1 96 Mijcellanea Curiofa. 



We flioud think this Method to be varied in the 

 Placenta. On the other hand, if the Arteries of 

 the Vterus were continued to the Veins of the 

 fame part, and thole of the foetus in like man- 

 ner, without communicating with each other, 

 their Confluence in the Placenta feems to be alto- 

 gether impertinent, and of no ufe, and the. Vm- 

 hilkal Arteries and Vein fram'd for no other 

 Service or Purpofe, than to give the Blood room 

 for an idle Sally. 



Thus the Reafonabknefs of this old Opinion 

 may be vindicated, but the Certainty of it refts 

 upon ftronger Proof. Mr. Cowper, to whofe hap- 

 py Induftry we owe the Confimation of many 

 ancient Difcoveries, and the Benefit of Ibire 

 new ones, has the Honour to re-eftablifli this 

 old, but long exploded Truth. For by pouring 

 Mercury into a Branch of the Vtexine Arterie of 

 a Ccpp, that went into one of the Cotyledones of 

 the Vterus, he fill'd thofe Branches of the Um- 

 bilical Veins, which went from that Cotyledon to 

 the Navel of the Foetus ; which, with a part of 

 the Vterus 9 he keeps prepared by him. 



It would be a weak Objection, to alledge, 

 That the Obfervation and Experiment, being 

 made on the Vterus of a Cow, the Inference 

 would not hold from thence to a TVcman 9 the 

 one being Glanduliferous 9 and the other Placenti- 

 ferous'y fince every one of thefe Cotyledones 9 or 

 Vterine Glandules 9 is in all refpects a little 

 Placenta* and all the difference between them is 

 in number, name, and magnitude. Why t{u- 

 minants differ in this Particular from other Vivi- 

 parous Animals, is befide the Subject of our pre- 

 sent Enquiry. But the great Flux of Blood, 

 which cenftantly follows upon drawing the Pla- 

 centa 



