Graphic illustrations of abortion and the diseases of menstruation / Consisting of Twelve Plates from Drawings Engraved on Stone, and Coloured by Mr. J. Perry, and Two Copper-plates from the Philosophical Transactions, Coloured by the Same Artist. the Whole Representing Forty-five Specimens of Aborted Ova and Adventitious Productions of the Uterus, With Preliminary Observations, Explanations of the Figures and Remarks, Anatomical and Physiological.

Figura unica. Ovum fœcundum in receptaculo ovarico.

Through a transversal aperture in the left Ovarium we see the remains of some membranes, three in number at the least, lining a cavity which measures transversely one inch and a quarter, and about an inch vertically.

The membrane in contact with the parietes of the cavity is pulpy—the other membranes are better weaved and clothy. The cavity itself seems to occupy nearly the entire volume of the ovarium, which is enlarged to nearly four times the size of the right ovarium. The fallopian tube corresponding to the enlarged ovarium, is not in the least involved in that enlargement, although it is adhering to the periphery of its ovarium by a portion of the fimbriated end,—the fimbriæ, however, being left free. We have neither disease nor enlargement in the ovarium and fallopian tube of the right side.

The uterus is larger than in the unimpregnated state. Nevertheless, its triangular cavity does not appear to have enlarged, in proportion to the general increase of volume, which is rather due to a thickening of its walls. Amorphous and flocculent depositions, in very moderate quantity, occupy a portion of that cavity. They are not membraniform.

No filiform vessels are to be seen or detected on any of the three linings of the Ovaric cavity.

REMARKS.

Sir Charles Clarke, who was kind enough to accompany me to the museum of St. George’s Hospital very lately, and who greatly admires the present drawing of his preparation^[28], assured me, that a small embryo hung pendulous from the yet visible rudiment of an umbilical cord. That embryo, however, is not now to be seen. Sir Charles also stated that the case which furnished this specimen was that of an unmarried female, who acknowledged herself to be pregnant, and who died from a natural disorder. On examining the uterine system after death, with a view to ascertain the state of the parts under the presumed condition of impregnation, the appearances portrayed in this plate presented themselves to view,—certainly of sufficient interest to be preserved.

Sir Charles does not recollect any account being published of the Case; nor any other particulars.