Graphic illustrations of abortion and the diseases of menstruation / Consisting of Twelve Plates from Drawings Engraved on Stone, and Coloured by Mr. J. Perry, and Two Copper-plates from the Philosophical Transactions, Coloured by the Same Artist. the Whole Representing Forty-five Specimens of Aborted Ova and Adventitious Productions of the Uterus, With Preliminary Observations, Explanations of the Figures and Remarks, Anatomical and Physiological.

by A. B. Granville

Fig. 2. Mola Avellana tunicata.

A small, round, and oblong body, shaped not unlike a good-sized Spanish nut, which it resembles in colour even, and smoothness of surface. This led me to adopt the distinguishing appellative of Avellana. It measures about one inch in length, and is wide at one end and nearly pointed at the other.

When expelled it was covered by a tunic, which is easily detached, and is tolerably flexible. The external surface of this tunic is tomentose or lanuginous—the internal surface smooth, almost shining, and in its centre pellicular.

The nut itself, or mole, being cut open longitudinally, exhibits a cavity lined with a thin stratum of coagulated blood, interspersed by pellicles in all directions. On examining the cut edges of the mole, they appear to consist of at least three superimposed layers.

There is no communication whatever between the internal cavity of the mole and its surrounding tunic, and consequently none with external objects.