AND PREGNANCY. 363 



581. The uterus and foetus continuing- to increase 

 during the remaining five lunar months, the fundus of 

 the former reaches the umbilicus about the sixth month ; 

 after the eighth, having risen higher, it approaches the 

 scrobiculus cordis. In the mean time, the cervix is 

 gradually obliterated, flattened, and attenuated. 



582. In the tenth month, the uterus, overwhelmed, as 

 it were, with its own bulk, being eleven inches in 

 length and nine or more in breadth, begins to subside. 



Each decidua, but especially the reflexa adhering to 

 the chorion, having for many months been growing 

 thinner, now almost appears a net-work of short white 

 fibres.* 



The larger diameter of the placenta is now nine 

 inches ; its thickness one inch ; its weight one pound 

 or upwards. 



The length of the umbilical chord is generally eighteen 

 inches or more. 



The weight of a common full grown foetus is usually 

 seven pounds ; its length about twenty inches.-f- 



The quantity of the liquor amnii is too variable to be 

 defined ; but when the foetus is strong, it seldom ex- 

 ceeds a pound. 



* On the various appearances of the decidua during the latter half of preg- 

 nancy, consult W. Hunter, Anat. of the gravid uterus, tab. xxiv. fig. 3, 4. 

 tab. xxix. fig. 4, 5. comparing with these, tab. xxix. fig. 2. 



f- This weight and volume are remarkably large in proportion to the mother, 

 if compared with those of the offspring of many other mammalia. But, not- 

 withstanding this, woman is so far from producing the largest fetus in this 

 respect among the mammalia, that she is far surpassed by some, especially of 

 the bisulca. 



