Note 361 — Of Monsters and Hermaphrodites, legally considered.

By a decree of the magistracy this unfortunate woman was compelled to assume the dress of a male, and to change her name and character, in spite of her own feelings and inclinations; some time, however, after this event, she consulted Helvetius, who succeeded in completely curing the disease, and she was in consequence actually restored to her proper sex by a royal ordinance! So much for the value of that ultra medico-legal system which has distinguished some of the continental governments.