise from an appendix to it, called the medulla oblongata.

"The next thing to be considered is, what kind of children, when born into the world, are to be deemed endued with life, or have a prospect of living; for a fœtus cannot live out of the womb of its mother.

"1st. Then, no abortion can be said to be endued with life: for if there be some signs of life when it is brought into the world, it cannot continue to live, for it can neither take the aliment which is necessary to its sustenance, nor, if it could take it, can it change such gross food into its tender nature. Some authors have asserted, that children of five or six months have lived; but this is probably a mistake; it being generally agreed, that infants so young cannot sustain the inclemencies to which they must be subject.

"2d. Children of seven months, or one hundred and eightytwo days after marriage, may live, though generally they are puny, and continue but a short time on earth.

"3d. All children above seven months are supposed to be endued with vital principles, and of consequence are allowed the privilege of life.

"The next subject of consideration is that of twins, supposititious births, and superfœtation.

"The right of primogeniture must be determined in natural births, by that which was first born into the world, and which must be decided by the by-standers. If the delivery, however, be made by a passage effected by art, the choice depending on the will of the surgeon, no proper determination can possibly be made.

"In the affair of supposititious births, two questions occur, according as the birth is performed or not. In the former case, a physician may judge, 1st. From those signs in the mother, which distinguish her having been delivered of a child. 2d. From those signs which refer to her incapacity of concep tion. 3d. From signs of impotency in the father. 4th. From the