MATERNAL IMPRESSIONS. 
Report of the Obstetric Section of the. 
Toledo Medical Association 
BY 
THOS. WADDEL, M. D. 
1876. MATERNAL IMPRESSIONS. 
Report of t?te Obstetric Section of Lite 
Toledo Medical Association. 
BY 
THOS. WADDEL,MVL D. 
1876. MATERNAL IMPRESSIONS. 
Mr. President and Gentlemen—Your committee, to which 
the subject of maternal impressions was referred, desire to state as 
preface to their report, that the question is one which cannot he 
decided by superficial or hasty examination, involving, as it does, 
the whole subject of normal as well as abnormal embryonic devel- 
opment, with its general physiology and fact. Besides, it is a 
question on which authorities are not all agreed, and characterized 
by a dearth of scientific literature accessible to the English 
student. If we except the able monograph of Dr. Fisher, on the 
Genesis of Double Monsters,* no distinct scientific treatise exists 
in the English language. A few articles in medical journals and 
reports of societies, with appended cases illustrating some single 
part of the subject, constitute the bulk of the literature. 
Indeed, it has been strongly impressed upon your committee, 
that to this scantiness of the literature might he largely attributed 
the want of unity of opinion among the profession. In view of 
the extent of the question at issue, it has seemed proper : 
First, To examine the anatomical and physiological relations 
of the mother to the embryo. 
Second, To consider the facts and circumstances which seem to 
show that the mother’s mind has such power over the foetus in 
utero as to change its conformation or cause deformity. 
♦Transactions of the Medical Society of the State of New York. 4 
Third, To examine such evidence in the light of modern embry- 
onic physiology and pathological anatomy. In doing this it may 
be necessary in places to apparently step beyond the pale of the 
subject proper, but remembering that a just appreciation of the 
question can only be gained by an examination from all available 
points, we trust to being excused for such apparent digression. 
PHYSIOLOGY AND ANATOMY, 
It will be remembered that as soon as fecundation of the ovum 
has taken place, either on the ovary or in the fallopian tube, the 
uterus prepares a nest for its reception by a hyperplastic develop- 
ment of its lining membrane. When the impregnated ovum 
reaches the uterus, it falls from the opening of the fallopian tube 
into a fold or reduplication of the raucous membrane, and soon 
becomes attached there, and encapsuled by the membrane rising 
up on all sides and completely enclosing it, thus forming the 
decidua reflexa (Whittaker). As early as the second week the 
villi of the chorion are formed, their office being the absorption of 
the “ uterine milk,” which is secreted by the maternal cells for the 
nourishment of the embryo. These villosities of the chorion do 
not, as “ was formexdy supposed, penetrate the glandular ostia, and 
enter the ducts of the glands themselves, thus forming a compari- 
tively firm connection between the ovum and surrounding uterine 
membranes, but the villi of the chorion are forced, as it were, into 
the tissue of the reflexa, and are enveloped by it.”—Englemar?, on 
the Mucous Membrane of the Uterus. 
For the first month of pregnancy the attachment between the 
outer membrane of the ovum (chorion) and its enveloping mem- 
branes of the uterus is so slight, “ that unless the greatest care is 
taken, the simple handling of the organ will liberate it,” and it is 
only as late as the third month, when the chorion villi have 
become developed and enfolded by the decidua serotina, that 
agglutination of the chorion and decidua finally obtains. About 
the middle of the third month, two-thirds of the chorion villi have 5 
become atrophied, and the remaining third becoming hyper- 
trophied, are forming the foetal placenta. 
We have seen that the embryo has up to this time been sus- 
tained by nutritious material furnished by the uterine glands, and 
absorbed by the chorion villi. This simple means of nutrition 
now becomes insufficient, and provision is made for a more elabo- 
rate supply. This is accomplished by part of the chorion villi 
becoming enormously enlarged and developed into the foetal por- 
tion of the placenta, and being enfolded by the corresponding por- 
tion of the membrane of the uterus, bathe constantly in a stream 
of blood in the sinuses of the maternal placenta. 
No interchange of blood occurs at any time between the foetus 
and the mother. “ The vessels of the mother never anastomose, 
nor do they come in immediate contact with those of the foetal 
placenta ” (Ercoloni), only the materials necessary for foetal exist- 
ence being imbibed and excremeutitious material discharged 
through the membrane forming the walls of the villi. 
Some authorities, as Ercolani (Memoir on the Utricular Glands 
of the Uterus), assert that even this interchange is not a simple 
osmotic process, but that the outer walls of the villi are composed 
of secreting cells, which abstract from the blood by which it is 
bathed the nutrient materials (uterine milk) which nourish the 
foetus. 
“ No nerves or lymphatics exist in either portion of the pla- 
centa. The cord contains no nerves, no capillaries, not even 
vasa vasorurn, and no lymphatics.”—Whittaker, Morbid Anatomy 
of the Placenta. 
Simpson says ; “Nor has any anatomist ever traced the pas- 
sage of any nervous branches from the applied surface of the uterus, 
nor have any nutrient arteries been as yet at least shown to pass 
from the uterus into the maternal substance of the placenta.”— 
Type of Structure of the Placenta. 
Says Meadows; “ All attempts to discover auy nervous con- 
nection between the foetus and the mother have hitherto entirely 
failed. No one has yet ventured to affirm the existence of nerve 6 
structure in the umbilical cord, nor has a trace been discovered 
in the placenta itself.”—Manual of Midwifery. 
The evidence of maternal impressions being conveyed to the 
foetus in utero and causing its deformity is found in cases reported, 
such as the following, the first two from Dr. William Hammond: 
“ A lady in the third mouth of pregnancy was very much horri- 
fied by her husband being brought home one evening with a 
severe wound of the face, from which the blood was streaming. 
The shock to her was so great that she fainted and subsequently 
had an hysterical attack, during which she was under my care. 
Soon after her recovery she told me that she was afraid her child 
would be afflicted in some way, and even then could not get rid of 
the impression the sight of her husband’s bloody face had made on 
her. In due time the child, a girl, was born. She had a dark, 
red mark upon her face, corresponding in situation and extent 
with that which had been upon her father’s face. She proved, 
also, to be idiotic.” 
The wife of the janitor of the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons, during her pregnancy, dreamed that she saw a man who 
had lost a part of the external ear. The dream made a great 
impression on her mind, and she mentioned it to her husband. 
When her child was born, a portion of one ear was deficient and 
the organ was exactly like the defective ear she had seen in her 
dream. * * * I have examined this child, and the ear looks 
as if a portion had been cut off with a sharp knife.— William A. 
Hammond, in the Psychological Journal, Vol. 2, 1868. 
At a meeting of the Philadelphia Obstetrical Society, the fol- 
lowing cases were reported as well authenticated : 
Dr. Ludlow said that in one case the mother daily passed a 
child Avhose limbs were bandaged for white swelling. Her child 
was born with every limb dislocated. Another mother was fright- 
ened by a hidious face; her child was born with a hare lip. In 
another case the mother placed her hand on her face on the occa- 
sion of a fire. The child was born with a red fire markon the 
face. 
Dr. Taylor had seen a case in a child whose right hand was 
without fingers. The mother accounted for it by the fact that 7 
early in gestation a beggar asked her for alms, at the same time 
thrusting out a mutilated hand. Dr. Stewart had a case where the 
mother asked immediately whether the child was well formed 
about the hand; each had a supernumerary finger. The mother 
had been impressed by seeing a man pass the house with those 
supernumerary fingers.”—American Journal of Obstetrics, Vol. 6, 
p. 6fl. 
A woman between four and five months advanced in pregnancy 
had an insatiable desire for a fine salmon which she saw in the 
market. This she purchased despite her poverty, and as a result, 
at the end of the full term of normal gestation, she was delivered 
of a child, the head and body of which presented a peculiar and 
strange conformation; in truth, it was salmon-shaped; while the 
fingers and toes were webbed, representing the fins and tail of a 
salmon.—Dr. Horsefield, Fellow of the New York Academy of Medi- 
cine. Dr. Orilley quoted by Fisher. 
Prof. Caruochan, of New York, wrote to Dr, Orilley, in 1864, 
giving him an account of two cases of hare lip, which he says “ 1 
have no doubt occurred from maternal impressions conveyed to 
Jihe foetus ”—one, he states, caused by a dentist, who roughly 
lifted the mother’s upper lip at the sixth month of pregnancy; 
the other by a female, then pregnant eight weeks, seeing two girls 
suddenly enter a room, who had each been imperfectly relieved by 
surgery for this deformity. Prof. C. adds : “ I could proceed 
enumerating cases of a similar character proving, as I believe, the 
positive influence of maternal impressions upon the foetus in utero” 
The author from whom the first two eases are quoted is an able 
and earnest advocate of the affirmative side of this question. 
Hence we believe they present as good evidence as circumstances 
can well furnish. Referring to the first, Dr. Hammond says: 
“This case, which occurred in my own experience, scarcely admits 
of doubt as to the influence of the maternal mind over the phys- 
ical structure of the foetus.” And again : “ The chances of these 
instances and others which I have mentioned being due to coinci- 
dence are infinitesimally small, and though I am careful not to 
reason post hoc, I cannot, nor do I think any other person can, no 8 
matter how logical may be his mind, reason fairly against the 
connection between cause and effect in such cases. The correct- 
ness of the facts can only be questioned; if these be accepted, the 
probabilities are thousands of millions to one that the relations 
between the phenomena are direct.” The means by which such 
effects are produced he assumes to be the blood, which in some 
way carries the influence of the existing condition of the mother 
to the foetus by the interchange of the circulation. He considers 
it to be analogous to the phenomena by which fear, passion and 
anger have been known (?) to cause the nursing mother’s milk to 
become suddenly fatal to the child. 
Dr, Dalton says: “It is through the medium of the placental 
circulation that those disturbing effects are produced on the nutri- 
tion of the foetus which result from sudden shocks or injuries 
inflicted upon the mother. There is now little room for doubt 
that various deformities and deficiencies of the foetus, conformably 
to the popular belief, do really originate, in certain cases, from 
nervous impressions, such as disgust, fear or anger, experienced by 
the mother. The mode in which these effects may be produced is 
readily understood from what has been said above on the anatomy 
and functions of the placenta. 
“We know very well how easily nervous impressions will disturb 
the circulation in the brain, the face, the lungs, etc., and the uter- 
ine circulation is quite as easily influenced by similar causes, as 
physicians see every day in cases of amenorrhea, menorrhagia, 
etc. If a nervous shock may excite premature contraction in the 
muscular fibres of the pregnant uterus, and produce abortion, as 
not uufrequently happens, it is certainly capable of disturbing the 
course of the circulation through the same organ. 
“ But the foetal circulation is dependent, to a great extent, on 
the maternal, since the two sets of vessels are so closely entwined 
in the placenta, and since the foetal blood has much the same rela- 
tion to the maternal that the blood in the pulmonary capillaries 
has to the air vesicles, it will be liable to derangement for similar 
causes. * * * Whatever arrests or disturbs the circulation 
through the vessels of the maternal uterus must necessarily be 
liable to interfere with that in the foetal capillaries forming part 9 
of the placenta. And lastly, as the nutrition of the foetus is pro- 
vided for wholly by the placenta, it will, of course, suffer immedi- 
ately from any such disturbance of the placental circulation. 
These effects may be manifested either in the general atrophy and 
death of the foetus, or, if the disturbing cause is slight, in the 
atrophy or imperfect development of particular parts; just as in 
the adult a morbid cause, operating through the entire system, 
may be first, or even exclusively, manifested in some particular 
organ which is more sensitive to its influence than other parts.”— 
Human Physiology, J+th edition, page 617. 
Says Dr. Seguin : “ Impressions will sometimes reach the foetus 
in its recess, cut off* its legs or arms, or inflict large flesh wounds, 
before birth—inexplicable as well as indisputable facts.”—Idiocy 
and Its Treatment. 
Your committee would not consider it proper to accept these 
histories and statements as conclusive, but desire to examine them 
in the light of demonstrated modern physiological truth. Hence 
the necessity of reviewing at some length some of the proved facts 
pertaining to embryonic development. 
From the earliest periods of history until the present, the possi- 
bility of the mother’s mind impressing the foetus in utero was a 
settled belief of the laity of all classes. As an example of how 
deeply rooted are such convictions, it is well known that during 
the thirty years the French government refused to grant per- 
mission to exhibit living double monstrosities within the empire, 
for fear that pregnant women beholding them would bring forth 
similar abnormalities. 
Nor is this belief confined alone to the laity, for medical men 
from the time of Hippocrates, five centuries before Christ, to that 
of Ambrose Fare, in the eighteenth century, A. D., had full faith 
in the power of the mother’s mind to produce deformity of the 
foetus. 
We caimot wonder at this when we consider that embryology as 
a science hardly existed up to the middle of the eighteenth cen- 
tury, and consequently no advances had been made looking to 
their etiology on an anatomical and embryological basis—the only 10 
method by which the relations of abnormal to normal develop- 
ment can be profitably studied. 
Although Morgagni and his cotemporaries had corrected many 
erroneous doctrines, and proposed more rational explanations 
regarding the nature and origin of abnormal formations, the dis- 
tinguished honor of elevating tin? subject to a science is due to the 
genius of Albrecht Yon Haller, who expunged from its literature 
the superstitious ideas and non-authenticated cases which were 
relics of the fabulous period from which it had only emerged. 
In this condition it remained to the time of Bichat, who, says 
Dr. Fisher, was the founder of philosophical and analytical anat- 
omy. “ The maturely and normally developed human body was 
compared with the embryo. The various species of organized 
beings and their embryo were compared with man, and as a result, 
we became acquainted, on the one hand, with the ultimate struc- 
ture, composition and science of the human body, and, on the 
other, with the general facts, plan and unity of animal organiza- 
tion, including all its multiform genera and species in every age. 
On these comprehensive views a new theory of anomalies and 
monstrosities was founded, viz: that of arrest and retardation of 
development, which is now found to explain many varieties of 
monstrosities, but more particularly those which should be regarded 
as vices of conformation, as, for example, cleft formations, defi- 
ciencies, absence of parts, etc. By a careful study of the laws of 
development, and the order in which the various organs are 
evolved in the embryo, it has been observed that monsters by 
defect or arrest of development are, to a certain extent, permanent 
embryos. The abnormal organs merely represent the primitive 
condition of formation as it existed at an early stage of embryonic 
or foetal life.—An essay on Compound Human Monsters—Trans. 
New York State Medical Society, 1860, p. 2J+S. 
ARREST OF DEVELOPMENT. 
This class of malformations is so common, and one of so much 
importance in the study of this subject, that we have thought 
proper to append the following cases, with a view to illustrating 
their etiology: 11 
Case of Dr. Roberts—Child a female, seventh mouth; acepha- 
lous; the entire scalp, the integuments over the spinal column, 
with the lamina and spinous processes of the cervical and dorsal 
vertebra, were wanting; abdominal parietes also wanting, expos- 
ing the liver in situ, covered oidy by peritoneum ; several coils of 
intestine extruded.— Trans. Obstetrical Society of London, 1869. 
Case of Dr. Gretchell.—Mother aged nineteen; first birth ; 
child born alive, lived half an hour; “besides having club feet 
and spina bifida, it had all the abdominal organs outside the 
abdomen, covered only by serous membrane. There was neither 
anus nor genital organs. The mother could assign no cause ; she 
expected a healthy child.” 
Case of Dr. May.—Subject was aged twenty-eight; had exstro- 
phy of the bladder; tumor large as two fists; orifices of ureters 
visible; penis*short, flattened and imperforate; no signs of an 
umbilicus or previous attachment of foetal cord; perfectly deaf in 
one ear; had six toes on each foot; is second of a family of nine 
children ; the fifth had a small toe hanging from his great toe.”— 
Am. Jour. Med. Sciences, July, 1869. 
To properly consider these, as well as all similar cases, it is 
necessary for us to refer to the normal development of the embryo. 
The dorsal plates, which afterwards form the spinal column, are 
developed on the surface of the external blastodermic membrane 
as two elevated ridges enclosing a furrow. These ridges, gradu- 
ally rising and approaching each other, unite to form the spinal 
column. If, from failure of the formative force, these plates do 
not develop sufficiently to unite and close the canal, spina bifida 
is the result. 
In the same manner the abdominal plates, arising from these 
dorsal plates, by extending outwards and forwards meet together 
at the umbilicus, and thus form the parietes of the abdomen. 
Arrest of development affecting these plates does not necessarily 
interfere with the evolution of the abdominal viscera, hence the 
liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder and alimentary canal often attain 
their normal development and position, but from failure of devel- 
opment of the abdominal plates, they remain uncovered save by 
peritoneum. The resulting deformity is not infrequently attrib- 12 
uted to the mothers having contemplated the specimens of butcher 
shops, when in reality it often has its origin in purely local causes, 
such as adhesions of the amnion or “shortness of the penis and 
deficient union of the vessels forming into one common cord.”— 
Vogel. 
The arrested development of the maxillary processes causes 
hare lip. The bony structures may unite, leaving the soft parts 
separated (simple hare lip), or arrested development of the entire 
structures may obtain (cleft palate complicated hare lip). 
Acephalous foetus, a veiy common form of malformation, is now 
known to result from embryonic hydrocephalus, the cerebral ves- 
icles becoming distended until rupture takes place. The sides and 
vault of the cranium, as well as the cerebral matter, are conse- 
quently not formed. 
But what is most interesting in this connection is the fact 
pointed out by Dr. Burtell, viz; “That in whatever way a simple 
hare lip has been formed, it seems to be still capable of secondary 
cicatrization in utero. The proximal edges of the hare lip being 
in contact, the epithelium may give way, and the two raw sur- 
faces unite by cicatrization.” 
Another point to which we would call particular attention 
is, that “if the emotions of the mother ever affect the foetus 
so as to induce deformity, this must be done at or before the 
precise time at which the deformed part is undergoing evolution.” 
Thus we well know that as early as the third month the hands 
and feet are formed, and by the fourteenth week the abdominal 
plates have united at the umbilicus; the genital organs are dis- 
tinct, and the maxillary processes, with their soft parts, have 
united, forming the upper lip. And yet in one of the cases of 
hare lip of Prof. Carnochau, previously quoted, the deformity is 
gravely attributed to a dentist roughly handling the mother’s lip 
during the sixth month of pregnancy, which would necessitate, not 
a power to arrest development, but a power to actually destroy 
parts already developed. 
In like manner, it is not uncommon for cases of exstrophy of 
the bladder, ectopia viscera, etc., to be cited as examples of some 
impression made on the mother’s mind as late as the fourth, fifth or even the sixth month, when, in fact, it is now positively deter- 
mined that the causes of this deformity, viz: adhesions of the 
allantois to the chorion, must be operative as early as the fourth 
week.—Mr. John Wood, Half-Yearly Abstract, July 1869. 
It is an interesting fact connected with arrested development 
that this tendency frequently descends through generations. Thus, 
of eleven cases of hare lip quoted by Dr. Fisher, two were heredi- 
tary. In the one case three children of one family, and in the 
other two maternal uncles, had a like deformity. Dr. Gordon 
Buck saw a woman in his clinic at St. Luke’s Hospital who was 
the mother of seven healthy children, six of whom had hare lip. 
The mother, as well as her brother and sister, were similarly 
deformed.—Medical Record, vol. 6, p. 505. 
Dr. Pooly reports the case of a little girl ten years of age, who 
had deficiency of both upper extremities; thumbs of each hand, 
with the corresponding carpal bones, absent; both forearms abnor- 
mally shortened, with total absence of the radius of the left; ears 
small and abnormally shaped; slightly deaf; child very bright 
and intelligent, but has well marked phthisis. The mother has a 
similar deformity ; she is also a victim of phthisis. Had another 
child similarly deformed; had two other children which were nor- 
mal in every way. It might be mentioned, in this connection, 
that the grandmother of this little girl attributes the deformity of 
the mother to “ fright while pregnant from some crabs crawling on 
the kitchen floor.” She also attributes the deformity of the grand- 
children to a fright which the mother received while pregnant.— 
Am. Jour. Med. Sciences, Oct., 1867, p. 4 10. 
Case of Dr. John Marker.—The boy’s Angel’s were webbed to the 
tips, the little finger having an extra nail, “each member thus 
forming a prehensile paw.” The child’s father and grandfather 
had similar hands. The child is very active and intelligent. The 
little toe of the right foot is webbed to the next toe; some (not 
all) of the brothers and sisters had similar hands.—Lancet, 1866. 
Among the causes of arrested development which deserve prom- 
inent mention, stand great constitutional debility, or inherited 
diathesis of either or both parents. The operation of these causes 
are well illustrated by the following cases: 14 
Case of Dr. Michael.—The mother’s father had a very nervous 
temperament, she herself having chorea from infancy, periodically. 
She had seven miscarriages in succession at periods more and more 
advanced. Those children were well formed. The eighth child, 
a female, she carried to full term. It was beautifully formed in 
every way, but was found totally blind from congenital amaurosis. 
The reporter says: “ Here the super-excitation of the nervous sys- 
tem of the mother produced no effect whatever on the develop- 
ment of the child, whose eyes were well formed, but the nervous 
disease with which the parent suffered presented itself in the off- 
spring in the modified form of retinal insensibility.— Amer. Jour. 
Med. Sciences. 
Case of Dr. Parish.—Father aged forty-five; in the last stages 
of consumption ; mother had six children, all healthy. She her- 
self is feeble, but not diseased. The abdomen was large; an 
unusually large quantity of liquor amnii escaped. The child was 
well developed in all parts except the head; the bony structures 
of the cranial vault were absent.—Am. Jour, of Obstetrics, vol. 8, 
p. oJj.6. 
While engaged in the preparation of this report, the following 
interesting case, showing the influence of diathesis, came under 
the observation of your committee: Father aged twenty-three; 
mother aged twenty; both healthy; first birth; child presented 
by the breach, yet labor was easy. On examination, the child 
was found to have double talipes varus, the right foot being badly 
deformed, the left less so. The sacrum was bifid, the projecting 
tumor only moderately large, and partially covered by integu- 
ment, the remaining covering being the attenuated membrane of 
the cord. On casual inquiry, no evidence of immediate congeni- 
tal deformity in either branch of the family could be elicited, but 
on directing attention of the parents to that point, the following 
pathological history was brought to light: One paternal uncle on 
grandmother’s side had double club feet; one paternal aunt, her- 
self healthy, gave birth to two children with hare lip; one pater- 
nal niece died from non-congenital kyphosis; another paternal 
niece was born with deficiency of the cranial vault; the grand- 
father had, at the time of his death, a small tumor on his spine, 
caused by a slight injury. 15 
Sir James Y. Simpson described, in 1838, intra-uterine perito- 
nitis as a “ most common form of foetal disease,” and reported nine 
cases occurring in his practice during twenty-two months. He 
found the disease in one case as early as the fourth month. Hav- 
ing so frequently observed patches of coagulable lymph on the 
surface of the peritoneum in cases of monstrosity, characterized 
by extroversion of the viscera, he was led to believe that the 
occurrence of peritonitis and other inflammations affecting the 
embryo at a very early period, was a common cause of malforma- 
tions.— Obstet. and Gmcecology, p. 119. 
Bronchocele, another disease affecting the foetus in utero, some- 
times causes marked deformity, as iustance the specimen pre- 
sented to this association by Dr. Reid, in which, from 
ure of the tumor, the head was thrown backwards (probably as 
early as the sixth week of intra-uterine life). The occiput resting 
against the spinal column, union obtained, and a direct opening 
from the posterior occipital region to the dorsal region of the spi- 
nal canal. 
An interesting fact bearing on this subject of intra-uterine foetal 
disease as causative of congenita! deformities, has been presented 
by Dr. St. John Roosa : From a careful examination of the mem- 
branum tympani, throat and fauces of two hundred and sixty- 
nine deaf mutes, he found in one hundred and eleven of the one 
hundred and eighteen cases classified as congenital, a pharyngites 
and tonsillitis. From the constant occurrence of this complica- 
tion, and the well known intimate connection between the faucial 
raucous membrane and the middle ear, he reaches the conclusion 
that “by far the greater number of cases of congenital deaf 
mutism, as here observed, had their origin in inflammation of the 
middle ear occurring in intra-uterine life”—Am. Jour. Medical 
Sciences, April, 1867. 
So much for arrested development and its causes. But “ the 
process of evolution may be excessive, as well as incomplete. 
When excessive in certain portions of the capillaries, these blood 
vessels, which are, in the normal state, too small to be seen by the 
naked eye, now become so large as to carry red blood, and to 
impart to the locality (if in the skin) a corresponding degree of 16 
redness. This is the way marks are formed. An excess of evolu- 
tion may also produce supernumerary fingers or other appen- 
dages.”—Dugas, quoted by Fisher. 
It is this excessive development of blood vessels which are con- 
stantly pointed out as marks of fruits, etc., for which the mother 
longed, or the representation of some animal or object which 
frightened her during pregnancy. 
Dr. Detraold, during a discussion before the New York Acad- 
emy of Medicine upon this subject, remarked : “I suppose there 
is hardly a surgeon who has not seen a large number of cases 
where deformities have been attributed to influences of the same 
kind, I allude to those red spots—those aneurisms by anastomo- 
ses—which are attributed by the mothers of the children to this 
and to that cause, I recollect fifteen years ago I was called on by 
a distinguished obstetrician to perform an operation on a child’s 
cheek. He told me that the mother had been frightened by a 
leech, and that of course the child had a leech on the cheek. It 
was simply an aneurism by anastomoses, with as much resem- 
blance to a leech as to an elephant.”—Bulletin N. Y. Academy of 
Medicine, vol. 1, p. 36 
A fact in connection with this class of deformities (moles, nevi, 
supernumerary lingers and toes, etc.) has been frequently attested, 
viz; that they are, in common with family resemblances, most fre- 
quently transmitted through generations. 
INTRA-UTERINE AMPUTATIONS. 
Few congenital deformities found affecting the foetus are so often 
pointed out as the result of maternal impressions as deficiency of 
limbs or intra-uterine amputations. For a noted example of this, 
we have only to refer to the remark of Dr. Seguiu, before quoted, 
viz: “that such impressions will reach the foetus in its recess, 
cut off its arms or legs,” and he boldly asserts them as “ inex- 
plicable as well as indisputable facts.” 
Your committee believe that nearly if not all of the varieties of 
this deformity can be positively shown to depend on disease of the 
membranes enclosing the foetus or its appendages. 
Dr. Montgomery, in his admirable essay on spontaneous arapu- 17 
tation, first showed the possibility of these amputations being due 
to amniotic bands, and reported a series of twenty-eight cases 
illustrating nearly all the varieties of this deformity. He believed 
that in most of these cases inflammatory action obtains in the 
membranes, resulting in adhesions to the skin of the foetus by 
means of organized lymph. 
Schreder concurs in this opinion, and believes that delay in the 
secretion of the liquor aranii predisposes to the formation of such 
adhesions. 
Prof, Gurlt explains their modus operandi by supposing that the 
liquor when secreted separates the foetus and the membranes. The 
struggles of the foetus, together with the contraction of the organ- 
ized lymph, increases 'the pressure on the parts encircled by the 
bands, and results in amputation. 
Courty says: “The pseudo membranes found on the internal 
surface of and firmly adherent to the amnion, are probable traces 
of a peculiar inflammation of the amnios. When these pheno- 
mena occur early, the amniotic fluid may be absorbed and 
adhesions established between the integument of the foetus and the 
membranes, and these adhesions become in time the cause of vari- 
ous monstrosities.”—Whittaker, Morbid Anatomy of the Placenta. 
The result of these adhesions have been shown to be materially 
modified according to the period of intra-uterine life when applied. 
Thus, according to Dr. McCann, if applied early in foetal life, 
you will find the limb most probably wholly amputated and the 
stump quite healed. If somewhat later, you may still find the 
limb amputated, but the stump will present a small portion of its 
surface still unhealed, which is always found to be the end of the 
bones. If the ligature be applied still later, you may find noth- 
ing but a furrow or indention of the limb.— Obstetrical Journal 
Great Britain and Ireland, February, 1875. 
Again, if amputation occurs early, there is every reason to 
believe that the amputated limb may be absorbed, for in cases 
occurring towards the last of pregnancy, the limb is most gener- 
ally found enclosed in the membranes, whereas, the limb can 
rarely, if ever, be found in those cases of early amputations. 
Facts prove conclusively that in those latter cases not only the 18 
limb but also the false bands which caused the amputation may 
be completely absorbed, so that a careful examination of the secuu- 
dines at the time of normal delivery may fail to reveal the causes 
of the deformity. 
Your committee have not accepted these doctrines without, as 
seems to them, good reasons for their faith.. Accordingly they 
have subjoined a few cases illustrating this point: 
Case of Dr. Kidd.—■ Child born in the Comb Lying-in Hospital. 
One leg was amputated midway between the ankle and the knee. 
I was not present at the birth, but when I paid my morning visit, 
succeeded in getting the membranes, and searching carefully in 
them found the amputated extremity. The other leg was par- 
tially amputated, and there was no evidence how the amputation 
had taken place. In the one hand a fine band passed from the 
top of the index finger, partially enclosing the middle finger, and 
attached it to the ring finger. It had nearly cut off* the top of the 
middle finger, and some of the fingers of the other hand had the 
same kind of bands attached to them.”—Obstetrical Journal 
Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 2, p. 737. 
In the remarks made on this case before the Obstetrical Society 
of Dublin, Dr. Kidd stated that “ there was two months difference 
in development between the child and the foot; the former was 
full nine months.” 
Case of Dr. Jacobi.—“ A full grown child, born at term ; both 
hands are flexed. On the right side the thumb portions of the 
carpus and the radius are absent. The forearm is unusually 
short. On the left side the fingers are adherent, and the third and 
fourth phalanges of the second and third fingers are constricted 
and almost amputated. On the left leg there is a sharp constric- 
tion of the calf, about half way between the knee and the 
ankle. Several toes on both feet are adherent, and on the right foot 
the third toe is strongly constricted by a band going from the 
second to the fourth toe. All these bands are of amniotic origin.” 
—American Journal of Obstetrics, Vol. 7, p. IJ+7. 
At a meeting of the Obstetrical Society of New York, Dr. Paul 
Munde stated that “he had seen a case of partial spontaneous 
amputation of the metacarpus and first phalanx of the second and 19 
third fingers, in which the cause of the amputation was an amui- 
otic band, as proved by the presence of a portion of the constrict- 
ing band in the palm of the hand in a line directly continuous 
with the furrow on the sides and back of the hand.”—American 
Journal Obstetrics, Vol. 8, p. 51+1+. 
Dr. O. Mason exhibited to the Obstetrical Society of New York 
a foetal thumb, and gave the following history : “At the birth 
of the child he noticed that the thumb was very large from oedema, 
and that it was attached at the metacarpo-phalangeal articulation 
by a mere thread of skin.” 
These cases, your committee think, clearly establish the fact 
that these bauds are frequently the cause of the amputation. 
The most frequent site for the occurrence of such adhesions is 
undoubtedly that portion of the amuiotic membrane reflected over 
the placenta and cord. This might be inferred for various ana- 
tomical and physiological reasons. During the evolution of the 
cavity of the amnion and closure of the abdominal plates, condi- 
tions exist which may, under slight influences, result in the most 
grievous deformities. The following cases quoted from Whittaker 
are not without interest in this connection : 
Case of Montgomery.—“ Breach presentation ; body expelled 
to the axilla and then immovable; after a while a violent pain 
expelled the body, head and secundiues in toto. The cause of the 
resistance was now manifest; from the upper part of the funis 
umbilicalis, the circulation of which was not at all impeded, 
passed a very strong band about one and a half inches long, with its 
end firmly attached to the surface of the placenta. This band was 
perforated, and in the aperture the arm was grasped so tightly 
just below the elbow that the soft parts were drawn in as if by 
gradual impression, and covered by skin were divided down to 
the bone.” 
Another instance is given of total absence of the entire right 
lower extremity and part of the pelvis, with cohesion of the pla- 
centa with the body of the child at the perineal region, where it 
still remained adherent. 
Braun exhibited two specimeus from the Vienna Lying-in Hos- 
pital, In the one case the amnion was firmly adherent to the 20 
dura-mater. False bauds from the placenta had amputated three 
fingers of the right hand ; the toes were united. In the other the 
placenta was attached to the umbilicus, w'hich the process of 
expulsion tore open, exposing the abdominal contents. 
In 1856, M. Rayer presented to the Society of Biology, of 
Paris, a hyperencephalic monster, with adhesion of the placenta to 
the cerebral envelopes. 
Carpenteair mentions other almost similar cases in the Museum 
Dupuytren, at Paris. According to Houel, the placenta adheres 
to the foetus in but two parts of its surface, viz., the vault of the 
cranium and the abdomen ; there exists in either case a hernia 
of the viscera. 
He also states that hernia of the brain or absence of that organ, 
with adhesions of its envelopes to the placenta, seems to be due 
to shortness of the cord, which he considers primitive.— Whitta- 
ker, Morbid Anatomy of the Placenta—Am. Obstet. Jou . 
Even the umbilical cord may, by becoming entwined about cer- 
tain portions of the foetus, cause amputations, deformity or death. 
Whittaker, in his admirable essay, quoted above, says: “ That the 
cord when entwined about the limbs of a child may amputate the 
limb, is a fact with which we have long been made acquainted by 
Montgomery, who has reported a number of interesting cases.” 
Schwabe has also reported a case of amputation of the leg of an 
embryo of three months, just above the ankle joint. * * * * 
“ Braun thinks this impossible,” but “ Klob pertinently remarks 
that it is questionable whether even the pulsations of the cord 
itself might not be sufficient to divide the delicate structures of an 
embryo at this period.” 
At a meeting of the Obstetrical Society of Philadelphia, Octo- 
ber 2d, 1873, Dr. Ingraham exhibited a foetus of four and a half 
months with the cord wound once around the thigh, making a 
deep groove in the integument. Had the foetus lived to maturity 
it would undoubtedly have been born with a congenital deficiency 
of the right leg.—Am. Jour, of Obstetrics, vol. 7, p. 160. 
The following interesting case occurred in the practice of Dr, 
Chapman, of this city, to whom we are indebted for its report: 
Mrs. D. was taken in labor prematurely (seventh month), and 21 
after twenty-four hours, was delivered of a dead foetus, which was 
immediately followed by a living one of about seven months 
development. In examining the children, the one born dead was 
found much smaller than the other, development having ceased 
some time previously, while in the case of the living foetus devel- 
opment had been uninterrupted. 
“ On examination for cause of death, it was discovered that the 
cord had been wrapped round one limb of the child twice, once 
around the leg and once around the thigh. The leg and thigh 
were nearly severed from the body, the bone being the only por- 
tion undivided.” 
Your committee have thought proper to dwell at this length on 
these demonstrable causes of deformity, believing that they have 
an important bearing on the question at issue, for unless we can 
find that the impressions of the mother’s mind do in some way 
bring about these pathological states just alluded to, we must rea- 
sonably exclude their influence in the causation of a large class of 
deformities, such as intra-uteriue amputations, some cases of 
arrested development, distortion of limbs, talipes, hernia of the 
abdominal viscera, etc. 
Regarding the real cause of arnniotic bauds, enough has been 
observed to lead strongly to the belief that certain diseases of the 
uterus or its membranes, or traumatic influences, may in most 
cases sufficiently account for their production. 
We have only time, in passing, to call attention to the great 
field open for fruitful research, in certain departments of uterine 
pathology in its relations to this question. Particularly is this so 
as regards the influences of inflammation existing previous to 
conception. This subject, which is now attracting the attention 
of pathologists to its influence in causing abortion and morbid 
conditions of the placenta and membranes, cannot but yield rich 
returns when investigated with reference to the pathology of foetal 
life. 
The remarks of Dr. Robert Barnes, when speaking of placental 
adhesions, would probably be equally pertinent if applied to this 
subject. He says: “ That in true placental adhesions there is 
organic change of structure, or abnormal deposit in the decidual 22 
portion of that organ, beginning, in all probability, in the mucous 
membrane before pregnancy. * * * The maternal origin of 
the forms of diseased placenta leading to adhesion is proved often 
by the history of previous endometritis or other disease, and by 
the frequent recurrence of adherent placenta in successive preg- 
nancies.”— Obstetric Operations. 
Brauu “finds a cause of hydrometra gravidi uteri in the fluid 
poured out by this inflammatory process, or by an existing endo- 
metritis serosa.”— Whittaker. 
The two following cases are interesting, as tending to add force 
to the foregoing remarks. The first, reported by Dr, Kidd, of 
Dublin, is confirmatory of the influence of inflammatory disease 
of the uterus in causing deformity of the foetus : 
“A woman who was a considerable time in the hospital as a 
patient, during pregnancy, for chronic inflammatory tumor in 
connection with the uterus—a localized peritonitis. After she 
recovered and left the hospital she came back for her confinement. 
Her child had two arms amputated and one leg.”—Obstet. Jour. 
Great Britain and Ireland, vol. 2, p. 728. 
The second case, reported by Dr. Charles Leale, shows the 
influence of an injury to the mother’s abdomen, the traumatism 
producing disease of the foetus, which, in turn, reacting on struc- 
tures not intimately connected with the seat of disease, may pro- 
duce grave deformity of distant organs. 
Mrs. A., a very healthy woman; age, thirty-three; had four 
previous labors, in which the children were perfect. Had good 
health with this child until the seventh mouth. About this time 
she received a severe contusion on the abdomen, from which she 
fainted, and had to be carried to her home. From this time for- 
ward the movements of the foetus were much less vigorous. She 
was delivered at full term of a male of eight and one-half pounds, 
which lived one hour. Post mortem revealed meningeal apoplexy, 
and, as a consequence, general paralysis, talipes calcaneus of both 
feet, dislocation of both hands and feet existing at birth.—Amer, 
Jour. Med. Sciences, July, 1870, 23 
DOUBLE MONSTERS AND TWINS. 
We would next call attention to the laws governing the develops 
ment of so-called double monsters, and their relations to twins. 
It is a fact now determined by repeated observation, that when 
twins have a common chorion, there is always unity of sex. Also, 
that where twins have a common placenta or anastomoses of the 
placental vessels, there is always unity of sex. With regard to this 
point Dr. Whittaker says : “ The reason that two chorions are 
present in some cases and but one in others is referred to the origin 
of the ova. If both ova are from different graafian follicles, each 
will possess its own chorion and amnion ; if both germs exist in 
the same ovum, there can be but one common chorion.” 
In every case of double monster or joined foetus, there is unity 
of sex. This form of malformation occurs once in twenty million 
of births, and yet in five hundred cases accurately reported, no 
single exception to this rule is known. 
Dr. Fisher says, in regard to the genesis of double monsters, 
“ that they are not the result of an accidental coalition of twins at 
some uncertain period of their embryonic development, neither do 
they result from a double egg, that is to say, an egg containing 
two yolks enclosed in one capsule. They are invariably the pro- 
duct of a single ovum, with a single vitellus and vittelliue mem- 
brane, upon which a double cicatricula or two primitive traces are 
developed. The several forms of double malformation, the 
degree of duplicity, the character and the extent of the fusion— 
all result from the proximity and relative positions of the neural 
axis of two more or less complete primitive traces developed on 
the vitelline membrane of a single ovum. This is not a theoreti- 
cal opinion ; it is an established fact, determined by direct and 
repeated observation and research, instituted by different embry- 
ologists. It furnishes a satisfactory explanation of the several laws 
which have been discovered to preside over the development of 
double monsters, viz., the law of homologous union, the law of 
unity of sex, and the less certainly determined law of transposition 
of viscera. Homologous union and unity of sex in duplex forma- 
tions are positive laws.” 24 
Hence we see that normal twins with common chorion, and 
double monster have a like origin, viz., the development of a 
double cicatricula on the blastodermic membrane of a single ovum, 
so that the question whether the result of the impregnation of such 
an ovum shall be normal twins or double monster depends on the 
nearness of the primitive traces to each other. 
But there is yet an interesting fact connected with the genesis 
of twins, which it is proper here to note, viz., that when there is 
an anastomosis of the placental vessels, this anatomical condition 
itself is often the direct cause of grave foetal deformity. Acar- 
dia, or monsters without a heart, are thus produced. A free 
anastomosis existing between the veins of each placenta, when the 
heart’s action of the foetus becomes established, if the action of each 
foetal heart be equal in force, a thrombus of the anastomosing ves- 
sels obtains. But if, as often happens, the heart’s forces are not 
balanced, the stronger blood current in the placenta will push 
back the weaker one, at first impeding the circulation of the less 
favored foetus, then arresting it, and finally causing it to take an 
inverse direction. “As a result, the heart then atrophies, and the 
body of the foetus becomes a simple appendage to the healthy one, 
the circulation in this now deformed foetus depending entirely 
on the heart of the healthy foetus driving the blood through the 
placental anastomoses. Such a force being entirely inadequate to 
drive the blood through the upper portion of the body of the acar- 
dia, arrested development obtains, while the favorable position of 
the lower extremities for receiving blood explains their further 
though imperfect growth.”—William T. Lusk, M. I)., New York 
Medical Journal, February, 181J 
EXPERIMENTAL EMBRYOLOGY 
It would be doing injustice to this subject were we to close this 
already too extended review without mention of the valuable con- 
tributions which experimental embryology has made to its eluci- 
dation. 
Geoffry St. Hilaire first showed the possibility of the production 
of monsters artificially, but it has remained for M. Dareste, by 
direct experiment, to submit the process of their production to 25 
direct observation, and evolve most of the types of simple mon- 
strosity. 
“When eggs are submitted to incubation, the conditions of 
which differ from those of ordinary incubation, the evolution is 
disturbed, and there appear anomalies and monstrosities.” M. 
Dareste has employed four processes to this end : 
First, A vertical position of the egg. 
Second, Diminution of the porosity of the shell with imperme- 
able coatings. 
Third, Contact of the egg with a source of heat near the cica- 
tricula, but not coinciding with it. 
Fourth, The production of temperatures slightly above or 
below that of normal incubation.”—American Journal Medical 
Science, April, 187Jf. 
By the first two changes the evolution is often disturbed—by 
the last two it always is. And what is most remarkable is that 
the nature and kind of abnormality can, in some cases, be foreseen, 
as, for instance, “ the heating of the egg at a point near the cica- 
tricula produces always the same result, viz., a much greater 
development of the blastoderm and of the vascular area between 
the embryo and the source of heat.” The experimenter thinks 
that by certain modes of applying heat an inversion of the viscera 
might be caused. But the fact elicited by these investigations 
which most strongly throws discredit on the possibility of the 
mother influencing the form of the foetus in utero is, that M. 
Dareste states it as one of the most general results obtained, that 
monsters have always their origin in that period of embryonic 
life when the embryo is entirely formed of homogeneous blastema. 
The monstrous organs first appear with all their teretologicai char- 
acters in blastema, which has been previously modified. He has 
also observed that arrest of development is the general process of 
the formation of simple monsters. It first acts directly on certain 
organs, then the change in these organs involves, consequently, 
a certain number of changes in other organs, changes character- 
ized by arrest of development, fusion of similar parts, changes in 
position, etc. 
These investigations have farther disclosed the fact that in the 26 
formation of abnormalities the amnion plays an important part. 
Thus the arrest of development of the cephalic hood of the amnion 
causes cyclopia and various displacements of the head. The arrest 
of development of the whole of the amnion causes various mon- 
strosities, which are sometimes produced separately, and are some- 
times associated, such as eventration, cerebral hernia, deficiencies 
of limbs, and various incurvations of the spinal column, and devia- 
tions. 
The influence of the amnion in causing deformities is strikingly 
shown in the fact that in fishes, although the general types of mon- 
strosity exist exactly as in mammalia, yet, owing to absence of 
amnion, the class is much less diversified. 
From the foregoing review the following facts seem to be well 
established: 
1. That during embryonic existence certain parts may be 
hindered or arrested in their development, while the other organs 
not directly connected with them may continue their evolution 
and become fully developed. 
2. That ectropia viscera of the abdomen, spina bifida, cleft 
palate, hare lip, webbed fingers and toes, etc., are only evidence of 
arrested development of embryonic abdominal, spinal and maxil- 
lary processes, or, in the case of the webbed extremities, the con- 
tinuation of the embryonic hand or foot of the second mouth. 
3. That any agency causing arrest of development of any por- 
tion of the foetus must necessarily operate prior to the evolution 
of that part. 
4. That the cause of arrested development may be local or 
general: (a). Injuries to the mother’s abdomen; (h). Diseases of 
the uterus or its membranes; (c). Diseased ovum from diathesis 
of either parent; (d). Hereditary transmission of deformity. 
5. That excessive development of parts of the foetus may 
obtain, resulting in nevi, aneurisms by anastomoses, supernumer- 
ary fingers, toes, etc. 
6. That such peculiarities are, in common with family resem- 
blance, frequently transmitted through generations. 
7. That intra-uterine amputations are the result of amniotic 27 
bauds, placental adhesions, fracture, or from pressure of a loop of 
the umbilical cord. 
8. That amniotic bands or placental adhesions may result 
from inflammation of the uterus, its decidua, or inflammatory 
disease of the foetus. 
9. That amputations may be caused by these false membranes, 
which may be afterwards absorbed, as also the amputated 
extremity. 
10. That so-called double monsters, or foetus in fetu, are the 
result of the development of a double cicatricula on the blasto- 
dermic membrane of a single ovum. 
11. That twins with a common chorion also result from the 
development of a double cicatricula on the blasto-dermic mem- 
brane of a single ovum. 
13. That the nearness of the primitive traces to each other 
determine whether impregnation will result in separate twins or 
double monster. 
12. That in either case there is always unity of sex. 
14. That in twins with single chorion or anastomosis of the 
placental vessels, one foetus may become perfectly developed while 
the other becomes monstrous. 
15. That the development of the abnormality in such cases 
depends on local anatomical causes, and is governed by definite 
laws. 
16. That every known form of malformation in the human 
race has its analogue in the lower animals, birds, fishes and rep- 
tiles. 
From the consideration of all these facts the subject is narrowed 
down to the following questions, viz : 
Can the mother’s mind so act on the foetus in utero as to cause 
its arrest in whole or in part, and produce its resulting abnormal- 
ities ? 
Can the mother’s mind produce the diseases of the uterus or its 
membranes which result in false bands or placental adhesions, 
which cause amputation and other deformities ? 
Can such impression cause the umbilical cord to encircle and 
amputate a limb or cause the death of the foetus? 28 
Can such impression reach or act on the newly impregnated 
ovum so as to cause the double cicatricula to approach each other 
so closely as to result in union and double monstrosity ? 
Is it possible for maternal influence to destroy or deform one 
foetus in utero, while another enclosed in the same membranes is 
uninjured ? 
A large per cent of congenital deformities being shown to arise 
from local and other causes, which can have no connection with 
maternal influence, is it probable that at another time exactly the 
same deformity is produced by maternal impressions ? 
Is it reasonable that an intra-uterine amputation will be caused 
in one case by an amuiotic band, while in another it may be 
caused by maternal impressions? 
When it is remembered that no nervous connection exists 
between the embryo and the mother; that there is no direct blood 
communication; that the mother’s mind can have no influence in 
causing the pathological states which have been shown to be the 
cause of the malformation; that during the first weeks of foetal 
life the ovum is surrounded by anatomical conditions precluding 
maternal influence, whereas it has been shown that the vast 
majority of malformations have their origin in that period of 
embryonic life in which the ovum is still homogeneous blastema; 
when all these' facts are remembered, it cannot be believed that 
the mother’s mind can change the conformation of the foetus in 
utero. 
All modern authors who advocate the affirmative view of this 
question (Hammond, Dalton, Tuke and others) admit the impos- 
sibility of such effect obtaining except through the medium of the 
blood. Dr. Hammond says the whole matter rests, therefore, on 
the question as to whether the blood can undergo change through 
the influence of the mind, and can serve as a means for the trans- 
mission of mental impressions. “ That it can be so altered, and 
that it is a medium for communication between the brain of the 
mother and the foetus, is sufficiently proved by the records of 
physiological science as already quoted.” The records referred to 
consist of a statement in the preceding paragraph “ that through 
the blood of the foetus the mother may be so impressed with the 29 
attributes of the father as to transmit them to future offspring.” 
In support of this theory is mentioned (without any history) the 
case of a mare which had a foal by a quagga, and afterwards had 
four colts all marked like the quagga. He further says: “It is 
not uncommon to see children of a widow by her second husband 
resemble in mind and body her first husband, provided she had 
children by him; ” also, through this influence “it is often the 
case that the mother comes in time to resemble the father in men- 
tal and physical characteristics. Now, how is this effect produced 
but through the blood of the foetus coming in intimate relation to 
that of the mother ? The offspring has received certain physical 
or mental impressions from the father, it conveys them, through 
its blood, to the blood of the mother, and the latter, in turn, gives 
them, through her blood, to a subsequent foetus in her womb. The 
blood serves as a medium of communication throughout—there is 
no nervous connection whatever. If through her blood she can 
transmit certain bodily marks not on her own body to the body 
of the offspring, why may she not, through the same medium, 
impart other peculiarities which have produced a powerful impres- 
sion on her mind.” 
We have given these views at length to show how far-fetched 
are the arguments necessary to sustain such a proposition. We 
believe this to be reasoning from false premises. 
1. Where is the evidence that “ the blood can undergo change 
through the influence of the mind, or can serve as a medium for 
the transmission of mental impressions ?” 
2. It is not known, neither is there good evidence that the 
father can through the foetus give the mother “ his mental and 
physical characteristics.” 
3. It would seriously conflict with well founded physiological 
facts to believe that the blood of the mother, which is constantly 
undergoing change, could retain the impress of the father (given 
through the medium of the foetus) for years, and then “ transmit 
certain bodily marks not on her own body to the body of her 
(next) offspring.” 
Dr. Dalton’s explanation of foetal abnormality might be termed 
a mechanical theory, and has at least the merit of simplicity. 30 
“ If a nervous shock may excite premature contraction of the mus- 
cular fibres of a pregnant uterus and produce abortion, it is cer- 
tainly capable of disturbing the course of the circulation through 
the same organ.” This is the basis of his etiology, yet he nowhere 
explains how such a condition of the circulation in the uterus 
could at one time cause arrested development of an arm, at 
another a leg, or at another time a failure of closure of the 
abdominal plates. Again, by his own interpretation, it destroys 
all relation between the character of the mental impression and 
the deformity which would follow. 
But by far the greatest objection to such a theory is found in 
the now well established physiological fact, that under normal 
conditions the circulation in the placenta is exceedingly irregular, 
arising from the anatomical construction of the vessels, which 
have their analogue in the cavernous bodies of the penis—“ arte- 
ries of entrance, veins of exit, and intervening lacunae.”—Whit- 
taker. 
But Providence has not left the development of the human 
foetus “ to the influence of maternal whims and caprices—to an 
imitative metamorphic power which would result in foetal repro- 
ductions of every object which impresses the maternal mind with 
disgust and horror.” 
Indeed, we cannot but admire the provisions which have been 
made to shield it from such influences. Up to the third month 
its attachment to the mother is far from being intimate, being sus- 
tained by imbibition of an albuminous secretion through the walls 
of the chorion villi, first during its passage along the fallopian 
tube, and afterward from the mucous membrane of the uterus, by 
which it is encapsuled. Very recent investigations have shown 
that even as late as the second month the ovum is loosely attached 
to the uterine decidua. 
It certainly is not reasonable that the mother can influence the 
foetus at such a time and under such anatomical conditions. And 
yet modern experimental embryology, above quoted, proves that 
the causes of foetal abnormalities have their origin in that period 
of embryonic life while the embryo is still homogeneous blastema. 
After the formation of the placenta these protective conditions still obtain, for the vessels of the cord and placenta haVe no vaso- 
motor nerves, thus effectually shutting off the injurious influences 
of the mental perturbations of the mother, which might otherwise 
act injuriously on the foetus. 
Facts are also strongly confirmatory of this theoretical reason- 
ing, as instance the great frequency of mental impressions of the 
and the rarity of any sort of deformity. 
Dr. Fisher, who has made it a rule to inquire of women regard- 
ing their apprehensions of deformity of their offspring previous to 
confinement, found the larger number of 1,200 cases expressed 
their fear of such a result, and frequently specified the circumstan- 
ces and the nature of the deformity. And yet only three cases of 
any sort of deformity occurred in the entire number, and these 
could in no way verify the mother’s predictions. He justly adds 
that “ all the countless longings of these sixty score and more of 
pregnant women, their excited imaginations, their shocks from 
objects of disgust and terror, all the hare lips, the wounds, the 
armless or legless men they saw, the cats and dogs or other beasts 
they encountered, were powerless to produce a single case of mal- 
formation.”—Am. Jour, of Insanity, January, 1870” 
William Hunter, the justly celebrated author of “ The Anatomy 
of the Gravid Uterus,” made inquiry of 2,000 cases. “In no 
case did a single coincidence of mental emotion and a correspond- 
ing abnormal development occur in all his observations.” 
But it is to comparative embryology that we must look for the 
most conclusive evidence, for it is now settled by indisputable 
proofs that every known form of monstrosity found in the human 
race has its analogue and even occurs more frequently in the 
lower animals, birds, fishes and reptiles. Now, if we ascribe such 
abnormalities in the lower animals to impressions made on the 
brain of the mother, the argument here ceases. For we know it 
matters little whether the hen hatches her own eggs, or a duck, 
goose, dog, cat, or even artificial heat, perform the same office. 
Chickens will always be the result. 
Again, in the case of the eggs of fish, embryonic development 
goes on without any reference to the female which deposited them, 
provided the required heat, light, etc., be acting. And in both the eggs of fish and fowl thus incubated are developed all of the 
known types of monstrous formation occurring in man. 
If such deviations from the normal states obtain in fish and 
fowl under circumstances precluding maternal influences, how is 
it possible to ascribe them to such influences when occurring in 
the human race ?