ACTION OF THE FEMALE. 967 



972. It cannot now be doubted that the maturation and discharge of ova 

 from the Ovaries is, in the Human female, and in Mammalia in general, an 

 operation quite as independent of conception, and even of sexual intercourse, as 

 it is in those animals in which the ova are fertilized out of the body - 1 and it is 

 no longer considered essential, therefore, that the seminal fluid should reach 

 the ovarium in order to effect the fertilization of the ova, since this end may be 

 answered by the contact of the two in the Fallopian tubes, or even in the Uterus 

 itself. From the experiments of Bischoff, however, it appears that in rabbits, 

 bitches, and probably in most other Mammalia, sexual union usually takes place 

 previously to the escape of the ova from the ovary, and that sufficient time 

 often elapses for the seminal fluid to reach the ovary before their extrusion 

 occurs ; in such cases, therefore, it would seem probable that fecundation is 

 effected at the ovary itself. That such occasionally happens in the Human 

 female seems to be unequivocally proved by the occurrence of tubal or even 

 of ovarian foetation ; the ovum having received the fertilizing influence imme- 



' I. There is no prominence or enlargement of the ovary over them.' 



This is manifestly incorrect, for the corpora lutea of menstruation often causes a notice- 

 able protuberance on the surface of the ovary. 



'II. The external cicatrix is almost always wanting.' According to Dr. Dalton's ob- 

 servations, an external cicatrix is always present in the corpus luteum of menstruation, 

 and, in fact, must necessarily be so, since these bodies result from the rupture of a vesicle, 

 in the same manner with the corpora lutea of pregnancy. 



4 III. There are often several of them found in both ovaries,' &c. This is, no doubt, 

 a very important distinction, since we never find more than one corpus luteum of preg- 

 nancy at a time, unless in cases of twins ; and then the two corpora lutea are evidently 

 of the same date, and have the same aspect, while the coexistent corpora lutea of men- 

 struation are usually in many different stages of retrogression. 



* IV. They present no trace whatever of vessels in their substance, of which they are, 

 in fact, entirely destitute, and, of course, cannot be injected.' 



According to the author's observations, the distribution of vessels in the two different 

 kinds of corpora lutea is the same. In both, the substance of the convoluted wall itself 

 is non-vascular ; and the vessels exist only in the interstices of the folds. This fact is 

 very easily demonstrated in a corpus luteum of menstruation when completely developed, 

 as the convolutions are here pretty easily separated from each other ; but, in the corpus 

 luteum of pregnancy, the new growth from the internal surface of the vesicle has been so 

 abundant, and the convolutions are consequently pressed so firmly together, that it is not 

 always easy to decide whether a section has divided the substance of the wall, or only by 

 accident passed between two convolutions ; particularly as we have not so strong a con- 

 trast in color, to assist us, between the yellow wall and red vessels, as exists in the corpus 

 luteum of menstruation. 



'V. Their texture is sometimes so infirm that it seems to be merely the remains of a 

 coagulum,' &c. This is frequently a good distinguishing mark. 



'VI. In figure they are often triangular, or square, or of some figure bounded by 

 straight lines.' This has already been seen to be an appearance frequently presented by 

 the corpus luteum of menstruation, at an advanced period of atrophy. 



' VII. They never present either the central cavity, or the radiated or stelliform white 

 line which results from its closure.' This last distinction is so exceedingly incorrect that it 

 is difficult to understand how it could have been laid down by such an observer as Dr. 

 Montgomery. The corpus luteum of menstruation always presents a central cavity, i. e., 

 a space included by the convoluted wall, which space is filled by a coagulum ; and, as the 

 whole yellow body becomes atrophied, the coagulum is transformed into a radiated^or 

 stelliform cicatrix, more or less colored with blood, according to the rapidity with which 

 the absorption of the hsematin has proceeded. 



There can be no doubt, therefore, of the existence of certain distinct and reliable marks 

 by which the corpus luteum may be recognized as a sign of pregnancy, and distinguished 

 from all other appearances, either morbid or physiological, to be met with in the ovary." 

 ED.] 



' Two cases in which Ovules, or their remains, were discovered in the Fallopian tubes 

 of Women who had died during the Menstrual period, under circumstances which entirely 

 precluded the idea of previous sexual intercourse, have been lately recorded by Dr. Letheby 

 ("Phil. Trans.," 1852, p. 57). 



