336 GENERATION. 



who experience an orgasm fully as intense as that which 

 accompanies ejaculation in the male. There is, therefore, 

 the important difference in the sexes, that preliminary ex- 

 citement and an orgasm are necessary to the performance of 

 the generative act in the male, but are not essential in the 

 female. Still, there can be scarcely a doubt but that vene- 

 real excitement in the female facilitates conception, other 

 conditions being favorable. 



The first intercourse in the female is usually more or less 

 painful, on account of rupture of the hymen, and the external 

 organs are unduly sensitive until the j)arts are healed. After 

 this, if there be a preliminary excitement, there is a certain 

 amount of erection of the clitoris, which corresponds to the 

 penis, and of the erectile bulbs situated at the vaginal ori- 

 fice. There is also an increase in the secretions about these 

 parts, and even an ejaculation from two glands opening near 

 the labia minora, called the glands of Bartholinus, which 

 correspond to the glands of Cowper in the male. How far 

 the internal erectile parts participate at this time, it is dif- 

 ficult to determine. By the friction against the clitoris, 

 which, at its maximum of erection, is directed toward the 

 axis of the vagina, against the vaginal walls, and probably, 

 also, by the contact of the glans penis with the neck of 

 the uterus, the excitement of the. female increases, the ves- 

 sels of the vagina become turgid, the secretion of mucus 

 by the external organs becomes abundant, and this finally 

 culminates in an orgasm, similar to that experienced by the 

 male, with a farther increase in the secretion of the glands 

 at the vaginal orifice. As we have stated in our history of 

 the discharge of the ovum from the Graafian follicle, this 

 congestion and excitement may hasten the rupture of a ripe 

 follicle in the human female, as it undoubtedly does in many 

 of the lower animals; but follicles certainly rupture inde- 

 pendently of coitus. There is a certain degree of lassitude 

 in the female following sexual intercourse, but this is usually 

 not so marked or so prolonged as in the male. 



