The Placenta and Generative Apparatus of the Elephant. 

 By Henry C. Chapman, M.D. 



PLACENTA. 



In January, 1879, I was requested by the late Dr. F. F. Maury to visit the 

 Indian elephant, Hebe, forming a part of the menagerie of Cooper & Bailey's London 

 Show, then in winter quarters at Twenty-third and Ridge Avenue, in this city. 

 The object of the visit was to determine, if possible, whether the elephant was 

 pregnant. At my suggestion, Drs. Leidy, Penrose, and Hunt were invited to be 

 present at the examination. The result of the investigation by these gentlemen 

 confirmed me in the opinion that the elephant was indeed pregnant, rare as^ knew 

 such a phenomenon to be in a state of captivity. Indeed, it was questionable 

 whether there had ever been such a case on record well authenticated. It is true 

 that Prof. Owen states* that two elephants paired Dec. 18, 1863, and that a young 

 one was born Aug. 3, 1865, but it is not stated where the birth took place, nor is 

 any author cited in reference to it. Admitting this case, on the authority of such 

 a distinguished naturalist, it will be the only one, as far as I know, recorded up to 

 this date. On questioning the intelligent keeper of the elephant, Mr. George 

 ArstingstaU, I learned that on May 25, 1878, the female in question had received 

 the male, and that coitus had taken place on the 29th of the same month, and on 

 the 3d, 8th, 13th, 15th, and 20th day of June. The latter day was that on which 

 the last copulation took place, there having been seven in all. As various views 

 have been expressed by naturalists as to the manner of connection, I will content 

 myself with stating what I have seen and learned from the above-mentioned eye- 

 witness, that the coitus is similar to that of bull and cow, or horse and mare, and 

 that the time occupied is about the same period as in the horse. The penis when 

 erect is curved, the concavity looking forward. When relaxed, the organ is curved 

 in the opposite direction. Eight months having elapsed since the last coitus, it 

 was natural that there should be some signs of pregnancy if fecundation had 

 really taken place. The shape of the abdomen and the prominence of the mammse, 

 which are pectoral in position and are usually not very apparent, together with 

 the fact that connection had taken place several times, were about the only 



* Auat. of Vert, vol. iii. p. 743. 



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