GENERATIVE SYSTEM. 303 



part with the situation of vvliich we cannot be too famiUar, as 

 upon such knowledge will principally depend our skill in passing 

 the catheter. The conduit — the meatus — into which it leads is 

 about two inches in length; and its course is downward and for- 

 ward : it is surrounded below by the muscular fasciculi of the 

 vagina, and covered above by its lining membrane. The instru- 

 ment therefore (which should have more curve than is commonly 

 given to it) must be introduced so as to follow this oblique direc- 

 tion, which will be accomplished by elevating the handle of it as 

 soon as the point is pushed into the meatus. The orifice of the 

 meatus is guarded by a doubling of the vaginal membrane, hang- 

 ing over it like a curtain, and serving the purpose of a valve. 

 Care must be taken to elevate this by means of the instrument ; 

 or, should there be any difficulty experienced in doing this, the 

 left hand may be carried per vaginam to the part itself as an 

 assistant. 



The large and conspicuous cauliflower protuberance at the 

 bottom of the vagina, is the cervix uteri: it will be described 

 with the uterus. 



OF THE UTERUS. 



The uterus or womb is a hollow, musculo-membranous organ, 

 imited to the anterior part of the vagina, destined for the recep- 

 tion of the fruits of impregnation. 



Figure and Volume. — The uterus of the mare is one of striking 

 and peculiar figure. Its bodij (which is the bulky, oblong part) 

 bifurcates anterioily into two coruua or horns. I hardly know 

 what the whole is like in figure, unless the vagina be taken with 

 it, and then (m a mare that has never been fecundated) the tout 

 ensemble very much resembles an insect of the beetle tribe : the 

 vagina representing the bottle or body ; the uterus, the head and 

 neck ; and the cornua, the horns. But, during the period of 

 gestation, the womb undergoes an almost incredible augmentation 

 in volume ; and it never afterwards recovers either its identical 

 original form or virgin state of contraction. 



Division. — We distinguish in the uterus, bodi/, harm, neck, and 

 mouth. 



The body is the oblong or cylindrical part, growing out of 

 the anterior portion of the vagina, into the centre of whose cavity 

 it is presenting its posterior termination, the os uteri, while it is 

 giving origin in front to the horns. Its upper and under surfaces 

 are convex, and most prominent towards the middle ; its corners 

 or angles are round, it being evidently formed altogether for the 

 purpose of giving capaciousness within. This part of the uterus 



