So credulous were people at this time
that even a man so well informed as Pare believed in the
possibility of these last two, or at least represented them as
facts. At this time were also reported double hermaphroditic
terata, seemingly without latter-day analogues. Rhodiginus speaks
of a two-headed monster born in Ferrari, Italy, in 1540, well
formed, and with two sets of genitals, one male and the other
female. Pare gives a picture of twins, born near Heidelberg in
1486, which had double bodies joined back to back; one of the
twins had the aspect of a female and the other of a male, though
both had two sets of genitals.
Scientific Teratology.--About the first half of the eighteenth
century what might be called the positive period of teratology
begins. Following the advent of this era come Mery, Duverney,
Winslow, Lemery, and Littre. In their works true and concise
descriptions are given and violent attacks are made against the
ancient beliefs and prejudices. From the beginning of the second
half of the last century to the present time may be termed the
scientific epoch of teratology. We can almost with a certainty
start this era with the names of Haller, Morgagni,
Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, and Meckel, who adduced the explanations
asked for by Harvey and Wolff.
Pages:
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335