CHAP. XII.
Of the SECUNDINE, or AFTER-BIRTH.
THE SECUNDINE is a thick carnous Mass, of a soft vasculous Substance, compos’d of the maternal Menstrua; which waxes upon the outside of the Chorion in proportion with the Growth of the Foetus; encreasing (as the Waters do) together with the Infant. It is also called the Womb-Cake, or Placenta Uterina; but most commonly the Woman’s AFTER-BIRTH.
IT is call’d Placenta, because of its flat circular Figure, resembling a pretty thick round Cake; being about eight Inches Diameter, and one Thick; a little thicker in the Middle, where the Umbilical Vessels are fixed, than at the Edges.
ITS thickest spongious Part (properly call’d the Placenta) adheres to the Bottom of the Womb by innumerable Vessels, and the Interposition of a very thin Membrane, which is a Continuation of the Chorion.
ITS Concave Part towards the Infant, is join’d to the Navel-String, and encompass’d with a smooth Membrane, which it derives from the Chorion and Amnion.
THE Vessels terminating in the Navel-String, are inserted at one End, almost in the Center of the Placenta; as the other End adheres to the Navel of the Infant.
THE SECUNDINE is rough and unequal on the Outside, and smooth and soft on the Inside; and cannot be extracted, without breaking the mentioned Vessels: From hence an Effusion of Humours and Fluxion of Blood always follows it; which (according to the Woman’s State of Health) is of a fairer, or darker, red Colour.
THE Use of the SECUNDINE, is to receive and absorb the Nutritious Juice from the Womb; (as the Intestines imbibe the Chyle) which it afterwards transmits to the Infant, by the Umbilical Vein.
IN Case of Twins, or more Children, if conceived at one Time, they have but one common SECUNDINE, (notwithstanding the contrary Opinion of others) which adheres to the Fund of the Womb, by the Placenta, as above: Wherefore I must needs reject the Testimony of such Midwives, who give out that they have found the SECUNDINE, fix’d to any other Part of the Womb; tho’ I experimentally know, that it is sometimes found in the Hinder Part near the Loins, sometimes in the Forepart, sometimes near the Diaphragma, sometimes in the Right, and sometimes in the Left Side.
BUT however, we should be grossly mistaken, if from hence, we did conclude, that the SECUNDINE adher’d to any other Part, than the Bottom of the Womb: Since such erroneous Apprehensions are merely occasion’d by the various Motion, or oblique Position of the Womb; as hereafter will appear more at large.