OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS, ETC. 85 



y.v, or common uterine. It is formed of branches, which proceed from the superior lum- 

 bar and renal ganglions ; and is placed on the body of the fifth lumbar vertebra, and 011 

 the promontory of the sacrum, between the iliac arteries. On its entrance into the pel- 

 vic basin, it divides itself into two considerable plexuses, which M. T. calls the hypo- 

 gastric or lateral uterine plexuses. These are placed on the trunks of the iliuc arteries, 

 and anastomose with the first and second sacral ganglions. A great many filaments pro- 

 ceed from these plexuses, forming a reticulum around the arteries of the uterus, with 

 the ramifications of which they penetrate into the texture of the organ, ckiefly its pos- 

 terior and lateral aspects. 



Several branches proceed from the superior lateral or hypogastric plexus to the vagina, 

 at the point of its union with the neck of the uterus, and there unite with the anterior 

 branches of the third and fourth sacral nerves, and form a large plexus, which M. Tie- 

 demann calls the inferior lateral hijpogastric, and which interweaves with and embraces 

 small ganglia. The gangliform plexus gives origin to a great many branches, chiefly to 

 the vagina, to the uterus, and also to the bladder and rectum. These nerves, as well 

 as those belonging to the other plexuses, always closely embrace the arteries in the 

 form of a net work. 



It appears, therefore, that the womb and its appendages are surrounded by important 

 nervous plexuses. These nerves are soft, small, reddish-gray, and in every respect si- 

 milar to the other portions of the great sympathetic nerves. Of their appearance and 

 character we have had several opportunities of satisfying ourselves, when making re- 

 searches respecting this grand organic system, and we can bear testimony to the cor- 

 rectness of the observations of M. Tiedemann. 



M. Tiedemann states that the number and size of the uterine nerves vary according 

 to the age of the female ; that they are small and apparently few in girls large and 

 numerous in adults and very small in old women. He has observed another fact, con* 

 firmatory of their functions which indeed was previously noticed by Dr. W. Hunter and 

 Professor Chaussier, that these nerves become larger and more numerous during ges- 

 tation. 



III. Of Impregnation. Several opinions have been entertanined respecting the im- 

 pregnating process. Some physiologists suppose that the actual contact of the ovum 

 and semen are requisite ; others that the aura seminalis is all that is requisite. Of the 

 former cfass of physiologists some suppose that the semen is absorbed into the uterus, 

 where the ovum, having descended through the fallopian tubes, meets it ; others con- 

 sider that the semen is conveyed by a paristaltic-like action of the vagina, uterus, and 

 tubes, to the ovarum ; and the}' adduce, in support of their opinion, the occurrence of 

 extra uterine fcctation ; a third party, belonging to this class, conceives that the semen 

 is conveyed to the ovum itself, in its situation in the ovarium, by means of absorption 

 through a set of vessels allotted to this specific purpose. Dr. Dewees, of Philadelphia, 

 has argued strenuously for this last doctrine : it has also been adopted by other physio- 

 logists, and it seems to have received support from the labours of Dr. Gartner, of Co- 

 penhagen, who has discovered in some animals a duct leading from the ovary to the va- 

 gina. The occurrence of ovarian foctation, wherein the foetus is lodged within the en- 

 veloping membrane of the ovarium, can be most satisfactorily explained by means of 

 this doctrine. Two cases of this description have lately been detailed by Dr. Gran- 

 ville and Mr. Painter. It must, however, be allowed that the latter class of physiolo- 

 gists, or those who contend for the impregnation influence of the aura seminalis, have 

 it in their power to adduce strong arguments in behalf of their opinion. It has even 

 been asserted very recently, by some continental physiologists, that the impregnating 

 power of the aura seminalis may be proved by experiment performed on rabbits, in the 

 following manner : Let the semen be received in a cup, over which is to be immedi- 

 ately placed an inverted funnel ; and let the apex of this funnel be introduced into the 

 vagina. If this experiment be performed immediately after the seminal emission, they 

 say that impregnation will be the result. 



It has been argued that the venereal desire is present in neither sex before the de- 

 velopment of the testes and ovaria. This, however, is not the case. The venereal 

 appetite makes its appearance in both girls and boys long before the generative organs 

 are developed. It has been frequently observed in them both, in temperate cb'mates, 

 as early as the sixth or seventh year. It has also been supposed that the venereal ap- 

 petite disappears soon after the menses have ceased to flow : this also is not the case. 

 With respect to the assertion that the venereal orgasm on the part of the female is 

 necessary to impregnation, we may observe that although it may be requisite in 



