superfetation, superfœtation

[SuPERFETATE.] 1. Lit. & Forensic Medicine: The conception of a second embryo during the gestation of the first; the products of the two conceptions being born together or at different times. Early authorities were strongly convinced that superfetation was not only po ible, but common, and though in the prescases are quoted of which it is claimed that no other explanation than superfetation is po ible. Woodman & Tidy ( Forensic Medicine, p. 819) suggest that many of these may be accounted for by the fact that the uterus is sometimes found to be double, and in others they doubt the accuracy of the recorded observations; adding: "There is a residuum of unexplained cases, and without pronouncing formally in favor of the doctrine of superfœtation, we must admit that it is difficult to explain some of the recorded facts on any other supposition than that a second impregnation took place, while the uterus or womb contained one ovum or fœtus partially developed." superficies *sü'-per-fiçe, s. [Fr. superficie .] A surface; a superficies (q. v.). "Then if it rise not to the former height Of super fice , conclude that soil is light." Dryden: Virgil , Georgic ii. 316. sū-per-fic-ial (cas sh), *su-per-fi-ci-all, adj. [ Fr.superficiel , from Lat. superficial is .] 1. Lit.: Pertaining to or lying on the superficies or surface; not penetrating below the surface; not sinking deep "From these phenomena several have concluded some general rupture in the superficial parts of the earth."Burnet: Theory of the Earth. 2. Fig .: Reaching or comprehending only what is obvious or apparent; not deep, profound, or penetrating; not learned or thorough; shallow. "His knowledge both of the Church which he quitted and of the Church he entered was of the most superficial kind."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch. vii. superficial-deposits, s. pl. Geology: Deposits on or near the surface of the ground, and belonging to the recent period, as vegetable soil, gravel, clay, peat (q. v.), . [RECENT, II.] superficial-fascia, s. Anatomy: The layer of loose ti ue, of varying density, immediately below the skin in every part of the body. It contains the subcutaneous fat, and in some places superficial muscles. Called also the Subcutaneous fascia. sü-per-fic-ial-Ist (c as sh), s . [Eng. super ficial ; -ist.] One who attends to anything super. ficially; one who has only a superficial knowledge in, or acquaintance with, anything; a sciolist, a smatterer.