290 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



the bladder, and a considerable suppression of urine in conse- 

 quence of it, brought on by the indiscreet use of the Balsam of 

 Copaiba. Their operation in leucorrhoea can only depend on 

 some degree of inflammation being communicated by the urinary 

 passage to the neighbouring system of the uterus. 



" Under the genus Menorrhagia, I have set down the title 

 of Abortus. I find, that with regard to this, I cannot arrive at 

 such clearness as I could wish : I find the whole theory of preg- 

 nancy involved in a great deal of obscurity, and therefore we 

 cannot clearly perceive on what circumstance its subsistence or 

 occasional interruption may depend. I shall, however, give you 

 some of my views and conjectures upon the subject : I imagine 

 that the causes of abortion may be referred to two general heads. 



" The first are such as occasion a separation of the placenta 

 and uterus, in consequence of some defect in the afflux of blood 

 from the uterus to the placenta, and again from the foatus to 

 placenta and uterus. For the purpose of pregnancy, the vessels 

 of the uterus suffer a considerable dilatation, especially in such 

 parts as are to be immediately joined with the placenta : Now 

 in certain conditions, analogous to the Emansio mensium in the 

 unimpregnated state, the flow of blood into these vessels may be 

 interrupted by the deprivation of a considerable quantity of 

 blood, in consequence of any considerable evacuation or hse- 

 morrhagy in other parts of the system, and particularly from 

 some excess in venesection. The mutual inosculation of the 

 vessels of the uterus and of the placenta, may also be destroyed 

 by a spasmodic constriction in the extremities of the vessels of 

 the uterus, induced by fever, &c., from which a separation of 

 these vessels from those of the placenta may occur. On the 

 other hand, certain conditions and faults in the state of the 

 foetus may interrupt the due return of blood from the foatus to 

 the placenta, whereby the inosculation between the latter and 

 the uterus may cease. 



" The second head of the causes of Abortion may be referred 

 to every circumstance which increases to an undue degree the 

 impetus of the blood in the vessels of the uterus, in consequence 

 of which a rupture in the communicating vessels ensues, and 

 the blood is poured out into the cavity of the uterus, in conse- 



