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IV. An Account of two cases, in which Ovules, or their Remains, were discovered in 
the Fallopian Tubes of Unimpregnated Women who had died during the period 
of Menstruation. By H. Letheby, M.B., Lond., Lecturer on Chemistry and 
Medical Jurisprudence in the Medical School of the London Hospital. Com- 
municated by T. B. Curling, Esq., F.R.S. 
Received February 20, — Read May 1, 1851. 
T HE observations that have been made at various times, during the last thirty 
years, by Messrs. Power, Lee, Barry, Wharton Jones, Girdwood, and others in 
this country, together with the experimental researches of MM. Valentin, Gendrin, 
Wagner, Bischoff, Pouchet and Raciborski on the Continent, have, I think, clearly 
proved that the phenomena manifested during the period of the catamenia in women, 
are closely connected with those observed during the time of heat or rut in quadru- 
peds ; and that both of these phenomena are dependent on one cause, namely, the 
maturation of ovules. But while this hypothesis has been very generally admitted, 
there is, I believe, a tendency in the minds of many physiologists of the present day, 
to doubt whether the ovules so matured are ever extruded from the ovary and carried 
into the Fallopian tubes, without the stimulus of impregnation, or, at any rate, with- 
out the congress of the male. In support of this view, or rather of these doubts, an 
appeal is often made to the fact, that an ovule has never yet been detected in either 
of the Fallopian tubes of a virgin, who has died during the period of the catamenia, 
notwithstanding that many subjects have been examined, that most careful search 
has been instituted, and that appearances have frequently been noticed indicating 
the recent rupture of a Graafian follicle. In point of fact, it is imagined by those 
who entertain such doubts, that tlie fecundation of the germ takes place while it is 
within the Graafian follicle, and consequently, that if the ovule fails to be the 
subject of impregnation it never quits the ovary, but perishes within its formative 
vesicle. On the other hand, the researches of Bischoff have led him to enunciate a 
law, the purport of which is the very reverse of the preceding ; for he says, that “ the 
ovules formed in the ovaries of females of the human species and of mammiferous 
animals, undergo a periodical maturation, quite independently of the male seminal 
fluid. At these periods, known as those of heat or the rut in animals, and menstrua- 
tion in the human female, the ovules which have become mature, disengage them- 
selves from the ovary and are extruded. If the union of the sexes takes place, the 
ovule is fecundated by the direct action of the semen upon it. If no union of the 
MDCCCLII. 
i 
