AND FAMILY DISPENSATORY. 
blood which flows in the firt act of coition. 
93 
That there is fuch a thing is not 
to be doubted ; it was the legal fign of a virgin among the ancient Hebrews, as 
Mofes has at large declared, Deut. 22. Secondly, it was a received and known thing 
in all the eaftern countries, as Leo Africanus affirms ; and the greateft anatomifts 
conclude, that in virgins who have ufed no violence to the part, nor have it fretted, 
eaten, or broken, by any defluxion of fharp humours, it is never wanting. What 
it is, we now come to enquire into: firft, fome fay, it is a tranfverfe membrane, and 
they are indeed in the right: but they who would have holes in it, like a fieve, are 
deceived. Secondly, others fay, it isa tranfverfe membrane, going acrofs the neck 
of the womb, a little above the neck of the bladder, which refifts the firft entrance 
of the penis. Thirdly, Sebizius faith, that if this membrane is abfent, we mult reft 
in the ftraightnefs of the neck and other marks, which being widened in the firft 
coition, pain and effufion of blood follow, by reafon of the folution of the continuity, 
Fourthly, Severinus Pinzus (whofe opinion is the newelt of all) faith, that the four 
myrtle-fhaped caruncles, tied together by a {mall membrane, placed in the outer 
part of the neck of the womb, is the true hymen fo much fought after ; and without 
doubt Pinzus is in theright: to this Baubinus agrees ; and Bartholinus faith, that 
he could find no other in a young girl carefully diffected. It is fituate in the neck 
of the womb, juft behind the infertion of the neck of the bladder, or a little more 
inwards: but its fituation does now and then vary a little: there this membrane 
‘oes acrofs the cavity, much like the diaphragma, or midriff. As to its figure, 
it has an hole in its middle, big enough to receive a pea, by which the menitrual 
blood paffes: if it be without any hole, fo that the courles cannot flow, mace 
come difeafes, and (if it be not opened) at laft death. It is connected orbicularly 
to the neck of the womb, as if it grew out of the fame, where it is thicker 
than in the middle: its fubftance is partly membranous, partly flefhy, yet ee 
very thick: it is interlaced with many little veins, which being “yan a as 
firft coition, pain and bloodthed follow, even as they do in fome men, where t! : 
freenum or bridle of the penis (being exceeding fhort and ftraight) z Nhs s ter 
afunder. Its ufe is to defend the internal parts from injury ; as alfo Shee - si 
¥ iy. ye ° iC 
saga is the external privity, which is that which offers ittelf to fight bein ‘ 
diffection being located under the fore-region of the os pubis. The nik as salma 
ee et | BREE ayrtle-fhaped caruncles, the orifice Bee 
internal parts are the wrinkled chinks, the four my the wings, Ge 
Bo itnric ° 3 external parts are the w 
of the urinal paffage; and the clitoris: the more he wrinkled and inwanil 
lips, the great chink, and the pubes, or hairy part. T mg re 
is the immediate mouth of the larger ag the womb, lying Sea 
3. 
