The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-06-13
COMMUNICATIONS
TO THE EpIToR OF TIE ENQUIRER.

SIR,
-, observe in your paperi of the 3o,h ultimo,
communication from Doctor Gather Of w ash
mgton County (Kentuoky) sttested by respccta-
bic witnesses, relative to Intra, Muscular Abdo-
minal Monsters. This l,sus nature, tho at once
singular and understandable, is by no means to be
considered as perfectly unieae. In addition to
the preparation, said to BE in Cox's Museum
Philadelphia. the following accounts is extracted
from the Journal De Physique of Paris ; and
published in one Of the numbers of the Medical
and Surgical Journal edited at Edinburgh for the
year 1906. As have not, in my possession, the
work alluded to, shall relate the circumstance,
n correctly as can, from memory. Aud If
am, in the relation, guilty of any misrepresenta-
ton, shall be happy to be set right by any gen
tleman, who may chance to have in bis possessi-
on, the invaluable work alluded to- A boy in
Paris had for some time previous to his death,
iaboured under an affection of the lilac region,
which I am not certain; after death upon the
abdominal cavity being opened, strange to relate,
q fall grown fatus was extracted. This circum-
stance occurred in the presence of the most dis
tingushed sergeons, and its authenticity is indu-
bnab!e. &c Res certissifad, causd idtet"
Here is wide field for conjecture, and those
who are fond Of displaying their anatomical inge-
nuity, their physiological knowledge, and their
pathological acumen, may here step forth on
fairy ground" & bid defiance to all the received
u
present day. This circumstance OF per-feta-
ton, although buried in impene,rable obscurity,
IS not more singular than what is frequently OBJ
served in the ovaria of females. They are fire.
quently the subject of disease, and hence the
knife of the anatomist and surgeon, has detected
an them substances ofvarious kinds, hair, teeth,
bones &c. Doctor Denman under the article of
Inflammation, & Cancer of the Ovaries, has the
following remarks :" 1t is very remarkable
- that, IN diseases of the Ovaria, teeth, hair,
o. bones and other eXtraneous animal substances
Sc are found in them so frequently that there is
90 scarce collection of anatomical curiosities in
IS which there arc not various examples. These
:" substances have hitherto been considered as
% remnants, or parts of an imperfect conception,
% but celebrated anatomist, of the present day,
% Doctor Matthew Baltic, has fully proved that
&c they may be formed without conception, or e.
es ven connubal intercourse" Doctor Baltic,
the pupil and nephew Of the Justly celebrated
Mr.. John Hunter, is physician ofgreat respect
ability and justly acquired professional reputation
IN London. The work alluded TO, by Doctor
Oenman, is Baie's Morbid Anatomy, 4 work
extremely valuable, and the only one of the kind
known, with the exception the voiuminors one
of Morgagn, entitled De Sedibus nc causis Nor
borum. Doctor Baltic, narrates an instance of
bones, teeth and hair being found in the ovaria
6fa female, whose hymen was entire. This
suppose is the circumstance, alluded to by Den
man, have, myself, seen several preparations
of this kind, in the possession of Doctor Iohn
IIeighton, Lecturer on Physiology and Mid
wifery i'll Guys Hospital London. shall re.
frain offering any remarks, i'm orderto attempt
an explanation Of these mysterious works of ma
turG, shall only observe, that notwithstanding
our boosted knowledge, we have as yet, little
information OF what is going on, in the great la
boratory of nature and fortunately for mankind
minute knowledge of the various and COMPILE
Gated operations of the animal economy, is not
essential to our happiness.
But notwithstanding the difficulty of the sub.
ject, we should not entirely despair, for who of
tell, but ere long some superior genius
may arise, who by diligent researches into ma
ture, may lift the hitherto impenetrable veil from
her occult operations, explain her, as vet, Sc
cret laws, and expose them to our view in all
the naEcdness of Arm conviction and persuasive
truth
In the case related by DR.. Gather, we see the
great Importance of dissections, after death with
4 view, well, to ascertain the origin and cause
of diseases, to behold the hidden mysteries of
nature. The aversion of mankind to Inspecting
bottles after death, had its origin during the ear
ly ages OF mankind, and when the grossest SUI
perstition fettered every energy of the human
mind. Among the ancient Egyptians, although,
embalming was common among them, the per-
sons employed in this office were deemed ,lnl,o-
ly, and fed as soon as their business was com
pieted.
This aversion to mangng the human face
divine" retarded, for many years. the progress of
Anatomy, and introduced false reasoning into
medicine. Forphysicians, entirely unacauainted
with the true structure ofthe human body, rea
soned from analogy, which is often falIacous in
the extreme. We find such was the dislike of
people to dissection in the time of Fabricus of A.
quipendente, the preceptor ofthe immortal Har
vey, the discoyerer Of the circulation that he fire.
Guently dissected dead bodies in his bed cham
Der, to prevent detection.
After this, we find the practice of dissection
making slow and gradual progress, nor is it e.
yen at the present day lawful, though tolerated
by most governments.
Stealing body in England is punished bv
transportation, but notwithstanding the severe
penalty, many a!lured by the money which sub
Jects always command, readily undertake to pro-
cure them. And although law may be neces-
safy prevent the re1vyection of bodies before
their tine, j see earthly reason to be assigned
against inspecting bodies before ntermemt
lfyou think the above remarks worthy n place
IN your paper, the publication of them will mucl,
obiigc your constant reader and well wisher.
MEDICUS.
June Sd, 1902.
IMPORTANT n JCCO YEpV