A mechanical and critical enquiry into the nature of hermaphrodites

In this eighteenth‑century scientific essay, a Royal Society fellow sets out to untangle the long‑standing mystery of human hermaphrodites. He begins with a concise history of legal cases, folklore, and earlier medical reports, then moves to a methodical critique of the prevailing belief that such a condition truly exists. The author’s tone is both modest and insistently rational, promising to strip away superstition with careful observation.

Organised into four parts, the work first lists reasons why a distinct hermaphrodital nature may be impossible, then surveys ancient and contemporary explanations, and finally compares the opinions of prominent scholars. Throughout, the writer relies on translated excerpts and his own dissection notes, introducing terms like “macroclitorideus” to bring precision to the discussion. Readers will hear a snapshot of early modern anatomy, philosophy, and the uneasy clash between tradition and emerging scientific method.