572. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. TaNNO 1774. 



tate our individuals on their acquisition, but tiiat the Leyden Phial contains all 

 his magic power. 



XLVn. Description of a Double Uterus and Fagina. By John Pur cell, M. D. 

 Professor of Anatomy in the College of Dublin, p. 474. 



The body of a woman, who had died in labour in the Qth month of her preg- 

 nancy, was dissected at the anatomical theatre of Trinity College. In the 

 summer of 1 7 73, on opening the abdomen, a uterus appeared of such a size 

 and form, as are generally observed at that period. It contained a full 

 grown foetus; but was furnished with only one ovarium and one Fallopian tube, 

 which were situated on the right side. On, the left was placed a 2d uterus 

 unimpregnated, and of the usual size, to which the other ovarium and tube 

 were annexed. But these 2 uteri were totally distinct and separated from each 

 other, except at the lower extremity of their necks, where their union 

 extended 4^ of an inch, and an acute angle was formed between them. There 

 was nothing extraordinary in the formation of the external parts of generation ; 

 but from each side of the meatus urinarius a membrane ran downwards ; and 

 the two, having comprehended this orifice between them, were joined together a 

 little below it, so as to form, by their union, a septum or mediastinum, which 

 taking the remainder of its origin from all that prominent ridge called the superior 

 columna, and descending perpendicularly, was inserted into the inferior columna, 

 so as to extend from the entrance of the vagina as far backward as its posterior 

 extremity, and thus to divide it into two tubes of nearly equal dimensions. 

 But each of these did not lead solely to the womb of its own side; 

 for the right vagina became gradually wider as it ran backward, and at last was 

 80 far dilated as to comprehend, within its circumference, the orifices of both 

 uteri ; while that on the left side, having taken an oblique direction, ended in a 

 cul de sac, or caecum. Such a confirmation might have rendered it totally 

 useless: to prevent which, nature, fertile in expedients, seems to have had 

 recourse to a very extraordinary contrivance. This was a fissure in the septum,, 

 an inch in length, and about an inch distant from the womb of that side. 

 Though its circumference was perfectly smooth, we must acknowledge that it 

 might have arisen from an accidental rupture of the septum ; the lips of the 

 wound not uniting, and, in process of time, becoming callous ; and yet, he 

 imagined, that the parts were originally formed in this manner, in order to 

 preserve a communication between the 2 vaginae. 



Thus it appears, that both uteri might be impregnated through either vagina, 

 as that on the right side led directly to both ; and as, by means of the fissure in 

 the septum, the semen could easily be thrown from the left vagina into the 

 right, where the apertures of the 2 wombs were placed. Through the latter 



