ANATOMY. 19 



of the male. It Is firmly held In position by a fold of 

 ligamentous tissue, to the floor of the vulva. It is 

 composed principally of erectile tissue, which tissue 

 becomes congested at the period of oestrum, rut, or 

 heat. The clitoris is covered, on its free surface, with 

 .a pigmented membrane which is arranged In folds, and 

 is very highly endowed with sensibility ; this membrane 

 being believed to. perform an important function in the 

 act of copulation. 



The Hymen. 



This is a fold of mucous membrane which more or 



less completely separates the vulva from the vagina, 

 and stretches across the passage at the division of 



i;hese two organs. It is a very delicate mucous struc- 

 ture, and for a long time it was believed that this 



membrane was normally complete, and was only 

 ruptured at the first act of copulation, and its presence 



■or absence was looked upon as a sign of virginity. 

 Even to this day some authorities hold that laceration 



<)f this membrane denotes the absence of virginity. 

 This, however, is a mistake in all animals, as some 

 human females have been examined who never had 



•coition, and this membrane was represented simply by 

 a small band ; while others again have been examined 

 and this membrane found complete after the female 

 had given birth to several children. 



In our subjects, the hymen is often well developed 

 ;in Fillies, but is often absent, or only rudimentary, in 

 jHeifers. 



