'434 PHILOSOPHICAL THANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1730. 



But to be better satisfied, he passed up two fingers into the vagina, to examine 

 whether the os tincae began to dilate. He there felt a large and unusual fulness 

 and tension, which he then judged to be the body of the uterus sunk low into 

 the vagina, and distending it much, and extending backwards, and pressing 

 against the rectum ; so that the excrements could not readily pass, neither could 

 she, from its pressure on the neck of the bladder, freely make water, Mr. 

 Giffard could not find the os tincae, though he very carefully examined all about 

 with the ends of his fingers; he therefore judged that the fundus uteri must 

 have receded from its natural position, and be bent back towards the rectum; 

 in which opinion he was the more confirmed by the fulness he before observed, 

 stretching backwards; and therefore concluded that the os tineas must be very 

 forward; he therefore endeavoured to pass his fingers between the os pubis and 

 the fulness which pressed against the upper edge of the said bone. This he 

 effected with some difficulty; and at length about 2 or 3 inches above the said 

 bone, he felt the os tincae with the ends of his fingers. He ordered the patient 

 anodyne and quieting medicines to relieve her pains, which she was obliged to 

 repeat at least every 12 hours, with proper cordials to support nature; and 

 sometimes clysters. Thus matters continued to the 20th of the said month, 

 only that for some days before, a water tinged with blood came away, as she 

 imagined, through the anus, and which she believed proceeded from the piles, 

 with which she was sometimes troubled. 



On tlie 20th her husband came to Mr. Gifi^ard about 6 in the morning, tell- 

 ing him that the midwife had brought away a foetus, but could not complete 

 her business. On which he went to the midwife, who told him, that a foetus 

 was protruded through the anus; and on examining, he found the funis umbi- 

 licalis hanging out about 2 or 3 inches beyond the anus, and passing up 

 through the same. He therefore passed his two fore fingers by the string into 

 the anus; when about 3 inches up he found an opening, as he then judged, 

 into the uterus, wide enough to admit the ends of 3 or 4 fingers, and the funis 

 umbilicalis passing into it; hence he was assured the foetus came out that way. 

 With his fingers passed into the opening, he endeavoured to bring away the 

 placenta; but as it was very rotten it tore away between his fingers, so that he 

 was obliged to draw it out in small pieces, and at last to leave a large part of it 

 behind. The septum or partition between the anus and vagina was entirely 

 whole, having no perforation through it. 



From these appearances he then concluded that a mortification must have 

 begun in the uterus; and so from its contiguity be communicated to the rectum; 

 so that nature, endeavouring to expel what was contained, and forcing it 

 against this part, already mortified, and consequently ready to give way and 



