A Mechanical and Critical Enquiry Into the Nature of Hermaphrodites

Part 1

A Mechanical and Critical ENQUIRY INTO THE NATURE OF HERMAPHRODITES

BY JAMES PARSONS, M.D. Fellow of the Royal Society.

LONDON: Printed for J. WALTHOE, over-against the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill. M DCC XLI.

To the HONOURABLE Sir HANS SLOANE, Bart. PRESIDENT, And to the COUNCIL and FELLOWS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON; THIS MECHANICAL and CRITICAL ENQUIRY Into the NATURE of Hermaphrodites, Is Humbly Dedicated, By their most Obedient Humble Servant, JAMES PARSONS.

THE CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Containing some historical Observations of Laws and other Occurrences about Hermaphrodites. Page xi

CHAP. I.

Reasons against the Existence of an hermaphrodital Nature in human Bodies. 1

CHAP. II.

An historical and critical Account of the Causes of Hermaphrodites. 38

CHAP. III.

A general View of other Authors concerning Hermaphrodites. 79

CHAP. IV.

CONCLUSION.

Containing a Description of a Fœtus, and a Recital of the Dissections of such Subjects, by some other Authors, ~&c.~ 144

THE PREFACE.

If the following Sheets are not thought so methodically digested, as some Criticks would require, yet, it is to be hoped, they may conduce, in some Measure, to the reforming of an Opinion, which, in general, is the Result of Doctrines, founded by the Ancients upon the most absurd Principles; and though (if I may use the Words of the great Dr Mead) “I do not promise methodical and finished Treatises, but only some short Hints of Natural History, and rude Strokes of Reasoning;” yet I have this for my Plea, that the Expulsion of superstitious Mysteries and Errors, occult Causes, and, in fine, the Promotion of Truth, in some Parts of Natural Knowledge, to the utmost of my Power, are my sole Intention.

At first I only designed myself the Honour of laying a few Thoughts before the Royal Society, concerning the Nature of such as are generally called Hermaphrodites; with a Description of a female Fœtus that came to my Hands, which is hereafter mentioned; but upon communicating my Design to some Gentlemen of Learning, they were of Opinion, that it was quite necessary to examine what Authors had said on that Head; which, indeed, opened a larger Field than I could have imagined, and lead me on to swell this Essay to it’s present Size.

Some, perhaps, may ask what I have said in this Treatise, that they did not already know? or may pretend, they did not believe there were Hermaphrodites in the World; to this I answer, that tho’ there are some who will give their Reason leave to interfere when a mysterious Matter comes before them, yet of those few who may be called the learned among Men, how many are there that follow the Path of vulgar Errors, rather than take the Trouble of thinking seriously about such a Subject? and, consequently, how few must they be, that ever had a Notion of what appears, in the following Introduction, to have been transacted concerning Hermaphrodites in all Ages and Nations, by the wisest and most learned among them? so far therefore this Undertaking cannot be quite useless.

The Quotations through the whole are genuine and faithful, taken for the most Part from the Authors themselves, very few excepted, which, for want of the Originals, I was obliged to others for, who had cited them on different Occasions, but, however, were Authors of good Credit; and which are made English here, for the Benefit of such Readers as have not had a due Instruction in the Languages of the several Authors from whom they are taken.

As some Words are often repeated through the whole Essay, I could not avoid taking the Liberty of forming the adjective Word Macroclitorideus; which, tho’ not in Use before, as I could find, is highly necessary here for two Reasons; first, because it is a short Way of expressing what, in English, would be a considerable Sentence; and, secondly, a much more decent Term, which I have endeavoured to keep up to all along, where the English Word might be less agreeable; therefore since it is calculated for these Ends, the Freedom of adopting it may be excusable, if it should amount to a Crime in any one’s Opinion.

The Introduction sufficiently points out the Necessity of exhausting this Subject, in the Conviction of those erroneous Notions, propagated from Time to Time, and so long entertained in the World; and the best Manner that occurred to me of proceeding in it, in Hopes to succeed, was, after exhibiting such Reasons as seemed best to deny the Existence of Hermaphrodites in human Nature, to bring together the Opinions of several Authors, and make comparative Animadversions on them; by which Means, I hope, it will not be doubted, but that the Truth, which hitherto has been so clouded and obscured on this Head, may be said at least to begin to dawn, and by abler Hands may hereafter be brought to a clearer Light.

To judge alone of any Performance is somewhat less difficult, than to perform and judge together; it is therefore that the World in general are better Judges than Performers, the Majority of whom will snarl at a Word or Sentence, as the Standers-by often do at a Gamester’s Manner of playing a Cast, they would have played themselves another Way, though perhaps not so well; and, therefore, however imperfect this little Work may be, as it means only to search for Truth, I hope the Reader will be so kind as to make some Allowance for it’s Imperfection; for if it should meet with Censure, that can amount to no more than a Condemnation of some particular Thing, in a Work which in general is, at least, well intended.

THE INTRODUCTION

Containing some historical Observations on Laws, and other Occurrences concerning Hermaphrodites.

An indolent Person is always the most credulous of Novelty, at the same Time that his Supineness hinders him from examining into the Truth of any Rumour whatsoever. And this Kind of Passion is of the meanest Class, not only as it argues some Contempt or Neglect of Truth, but also as it is productive of a very great Evil, in setting a Limit or Bar to the Progress of Knowledge, and is therefore a vast Disadvantage to Society in general; from such a one as this, not the least publick Good, no more than private Benefit to himself, can flow; and the Man who has not a Desire to cultivate that innate Curiosity, which is every one’s Property, is unmindful of one of the greatest Duties incumbent on him; but when it is duly and honourably modified, and employed in the Search of useful Affairs only, it qualifies him for social Life, and renders him capable of being of Service in his Generation.

Though one may be informed of a Matter which in itself is really Fact, yet if an Absurdity should arise in the Narration, it would be laudable to enquire whether it is to be ascribed to the Relater or to the Thing told; but as there is nothing which, when true, can admit of any Absurdity, there is therefore the greater Right to be discontented with what is not easily understood; and it would even amount to a Crime to neglect taking Notice of such Accounts, especially if any Thing monstrous or improbable is blended with them. Shall we, for Example, sit down with some Authors, and say, that Hares are always of both Sexes; that the Rhinoceros is always Male; that the Vulture is always Female; that of all Animals, Goats, Sheep, Horses, Men, and Hares, are most liable to become Hermaphrodites? and shall we go on to copy or quote them in a Strain of Approbation? no; rather let us examine them thoroughly, lest by assenting to any Part of them, that does not square with Nature and Reason, we shall find our Judgments very deservedly arraigned, and the sagacious Part of the World much displeased.

Part 2

The constant Application of some great Men, (with whom this Island formerly has been, and is, at present, blessed) to the Study of Physical Affairs, is a glorious Example to encourage all younger Students to imitate their Steps, in the Pursuit of natural Knowledge, and, consequently, the publick Good, according to the different Turns of Mind, and those Studies that most delight them. Would such attain to a true Notion of the Animal Structure? let the Labours and Example of those great Anatomists Douglas, Cheselden, Nichols, and Nesbit, be their Guides. Would their Curiosity expand itself in the general Field of Natural History? Sir Hans Sloane shews of this to form inimitable Scenes. Or would they endeavour to bring Physiological Learning into a clear Light by Dint of mechanical Reasoning, the celebrated Mead and learned Stuart, with many others of our most honourable College, point out the way: would they, in fine, dive into mathematical Streams, the certain Directors to Truth, how many Examples of this Sort, as well as of those already mentioned, can our Royal Society, the most famous in the learned World, produce.

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