Montgomery, Colomb, and Knehel,
each, have recorded the birth of twins in women beyond the usual
age of the menopause, and there is a case recorded of a woman of
fifty-two who was delivered of twins.
Impregnation without completion of the copulative act by reason
of some malformation, such as occlusion of the vagina or uterus,
fibrous and unruptured hymen, etc., has been a subject of
discussion in the works of medical jurisprudence of all ages; and
cases of conception without entrance of the penis are found in
abundance throughout medical literature, and may have an
important medicolegal bearing. There is little doubt of the
possibility of spermatozoa deposited on the genitalia making
progress to the seat of fertilization, as their power of motility
and tenacity of life have been well demonstrated. Percy reports
an instance in which semen was found issuing from the os uteri
eight and one-half days after the last intercourse; and a
microscopic examination of this semen revealed the presence of
living as well as dead spermatozoa. We have occasional instances
of impregnation by rectal coitus, the semen finding its way into
an occluded vaginal canal by a fistulous communication.
Guillemeau, the surgeon of the French king, tells of a girl of
eighteen, who was brought before the French officials in Paris,
in 1607, on the citation of her husband of her inability to allow
him completion of the marital function.
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