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.

Fig. Duplex. Ovum fœtiferum in receptaculo ovarico.

Uterus considerably enlarged, so as nearly to have reached the size which it is known to attain when bearing the produce of conception between three and four months. Its parietes thickened in proportion. The cavity free from either fluid or membrane, or indeed from any adventitious production.

The left ovarium presented a large swelling, which contained within its own outward covering an Ovum bearing a fœtus with all its appendages, of about four months’ growth. The ovarian covering burst in three places, and allowed the partial protrusion of the ovum, whereby the adhesion of the placenta to the inner surface of the ovarian envelope was torn asunder, and a sudden and fatal hemorrhage took place, which destroyed the life of both mother and child, and filled the cavity of the abdomen with blood.

The corresponding Fallopian tube was perfectly sound, and loose, particularly at its fimbriated extremity, which had no connection whatever with the embryoferous tumour in its neighbourhood. Like its fellow tube, it was pervious only from its loose extremity inwards to about half its length and no farther; nor were their uterine orifices discovered.

REFERENCES TO THIS PLATE.

A. The uterus enlarged. B, its cavity, with a section of its coats, a a, to exhibit their thickness; and b b, marking a cluster of enlarged vesicles in and about the inner cervix of the womb.

C, is the right ovarium, having a singular long thread-like appendix, c c, of a tendinous nature, which connected it with the neighbouring viscera.

D. The Fallopian tube of the same side turned and fastened to the womb by an adventitious band, the result no doubt of some previous inflammation. Had conception taken place in the right ovarium, the transmission of the ovulum through that tube could not have taken place.

E E. The ligamenta rotunda dissected and truncated. The broad ligaments were carefully removed, to free all the other parts from every species of obstruction that might impede a proper investigation of the nature of the case.

F. The Fallopian tube of the left side.

O O O. The left ovarium containing the fœtus.

P. Portion of the placenta visible.

1 2 3. The lacerations in the ovarian envelope, through which the Ovum protruded. The omentum had contracted adhesions with the tumour.