THE GENITAL ORGAXS OF THE FEMALE. 



999 



Fis: 5'^9. 



and pass to the abdominal subcutaneous vein ; capillaries form a rich network 

 around the alveoli. The lymphatics are very developed. (The nerves are 

 derived from the first lumbar pair.) 



Functions. — The mammae secrete the milk ; they undergo remarkable 

 modifications at puberty and at the end of each gestation— modifications which 

 are related not only to their volume and secretion, but also to their minute 

 structure. After gestation, the gland-vesicles shrink — become, as it were, 

 atrophied, and have only a polygonal epithelium. At the termination of gesta- 

 tion, they are enlarged, new vesicles are developed, and the epithelium changes 

 its character — filling the gland cavities, 

 assuming a spherical shape, and becoming 

 charged with fat-granules. The period of 

 lactation being completed, the mammae 

 assume their former character. ( In Mares 

 which have not been bred from, the 

 mammae are hard and small, the teats only 

 slightly prominent, and the glandular 

 tissue scanty. In old brood-mares, on th.' 

 contrary, they are flaccid and pendent, and 

 the teats somewhat lengthened. The milk 

 secreted by the mammary glands is a white 

 fluid, possessing a sweet taste, and com- 

 posed of an albuminous water containing 

 caseine in solution, milk sugar, salts, and 

 fatty matter in globules — the butter. 

 Usually a small quantity is secreted some 

 days before parturition ; that which is 

 yielded for a short time after that period 



— the colostrum — is rich in white corpuscles, and has purgative properties. The 

 colostrum is of a rich yellow colour, less fluid than the milk of a later period, 

 of a higher specific gravity, slightly acid, and containing large oil-globules, a few 

 irregular flakes — probably epithelium-scales — a little granular curd-like matter, 

 and a small number of granular corpuscles.) 



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MICROSCOPICAL APPEARANCE OF MILK, WITH 

 AN INTERMIXTURE OF COLOSTRIC CORPUS- 

 CLES AT a, a, AND ELSEWHERE. 



Differential Characters in the Female Genital Organs of the other Animals. 



Certain organs offer some differences worthy of notice, while others are formed as in 

 Solipeds. 



Ruminants. — Ovaries. — In the Cow, the ovaries are relatively much smaller than in tlie 

 Mare, but tlieir form and structure are identical. (Tlie Graatian vesicles are visible through 

 the tunica albiiginea.) 



Uterun. — The uterus of the Cow, compared with that of the i\Iare, offers but few differ- 

 ences with regard to its geutral disposition in tlie pelvic and abdominal cavities, except that 

 it is not so advanced in the latter. Su{)posing the uterus to be perfectly horizontal, a trans- 

 verse line drawn through the piaue of the abdomen, before the external angle of the ilium, is 

 exceeded by the extremity of the cornua from about 1^ to 2 inches ; so that if the animal were 

 on its back, the uterus would only be prolonged to the fourth or fifth lumbar vertebra. 



With regard to form, the uterus of the Cow presents a very remarkable disposition, which 

 it is necessary to note. The concave curvature of the cornua looks downwards, while in the 

 Mare it looks upwards; though in botli the sulilunibar ligaments are attached to this con- 

 cavity. Therefore it is that in the Cow — if we consider the uterus as freely suspended in the 

 abdomen — tlie extremity of the ctirnua is twisted outwards and upwanls, while the base, 

 although drawn in the same direction by these ligaments, maintains its direction, because it 

 is in a manner fixed by the body of the uterus. The latter receives, like the cornua, the 



