IMPOTENCE AND STERILITY OF THE MALE. WHERE the hindrance to cohabitation arises from organic defect, congenital malformation, or diseases of some of the organs of generation, the disqualification may generally be considered absolute or irremediable. It is remarkable, however, to what extent mutilation or disease may occur, without total annihilation of the procreative powers; the smallest remnant of the penis, for instance, capable of entering the vagina, provided the testes be sound, being sufficient for impregnation. A learned lecturer on medical jurisprudence gives it as his opinion, that the smallest quantity of seminal discharge, deposited in the lower part of the female generative apparatus, _provided the female be apt to conceive_, is sufficient for impregnation: and it is astonishing how _minute_ a quantity of this plastic agent is necessary for that purpose in some species of creatures. Spallanzani took three grains by weight of the male fluid of the frog, and mixing it with seventeen ounces of water, found that impregnation of the eggs was produced by as much of this exceedingly weak mixture as would adhere to the point of a fine needle. Although, in human formation, it is not essentially necessary that the male material should be deposited in the upper part of the vagina of the female, yet there is little doubt that the deeper entrance of this substance conduces to impregnation.[13] Malformation of the genital organs has already been stated as a cause of impotence. Such cases furnish much uneasiness at first, but are easily relievable. I have met with many instances, where consummation has been prolonged from months to years, which a slight knowledge of the functions of the parturient organs might have relieved in a few days; and with respect to the latter, it may be pardonable to mention that, as the husband should be the first to instruct his companion in what is to be expected, but little disappointment will be experienced, except with the vicious and unworthy. There is room for much ingenuity in these matters; and as marriages are made for better or worse, there exist powerful inducements to resort to the contrivances of the ingenious and humane. The following case of malformation fell under my own observation; the adjoining delineation is a true picture of the circumstance. [Illustration]