890 GENERATION. 



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 difficult 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 vessels 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 account 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 un- 

 doubtedly does in many of the lower animals ; but follicles certainly rupture indepen- 

 dently 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. 



The most important physiological point in this connection is with regard to the prob- 

 able action of the internal organs of the female during sexual excitement. We have al- 

 ready studied what has been described as the erectile tissue of the uterus and ovaries. 

 Whether this be or be not a true erectile tissue, seems to be rather a question of defini- 

 tion. The blood-vessels certainly have an erectile arrangement; still, they are not 

 enclosed by those distinct, fibrous trabeculse which are observed in the penis. In the 

 body of the uterus and in the ovaries, the idea of erection during sexual excitement 

 rests simply upon anatomical descriptions and artificial distention of the vessels after 

 death, and the parts cannot be investigated during life ; but it is different with the neck 

 of the uterus, as we shall see farther on ; and, upon this point, we may refer to a very 

 remarkable paper, by Dr. Joseph R. Beck (8t. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal, 1872J, 

 which is interesting from the fact that a somewhat similar observation was made by 

 Litzmann, in 1846. We do not vouch for the accuracy of the observations by Dr. Beck, 

 but, when we consider that it has been positively demonstrated that spermatozoids find 

 their way to the surface of the ovaries, we can appreciate the importance of observations 

 with regard to the action of the internal organs during coitus. 



August 11, 1872, Dr. Beck was called to see a lady, thirty-two years of age, of ner- 

 vous temperament, blonde, married eight years, with one child, a son, living and seven 

 years old. She had an abortion six years before, and has suffered from symptoms indi- 

 cating uterine disease ever since. She commenced to menstruate at the age of fourteen. 

 Examination with the finger showed that the os uteri was just inside the vulva, and 

 Mclntosh's stem-pessary was introduced. The rest of the history, as the observation is 

 so remarkable, we quote in full : 



" Calling at the residence of the patient next day, for the purpose of adjusting the 

 uterine supporter, I made an examination by the touch, and upon introducing my finger 

 between the pubic arch and the anterior lip of the prolapsed cervix, I was requested by 

 her to be very careful in manipulating those parts, as she was very prone, by reason of 

 her passionate nature, to have the sexual orgasm produced by a very slight contact of the 

 finger. Indeed, she stated that this had more than once occurred to her, when making 

 digital investigation of herself. Here then was an opportunity never before offered any 

 one to my knowledge, and one not to be lost on any consideration. Carefully separating 

 the vulvaa with my left hand, so that the os uteri was brought clearly into view in a 

 strong light, I swept the right forefinger across the cervix twice or three times, when 

 almost immediately the orgasm occurred, and the following is what was presented to my 

 view: 



"The os and cervix uteri had been firm, hard, and generally in a normal condition, 

 with the os closed so as not to admit the uterine probe without difficulty ; but immedi- 

 ately the os opened to the extent of fully an inch, made five or six successive gasps, draw- 

 ing the external os into the cervix each time powerfully, and at the same time becoming 

 quite soft to the touch. All these phenomena occurred within the space of twelve sec- 



