262 
Sir Everard Home on the influence of 
belonging to the nerves of the uterus, those of the nerves of 
the oviducts in birds and of reptiles, which were found to 
be more numerous than those of other organs. Mr. Haw- 
kins's description of them has a place in my paper on the 
Nerves of the Placenta in the Transactions. 
The temperature of the human os tincae in health was 99°, 
half a degree lower than the antler of a deer with full-head, 
in July ; but as I knew the nerves belonging to the uterus 
enlarge during pregnancy, I had no doubt that the tempe- 
rature of that organ would be increased at that period : in 
this I was confirmed by finding the oviduct of a frog ready 
to spawn two degrees hotter than the heart. Upon inquiring 
among my medical friends who practise midwifery respect- 
ing the heat of the pregnant uterus, I was told, that in turn- 
ing children, they sometimes found the heat of the cavity 
almost greater than the hand could bear. This information 
made me most anxious to have its temperature ascertained 
by a thermometer, as I knew that water heated to 125° 
degrees is nearly as hot as the hand can well bear. 
Upon this occasion I applied to Dr. Granville, who has 
upon former occasions assisted me with his knowledge on 
these subjects, having shown what becomes of the remains 
of the corpus luteum in ovarial abortions ; and ascertained 
that the two ovaria are equally productive of male and female 
children, which had been denied ; and till Dr. Granville took 
up the enquiry, remained without proof. Upon this occasion 
Dr. Granville gave me most cordially his assistance, and 
having been supplied with a proper thermometer sent me 
the following reports. 
