642 SIR WM. TURNER ON THE PLACENTATION OF HALICORE DUGONG. 



Uterus and Maternal Placenta. 



The uterus consisted of two horns, and contained a single large foetus, which was 

 situated in the greatly dilated left cornu (fig. l). This the gravid horn measured along 

 its anterior convex surface 4 feet 8 inches in its long diameter, and 3 feet 3 inches in its 

 greatest girth. It was curved upon itself, so that the part which reached the corpus uteri, 

 where the head of the foetus was situated, approximated to the tubal end of the cornu 

 occupied by the tail of the foetus. It was invested in the usual way by peritoneum, which 

 membrane passed off from it as a broad ligament. The right cornu contained no foetus, 

 and that part which was free and surrounded by the broad ligament of peritoneum was 17 

 inches long : at its tubal end it was attenuated, but widened somewhat as it approached 

 the gravid left cornu, with the wall of which, as was afterwards recognised when the 

 uterus was opened into, its wall became closely attached for an additional length of 

 10 inches. 



The gravid horn was opened into by an incision along its convexity, extending from 

 its tubal end to the corpus uteri. The gravid horn communicated freely with the corpus 

 uteri, the commencement of which was differentiated by a strong fold of mucous mem- 

 brane. The mouth of the non-gravid horn was also differentiated by a sharp fold of 

 mucous membrane from the corpus uteri, and the extended hand could readily be passed 

 into that part of the non-gravid horn already referred to, as closely attached to the wall 

 of the gravid cornu. The bottom of this dilated portion opened into the lumen of the 

 more attenuated part of the non-gravid horn, which barely admitted the tip of a finger. 

 The corpus uteri was 11^ inches long; the hand could readily be passed along it for 

 several inches, when it became somewhat constricted. Further back it again dilated, and 

 the mucous lining, instead of being almost smooth, as in the part of the corpus uteri 

 next the cornua, was elevated into distinct longitudinal folds, the best marked of which 

 were 0'5 inch in depth. In the intervals between these folds were some transverse and 

 oblique folds much less projecting, which gave to this part of the uterus an appearance 

 something like that of the mucous lining of a cervix uteri. This part of the uterus 

 contained an inspissated secretion. The posterior end of the cervix-like corpus uteri 

 communicated by an os with the vagina ; the inferior lip of the os projected more than 

 the superior ; and the os itself admitted two fingers. The vagina was 10 inches long and 

 5^ inches broad. It was lined by a mucous membrane which was longitudinally folded 

 near the os, but further back the folds were oblique and transverse. The urinary bladder 

 and urethra were attached to the inferior wall of the vagina. The contracted bladder was 

 only 3 inches broad by 2\ inches high, and the pair of ureters opened into its vaginal 

 surface. 



The wall of the gravid cornu was much thinner than that of the non-gravid horn, 

 in the latter of which the muscular coat greatly exceeded in thickness the corresponding 

 tunic in the gravid horn. The mucous lining of the gravid horn had especial interest in 



