302 LECTURE VIT. 



secretion from its vessels. It is impossible 

 to suppose even a fibre to be secreted ; we 

 are therefore obliged to suppose such a 

 fibre to be formed, either by the vessels of 

 the ovarium, or by the vital powers inhe- 

 rent in the ovum. 



The ovum is formed in a capsule of the 

 ovarium, and is free to move when an 

 aperture is produced, either, by its bursting 

 or ulceration. How far, I would ask, can 

 we suppose the formative actions to have 

 proceeded in so minute a substance as 

 the ovum of viviparous animals? It is 

 so minute as to be with difficulty discer- 

 nible even by the microscope, nay, even 

 after it has been for some time resident in 

 the uterus, as has been testified both by 

 Harvey and Hunter. Yet this atom, 

 escaping from its cell, and failing to get into 

 its proper receptacle, the womb, being like 

 a seed endowed with vital powers, shoots 

 forth roots, attaches itself to surrounding 

 parts, extracts nourishment from them, and 

 in due season forms a perfect but extra- 



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