Curiositates eroticae physiologiae, or, Tabooed subjects freely treated in six essays, viz : 1. generation. 2. chastity and modesty. 3. marriage. 4. circumcision. 5. eunuchism. 6. hermophrodism, and followed by a closing essay on death / by John Davenport.

  • Davenport, John, 1789-1877.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Curiositates eroticae physiologiae, or, Tabooed subjects freely treated in six essays, viz : 1. generation. 2. chastity and modesty. 3. marriage. 4. circumcision. 5. eunuchism. 6. hermophrodism, and followed by a closing essay on death / by John Davenport. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    that they are essential to the process of impregnation; but beyond this, and that their contact with the ovum is necessary for its development was, for some time, not known. This movement of the spermatozoa in many species of animals strongly resembles that of the tadpole. As to the spermatic fluid, there are several conditions which are essential to the successful accomplishment of the act of fecundation. First.—The spermatazoa must be present and in a state of active vitality. Secondly.—The spermatazoa must come into actual contact with the egg, or its immediate envelope. There is every reason to believe that the spermatazoon, at the time of impregnation, actually penetrates the interior of the egg, and thus comes into contact with the vitelluus. As to the modus operandi employed by different animals for perpetuating their species, a certain analogy undoubtedly exists, for notwithstanding the infinite variety which prevails throughout nature, the changes are never sudden or abrupt • but our ignorance upon the subject causes us almost con- tinually to take for proximate species those which, on the contrary, are far removed from each other. In fact, the variety of ways in which the different species of animals perform the generative act, is truly surprising. The impetuous bull, proud of his lustful vigour, delays not his joys by vain and tantalizing caresses, but rushes at once upon his favourite heifer, darts his organ of love into the receptacle destined to receive it, and deluges it with copious floods of the fecundating- fluid. The turtle-dove announces, by tender cooings, her amorous