272 OF THE FORMATION 



obftru6ted, the uterus becomes flaccid, fwellsy 

 and appears to be inflated. All thefe changes 

 mud be effeded by an adtive external caufe, by 

 the penetration of part of the feminal fluid into 

 the fubilance of the uterus. This penetration is 

 not confined to the furface ; it extends through 

 all the vefl^els and parts of which the uterus is 

 compofed, like that penetration by which nu- 

 trition, and the expanfion of the body, is pro- 

 duced. 



We ihall the more eafily believe this to be the 

 cafe, when we reflect, that, during the time of 

 geftation, the uterus not only augments in fize, 

 but even in its quantity of matter, and that it 

 pofl'effes a fpecies of life, or rather of vegetation, 

 which continues till the child be delivered. If 

 the uterus were only a fac, a refervoir for re- 

 ceiving the femen. and retaining the foetus, it 

 would extend and diminifh in thicknefs, in pro-^ 

 portion as the foetus grew larger. But the aug- 

 mentation of the uterus is not a fimple exten- 

 fion or dilatation of its parts. It not only extends 

 as the foetus enlarges, but it acquires, at the 

 fame time, an additional thicknefs and folidity ; 

 or, in other v/ords, both its fize and quantity of 

 matter are greatly increafed. This augmenta- 

 tion is a real growth or increafe of fubftance, 

 fimilar to the expanfion of the body in young 

 animals, which could not be efTeded but by an 

 intimate penetration of organic particles analo- 

 gous to the fubftance of thofe parts. As this 



expanfion 



