COITUS. 891 



onds time certainly, and in an instant all was as before ; the os had closed, the cervix 

 hardened, and the relation of the parts had become as before the orgasm. 



"Now I carefully questioned my patient as to the nature of the sensations experienced 

 by her at the period of excitement, and she was positive that they were the same in quali- 

 ty as they ever were during coition, even before the occurrence of the prolapse ; but ad- 

 mits that they were not exactly the same in quantity, believing that during coition the 

 orgasm had lasted longer, although not at all or in any respect different as to sensation. 

 I had almost forgotten to make mention of the intense congestion of the parts during the 

 'crisis,' and introduce the statement here." 



Certainly, the description we have just quoted is sufficiently graphic, and the mechan- 

 ism of the penetration of spermatozoids into the uterus, if this be the action of the cervix 

 during an orgasm, seems simple enough; but it cannot explain fecundation, when it 

 occurs, as it undoubtedly may, without orgasm. In physiological literature, we find a 

 number of allusions to a suction force exerted by the uterus during coitus, but this is moat 

 frequently stated as of possible or probable occurrence, without being sustained by any 

 positive observations. Still, as early as 1846, we find a direct observation, recorded by 

 Litzmann, as follows : 



" I myself lately had the opportunity, in an internal exploration of a young and very 

 erethistic female, of observing that suddenly the uterus assumed a more perpendicular 

 position, was drawn more deeply into the pelvis, the lips of the os uteri immediately 

 became separated, the os became rounded, softer and accessible to the finger, and imme' 

 diately the highest sexual excitement was betrayed by the respiration and voice." 



In considering the mechanism of the penetration of spermatozoids into the uterus, it 

 is also necessary to take into account the secretions, particularly of the mucous glands at 

 the neck. Most writers of the present day admit that, during the height of the orgasm, 

 there is an ejaculation from the uterus of a small amount of alkaline mucus. That an 

 erection of the cervix, followed by sudden relaxation and opening of the os, may occur, 

 cannot be doubted, and there is no evidence of a muscular action in the uterus sufficient 

 to project this fluid forcibly, as the semen is discharged by the male. Assuming that the 

 views just stated be correct, we can readily understand how the neck may be erected and 

 hardened during the orgasm, extruding an alkaline mucus, that the semen is ejaculated 

 forcibly toward the uterus and becomes mixed with the mucus, and that the sudden 

 relaxation of the cervix and opening of the os may exert a force of aspiration and thus 

 draw in the fecundating elements. Certain it is that spermatozoids may be found in the 

 mucus of the cervix a very short time after coitus. It is possible, also, that a sexual con- 

 nection may be occasionally even more intimate, and that a portion of the glans penis 

 may be actually embraced by the dilated cervix, though this must be unusual. This 

 latter idea of the establishment of a "continuous canal" during intercourse is one that 

 was advanced by many of the older writers. 



Quite a strong argument in favor of the view that the spermatozoids are imprisoned, 

 as it were, in the cervical mucus soon after ejaculation, is the fact that vaginal injections 

 immediately after intercourse, which are frequently resorted to to prevent conception, 

 often fail to produce the desired result, even when they are so thorough : ;s t<> wash out 

 the vagina completely. 



While we must accept as probable the view that the uterus may draw into tl, 

 an alkaline mucus previously ejaculated, and with it a certain amount of seminal tl 

 the fact that conception may take place without orgasm on the part of the female, ninl 

 even without complete penetration of the male organ, shows that the action i 

 described is not absolutely essential, and that the semen may find it- way into the i 

 in some other way, which it is certainly very difficult to explain. 



Course of tlte Spermatozoids tlirougli the Female Genemtire ftttoptt. Th< 

 tozoids, once within the cervix uteri, and in contact with the alkaline mucus, w 



