67 



to the subsequent expulsion of the entire ovum. But I notice this 

 point here more particularly, because, though interesting in a practi- 

 cal point of view, as showing how slight a circumstance, such as the 

 mere accidental point of reflection of a membrane, may in the pro- 

 gress of the case lead to serious or even fatal hcemorrhage, there is 

 yet this important inference fairly deducible from it, namely, that if 

 we can discover any accidental or obvious cause of abortion, which 

 is referrible to the condition of the mother, we need not in such cases 

 infer that any arrest of development of the embryo was the occasion 

 of its being expelled, and consequently we may look upon ova so ex- 

 pelled as healthy, and may regard them as affording good subjects 

 for observation. Such was the case in the present instance, and, 

 therefore, whatever appearance the embryo now before us presents, 

 these may be fairly regarded as exemplifying the normal conforma- 

 tion of an embryo of that period ; and its organs, though exhibiting a 

 condition of remarkable simplicity, may be inferred to be such as are 

 capable of maintaining embryonic life at that early period, and such 

 as would have sufficed for continued existence had not accident sud- 

 denly arrested their development. To such accident then, and to 

 such causes, by which the most obscure of nature's processes are 

 suddenly arrested in their course, and exposed to our view, are we 

 mainly indebted for all that we can learn of this interesting subject. 

 Not to dwell unnecessarily upon the description of the membranes 

 or investments of the embryo, I will only observe further, that the 

 chorion was covered on the greater part of its surface with well-deve- 

 loped branched processes, the largest of which measured about one 

 and a half line in length. By these, the outer membrane of the 

 ovum was firmly attached to the decidua, and the process of forma- 

 tion of the placenta appeared to be thus already commencing. The 

 intermediate space between these two membranes was filled by firmly 

 coagulated blood, in which the chorion villi were deeply imbedded ; 

 and though this was, probably, an abnormal condition, and, perhaps, 

 in some measure connected with the maternal hcemorrhage already 

 mentioned, the notice of the fact of the presence of blood in this 

 situation, in which it is abundantly found in a normal state at a sub- 

 sequent period, namely, in the site of the placenta, ought not, I con- 

 ceive, to be omitted. The mass of coagulated blood thus surrounding 

 the chorion, measured, in different parts, from four to five lines in 

 thickness. 



Entirely free within this, and suspended by a cord of no appreci- 

 able length, was the delicate embryo completely surrounded by the 



