415 



rnammce ; a connection, in consequence of which, these two organs are 

 called into action at the same period of life, are evolved, and cease to 

 perform their functions at the same time, when woman becomes incapa- 

 ble of co-operating in the reproduction of the species. I shall not en- 

 deavour to account for this sympathy, by ascribing it to the influence of 

 the nervous system, or to the anastomosis of the epigastric with the in- 

 ternal mammary arteries : an anastomosis which is not uniform, for, in- 

 stead of inosculating with each other, these vessels frequently terminate 

 in the recti muscles of the abdomen. But even though this anastomo- 

 sis, should exist, as distinctly as it is often met with in some subjects, 

 it would not account for this sympathy, since the uterus and the mam- 

 mae often receive no branches from the epigastric and mammary arteries, 

 and when they do they are exceedingly small. 



The new born child, on being brought in contact with the breast, ap- 

 plies his mouth to the nipple, and withdrawing his tongue, while, with 

 his lips, he compresses the edges of the nipple, he draws in the fluid, 

 whose flow is facilitated by the erection of the lactiferous tubes. These 

 ducts, from twelve to fifteen in number, not only become enlarged, when 

 the nipple, which almost entirely consists of them, is elongated by being 

 drawn out by the child, but, besides, being excited by his touch, 

 they become affected with a certain degree of erection, and emit their 

 fluid. This excretion, like that of other glands, is excited by the touch 

 and the motion of the hands of the child on his nurse's breast. The use of 

 these gentle compressions, is not so much to express the milk mechani- 

 cally, as to excite the organ to excretion. 



The irritation produced by the child on the nipple, is the most power- 



By again adverting 1 to the condition of the pregnat uterus, we shall see that a suppres- 

 sion of the catamenia is exactly what ought to expected. The deciduous membrane is 

 framed while the process of conception is proceeding in the ovary. The vessels which 

 had secreted the catamenia are now engaged in a new operation. They form the mem- 

 brane and then support it. While thus employed, their secretory function is suspend- 

 ed. They cannot at the sume period, perform actions so incongruous and inconsistent. 

 The one must yield to the other. This is very strikingly illustrated by the fact which 

 has not been sufficiently attended to, that in a large proportion of the cases of obstinate 

 umenorrhea, the membrana decidua exists, and that the first symptom of the return of 

 the discharge is the coming away of the membrane. Of the identity of the two mem- 

 branes, there can be no doubt. It has been determined by very competent judges*. 



By one less averse than myself to speculative reasonings in matters of science, a va- 

 riety of considerations of this nature, might be pressed against the hypothesis which I am 

 combating. It could, I think, in particular, be urged with great plausibility, that chang- 

 ed as is the whole uterine system by gestation, not only in the mechanical distribution, 

 but also in the structure and functions of its parts, it cannot possibly assume that peculiar 

 condition which seems indispensable to conception. Of all the operations of the ani- 

 mal economy, that of conception undoubtedly requires the most harmoniously concert- 

 ed action in the several organs by which it is commenced, carried on and consummated. 

 Derangements in any one portion of this complex apparatus are confessedly productive 

 of sterility. So essential, indeed to the generative process in the human species, is a 

 perfect integrity in the functions of the uterine system, that by the suppression or even 

 vitiation of the catamenia, the aptitude to conception is lost or diminished. But enough 

 of these speculations ; 1 am content to rest the defence of the question on the facts 

 which I have stated. If they be correct, it results that superfcctation cannot take place 

 in the human species. Chapman. 



* Baillie, Burns, &c. &c. 



