Teratogenesis; An Inquiry Into the Causes of Monostrosities. History of the Theories of the Past - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III. CAUSES Or MONSTROSITIES J THEORIES OF THE PAST (concluded)'. MENTAL INFLUENCE. Doubtless some modern writers may be inclined to cavil at the position which is here assigned to the theory of the influence of the maternal imagination in teratogenesis, for it is placed with the notions of the past, and not with those of the present. But I think that the arrangement is warranted, for it must be admitted that the theory of maternal (or paternal) mental influence as originally enunciated is indefensible. At the same time, the belief has a modern side, infinitely less repulsive to the scientific sense of inquiry; this side has, I believe, a just claim to credit. The hypothesis as originally stated is, I humbly think, untenable; it is truly a theory of the past. In its modern form, and with certain limitations to be referred to later, it is both tenable and credible; in this sense it can be properly termed a theory of the present. Still, when reference is made to the maternal impression theory in teratogenesis, probably there is scarcely any one who thinks, of it in any sense save in that old and extravagant one which demands belief in an absolute similarity between the thing producing the impression and the defect or anomaly resulting therefrom. In its generally accepted and classic sense, therefore, the hypothesis is of the past; but, like others of these ancient doctrines, it has its less widely known but vastly more reasonable modern development. In accordance with these circumstances, it has been placed among the theories of the past, but in juxtaposition with those of the present. As will be made abundantly evident when the history of the belief in maternal impressions comes under consideration, the notion is one of great antiquity; but it may ...