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. 4. Mola conchula.

It is the external tunic of this mole that resembles a little shell, and which circumstance induced me to distinguish this species of Mola by the surname Conchula.

The mole itself is more like a small date, the well-known Egyptian fruit. When just discharged it felt pulpy, yet firm, and I should imagine, from the feeling it imparted to the fingers, that it contained some fluid. That it has a central cavity there can be no doubt, for when compressed, it immediately returned to its former state as soon as the pressure was withdrawn. Having laid open so many of these curious productions, I was unwilling to do so in the present instance.

The tunic in this case was not cut open, but separated by a needle in the direction of what appeared to be a raphe or joint running the whole length of the mass in a waved line. When the edges were sufficiently parted, the naked mole was withdrawn without much effort.

Internally the tunic had a loose lining, dense, opaque, and membranaceous, between which lining and the external coat of the tunic a thin deposition of blood was observed.