PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. 4^9 



the other, Vater and Albinus, have 

 painted the uterus as oval ; and Nortwyk 

 has reprefented it flat at top : But, as all 

 thefe three gentlemen's figures were done 

 from wombs which were previoufly taken 

 out of the body, we can form no judg- 

 ment of the fliape of the womb from 

 rheir draughts ; becaufe. when the uterus 

 is taken out of the body, it afFumes a dif- 

 ferent Ihape, according to the manner in, 

 which it is laid down. In Mr Hunter's 

 elegant figure, which was taken from the 

 uterus in fitu, the womb is more oblong 

 than in mine. And, in two other pregt 

 pant womenlfaw diireded, the one feven, 

 and the other four months gone with 

 child, the uterus was in both more glo- 

 bular than in the prefent fubjed. PoP- 

 fibly the figure of the womb may gradu» 

 ally become more oval, as the woman ap- 

 proaches to her time. The part likewife 

 to which the placenta adheres, or the dif- 

 ferent fituation of the child, may caufe 

 great variety here. 



The ftrong outer membrane and cel- 

 lular one immediately within it, did not 



feem 



