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

PLATE XII.
(POLYMENORRHOIC STRATIFICATIONS CONTINUED.)

Fig. 1. Coagulum hæmatosum intro-uterinum internè solidum, externè membranaceum.

An oblong mass, rounded at each extremity, one of which is more tapering than the other, and is perforated by an external orifice. Its whole length is 2½ inches, the difference in the circumference at the two opposite ends is as 1:2. The orifice is puckered at its edge: the colour of the mass of a marbled red.

This mass may be carefully unravelled in a weak mixture of alcohol and water, when it is found to consist of several membranaceous oblong pouches, placed one within the other, until we arrive at the centre, which is found occupied by a solid black coagulum of blood, perfectly homogeneous, friable when dried, shining in its fracture, and leaving streaks of a brown red colour on paper, when rubbed over its surface.

The appearance of the mass is here represented as it came away, of its natural size and colour, and by its side is placed the same mass after undergoing the process of careful separation of some of its different investitures or coatings. It should be observed that the orifice which exists at the pointed end of the external membrane corresponds with a similar orifice in each of the different subincumbent coverings. These, in their texture and appearances, differ scarcely from the Dysmenorrhoic pseudo-textile membranes described in a former plate.

C. pseudo-ova: molæ. (vulgo, false conceptions.)

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.