Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/P 1546
Scientific nameBos taurus indicus
CollectionHunterian
CategoryWet preparations
Object nameGenitalia, Freemartinism, Morbid Anatomy of Monsters, Mounted wet tissue
DescriptionThe reproductive organs of a cow exhibiting the androgenous features of freemartinism.
The animal from which this specimen was taken was owned by a Mr Wright, but Hunter gives no further details of the owner.
The vagina can be seen to have terminated with a blind end only a short distance beyond the urethral opening. The uterus has divided into two horns, with testicles at the ends of these. The large size of these identities them as testicles rather than ovaries. Two bags behind the bladder and uterus can be seen to open into the vagina, although they are recorded as not being similar to vasa deferentia. The clitoris is similar to that seen in the cow, while the udder was noted as small.
Production date Estimated 1760 - Estimated 1793
Preparator
Owner/user
Owner/user
presented
Related objectsRCSSC/HDB/3/1/840A/1RCSSC/HDB/3/1/840A/2RCSSC/HDB/3/1/840C/1RCSSC/HDB/3/1/840B/1RCSSC/HDB/3/1/840B/2
Physical Location
LocationNot on public display: contact museum for access conditions
Physical Information
Physical descriptionWet preparation of tissue mounted in a cuboid perspex container.
Materialperspex
Bos taurus
Dimensions
Whole height: 750 mm
Whole width: 219 mm
Whole depth: 118 mm
Whole weight: 21800 g
Whole width: 219 mm
Whole depth: 118 mm
Whole weight: 21800 g
Bibliography
SourceProger 1966-1972
Vol. 2, pages 238-9.
TranscriptThe reproductive system of 'Mr Wright's Free Martin, five years old'.
Hunter's description of this animal is as follows:
"This animal had more the appearance and general character of the ox, or spayed heifer, than of either the bull or cow. The vagina terminated in a blind end, a little way beyond the opening of the urethra, from which the vagina and uterus were impervious. The uterus, at its extreme part, divided into two horns. At the termination of the horns were placed the testicles, instead of the ovaria, as in the case in the female. The reasons why I call these bodies testicles are the following. First, they were about twenty times larger than the ovaria of the cow, and nearly the size of the testicles of the bull, or rather of those of the ridgil, the bull whose testicles never come down. Secondly, the spermatic arteries were similar to those of the bull, especially of the ridgil. Thirdly, the cremaster muscle passed up from the rings of the abdominal muscles to the testicles, as it does in the ridgil. There were the two bags placed behind, between the bladder and the uterus. Their ducts opened into the vagina, a very little way beyond the opening of the urethra; but there was nothing similar to the vasa deferentia. As the external parts had more of the cow than the bull, the clitoris, which may be reckoned an external part, was also similar to that of the cow, not at all in a middle state, between the penis of the bull and the clitoris of the cow, as I have described in the hermaphrodite horse. There were four teats: the glandular part of the udder was but small. This animal cannot be said to have been a mixture of all the parts of both sexes, for the clitoris had nothing similar to the penis in the male, and it was deficient in the female parts, by having nothing similar to the ovaria; neither had the uterus a cavity."
SourceHunter 'Works'
Vol. 4, page 41.
NotesMr Wright's Free Martin, five years old. Also in Proger 1966-72
TranscriptThis animal had more the appearance and general character of the ox, or spayed heifer, than of either the bull or cow. The vagina terminated in a blind end, a little way beyond the opening of the urethra, from which the vagina and uterus were impervious. The uterus, at its extreme part, divided into two horns. At the termination of the horns were placed the testicles, instead of the ovaria, as in the case in the female. The reasons why I call these bodies testicles are the following. First, they were about twenty times larger than the ovaria of the cow, and nearly the size of the testicles of the bull, or rather of those of the ridgil, the bull whose testicles never come down. Secondly, the spermatic arteries were similar to those of the bull, especially of the ridgil. Thirdly, the cremaster muscle passed up from the rings of the abdominal muscles to the testicles, as it does in the ridgil.
There were the two bags placed behind, between the bladder and the uterus. Their ducts opened into the vagina, a very little way beyond the opening of the urethra; but there was nothing similar to the vasa deferentia.
As the external parts had more of the cow than the bull, the clitoris, which may be reckoned an external part, was also similar to that of the cow, not at all in a middle state, between the penis of the bull and the clitoris of the cow, as I have described in the hermaphrodite horse. There were four teats: the glandular part of the udder was but small. This animal cannot be said to have been a mixture of all the parts of both sexes, for the clitoris had nothing similar to the penis in the amle, and it was deficient in the female parts, by having nothing similar to the ovaria; neither had the uterus a cavity.
