On the Female Organs and Placentation of the Racoon. 275 



from the attached to the free border of the latter. They anastomosed 

 freely with one another and formed a wide arterial meshwork on both 

 the upper and lower surfaces of the horn. It was, however, observed 

 that none of the vessels of the one surface extended over the anterior 

 border of the uterus so as to come into relation with those of the 

 other surface, and that, consequently, no anastomosis could be dis- 

 tinguished between them. It is probable, however, that the failure to 

 trace any distinct anastomosis between the vessels of the two surfaces 

 of the impregnated horn ought to be attributed to the incomplete 

 nature of the injection, as it appears unlikely, in view of the con- 

 tinuity of the placental substance between these surfaces, that any 

 break in the continuity of the vessels of opposite sides really existed. 

 The vessels in question were visible over the entire surface of the 

 impregnated horn, but were much more thickly distributed in its 

 middle third, which corresponds to the placental zone. 



The corpus uteri is not differentiated externally from the vagina, 

 the two organs forming a continuous tube. The position of the os 

 uteri, however, is clearly defined in the interior of the organ by a 

 well-marked valvular fold, to be afterwards described. Taking into 

 consideration the position of this fold, the body of the uterus mea- 

 sures 2| inches in length and half an inch in breadth. It is flattened 

 from above downwards, and is attached to the walls of the pelvis by 

 means of the broad ligament. This ligament is formed in the usual 

 manner of a double fold of peritoneal membrane, which, after 

 covering the whole of the upper surface of the uterus, and even the 

 anterior portion of the corresponding surface of the vagina, is 

 reflected upon the rectum. The lower surface of the uterus is not 

 invested to the same extent by peritoneum, that membrane being 

 reflected upon the bladder before reaching the os uteri. The uterus, 

 moreover, is retained in position by two additional ligaments, the 

 diaphragmatic and the round. The former consists of a stout bundle 

 of involuntary muscular fibres, which, passing backwards from the 

 diaphragm to free extremity of the corresponding uterine horn, 

 extends inwards parallel to the posterior border of the latter and is 

 inserted into the body of the uterus. The ovary is fixed to the lower 

 surface of this ligament, close to the free extremity of the uterine 

 horn. The round ligament is also well developed. It is attached by 

 one extremity close to the free end of the cornu uteri, and passes 

 backwards to the inguinal region, where it terminates in the usual 

 manner. 



The vagina, from the os uteri to its junction with the urethra, 

 measures 1^- inches in length. Externally it is not differentiated from 

 either the corpus uteri or the urogenital canal. The latter measures 

 2 inches in length. Its external orifice is bounded by two laterally 

 placed folds, or labia, which together constitute a conical eminence 



