634 DISCHARGE OF THE OVUM. 



mucous membrane, growing underneath the old, and ready to 

 take the place of the latter after its discharge. 



If the internal surface of the body of the uterus be examined 

 immediately after parturition, it will be seen that at the spot where 

 the placenta was attached, every trace of mucous membrane has 

 disappeared. The muscular fibres of the uterus are here perfectly 

 exposed and bare ; while the mouths of the ruptured uterine sinuses 

 are also visible, with their thin, ragged edges hanging into the 

 cavity of the uterus, and their orifices plugged with more or less 

 abundant bloody coagula. 



Over the rest of the uterine surface, the decidua vera has also 

 disappeared. Here, however, notwithstanding the loss of the ori- 

 ginal mucous membrane, the muscular fibres are not perfectly bare, 

 but are covered with a thin, semi-transparent film, of a whitish color 

 and soft consistency. This film is an imperfect mucous membrane 

 of new formation, which begins to be produced, underneath the 

 old decidua vera, as early as the beginning of the eighth month. 

 We have seen this new mucous membrane very distinctly in the 

 uterus of a woman who died undelivered at the above period. 

 The old mucous membrane, or decidua vera, is at this time some- 

 what opaque, and of a slightly yellowish color, owing to a partial 

 fatty degeneration which it undergoes in the latter months of preg- 

 nancy. It is easily raised and separated from the subjacent parts, 

 owing to the atrophy of its vascular connections; and the new 

 mucous membrane, situated beneath it, is readily distinguished by 

 its fresh color, and healthy, transparent aspect. 



The mucous membrane of the cervix uteri, which takes no part 

 in the formation of the decidua, is not thrown off in parturition, 

 but remains in its natural position ; and after delivery it may be 

 seen to terminate at the os internum by an uneven, lacerated edge, 

 where it was formerly continuous with the decidua vera. 



Subsequently, a regeneration of the mucous membrane takes place 

 over the whole extent of the body of the uterus. The mucous 

 membrane of new formation, which is already in existence at the 

 time of delivery, becomes thickened and vascular ; and glandular 

 tubules are gradually developed in its substance. At the end of 

 two months after delivery, according to Heschl 1 and Longet, 2 it has 

 entirely regained the natural structure of the uterine mucous mem- 



1 Zeitschrift der K. K. Gesellschaft der Aerzte, in Wien, 1852. 



2 Traite de Physiologie. De la Generation, p. 173. 



