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Show 598 DR. J. MURIE ON A CASE OF MALFORMATION [Dec. 13, culae seminales coexist, but, according to Hunter, no vasa deferential Prof. Simpsonf has placed this case of Hunter's "Free Martin" under his division of " Transverse hermaphroditism with the external organs of the female type," while M . Isidore Geoffroy Saint-HilaireJ has regarded it as belonging to his " Hermaphrodismes neutres." Without deciding which of these two authors' views is the more applicable one, it is sufficient for m y purpose to remark that the fact of the creatures possessing testicles and vesiculae seminales, and only a very doubtful and imperfectly pronounced uterus, with naturally formed outward female genital organs, completely differentiates it from our Porto Rico animal. In the second Hunterian specimen, now forming no. 242 in the above ' Catalogue' of the College, it appears that the animal had an Ox-like aspect, with the outward genital conformation of a Cow, the vulva being placed lower down than usual, but not so entirely abdominal as in the animal forwarded by Mr. Latimer. From examination of the M u s e u m preparation, the distance between the anus and vaginal aperture is nearly as much as 12 inches, in this respect bearing resemblance to our case; but the perineal raphe is by no means so well marked. The vulva also, and the clitoris in its peaked prominent form, more nearly agree with what is the normal condition in Cows; but, as in the Society's specimen, there are long and projecting hairs at the genital outlet. The uterus, however, is very defective in structure. Testicles are present, and a true penis. This latter occupies its usual abdominal situation as in Bulls; but it is of small calibre, distinct, and tortuous, although not perfectly developed, so far as an outer passage is concerned. The presence of a male abdominal organ approximates it to our specimen; but the line of demarcation is clear; for, besides this small organ, there is a natural vagina, along with other true male structures wanting in that which I have described. The two instances cited above, taken along with that forming the subject of the present paper, afford remarkably good illustrations of abnormalities wherein the type of sexuality sways from male organs internally and female externally to very nearly female organs internally and male externally, which curious anomaly has its antecedents in the evolution of the organism in utero. In reasoning as to the probable origin of hermaphroditism, most * Gurlt, as quoted by Simpson (loc. cit. p. 702), expresses an opinion that the deferent vessels are what Hunter has mistaken for the uterine horns. The present bottled condition of the specimen renders it difficult to redetermine this point. t Op. cit. p. 702. J Histoire des Anomalies, tome i. p.. 289. In comparing as above the Society's animal with Simpson's classification (a modification of Gurlt's), rather than adopting the celebrated French anatomist's divisions, I have been guided solely by the facility of its comprehension, preferring not to enter into a discussion regarding the significance of the term neuter as applied by Geoffroy to cases exhibiting doubtful sex. |