THIS Amnion covers the Placenta, and is fixed to the Inside of the Womb, by its Circumference on all Sides.
THESE Membranes contain the Waters, in which the Infant swims; which Waters encrease along with the Infant, generating by degrees, and proceeding from the moist Humours, exhal’d (by way of Transpiration) from the tender Infant’s porous Body.
THESE Waters are of infinite Service to the Infant, during the time of Maturation: As they are to both Mother and Child in the time of BIRTH; which hereafter will more amply appear. And as in Conception, these Membranes are form’d before the EMBRYO; being, as they are commonly call’d, the Coats of the Egg: So, in time of Labour, they always present themselves, with their peculiar Waters, to the ORIFICE, before the Infant approaches.
IN Case of TWINS or more Children; each has its proper Membranes and Waters apart, in which they are separately wrap’d up.
CHAP. XII.
Of the SECUNDINE, or AFTER-BIRTH.
THE SECUNDINE is a thick carnous Mass, of a soft vasculous Substance, compos’d of the maternal Menstrua; which waxes upon the outside of the Chorion in proportion with the Growth of the Foetus; encreasing (as the Waters do) together with the Infant. It is also called the Womb-Cake, or Placenta Uterina; but most commonly the Woman’s AFTER-BIRTH.
IT is call’d Placenta, because of its flat circular Figure, resembling a pretty thick round Cake; being about eight Inches Diameter, and one Thick; a little thicker in the Middle, where the Umbilical Vessels are fixed, than at the Edges.
ITS thickest spongious Part (properly call’d the Placenta) adheres to the Bottom of the Womb by innumerable Vessels, and the Interposition of a very thin Membrane, which is a Continuation of the Chorion.
ITS Concave Part towards the Infant, is join’d to the Navel-String, and encompass’d with a smooth Membrane, which it derives from the Chorion and Amnion.