GENERATIVE SYSTEM. 293 



more irregularly disposed than those of the former. These pli- 

 cations are nothing but a continuation of the common integu- 

 ments disposed after this manner to admit of the projection and 

 erection of the penis — a state in which they, together with their 

 corrugations, are extended and annihilated ; though the skin 

 composing them is of a kind remarkable for its fineness and soft- 

 ness of texture, for its black or marbled complexion, and for the 

 excretory pores of myriads of little subjacent glands, which are 

 so closely packed that it is hardly possible to introduce the point 

 of the scalpel through it without penetrating one or more of them. 

 These involutions of skin are supported in their corrugated form 

 and connected to the body of the penis by an interposed stratum 

 of cellular substance, which is so loose and abundant as to 

 readily admit of their sliding over each other, and of the penis 

 being protracted and retracted with the greatest facility. 



Rejiection. — From the inner plication the skin is reflected upon 

 the penis, extending forward and giving a complete covering to 

 the part named the glans penis. This part exhibits a very re- 

 markable corrugated aspect, which I cannot resemble to' any 

 thing so nearly as to the leaf of a curled cabbage : its cellular 

 substratum is shorter and more condensed than that of tlie 

 sheath, it not being designed to be protracted beyond the penis ; 

 and, like the inner plication, it is destitute of those glands with 

 which the outer is so thickly studded. 



The glandu/te odorij'erce are numberless little brown follicular 

 bodies set in the internal part of the outer vaginal fold, for the 

 purpose of discharging a white caseous matter through their ex- 

 cretory pores upon the surface. This secretion, which has a 

 peculiar odour, preserves the sensibility of the parts, and facilitates 

 their slipping backward and forward. It is occasionally found 

 collected in considerable masses between the outer and inner pli- 

 cations, even, it has been said, so as to plug the orifice of the 

 urethra, and cause retention of urine : knowing this, will put us 

 upon our guard, and lead us to inspect the part in cases where 

 the cause of retention is not very apparent. The surfaces 

 covered by the inner plication are lubricated by a mucous se- 

 cretion. 



Cul-de-sac. — There is yet another involution of the skin. This 

 takes place at the extremity of the organ, where a little cul-de- 

 sac is formed, in the centre of which protrudes the end of the 

 urethra, a part also covered by a reflection of this thin, hairless, 

 corrugated integument. Around the end of the urethra is a little 

 recess, partially divided into two chambers, commonly contain- 

 ing concreted masses of a peculiar unctuous secretion ; the use 

 of which excavation is not very apparent. 



