The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. XXXIIII. Of the Wombe.

THe Wombe is a part proper onely to women, given by nature instead of * 1.1 the Scrotum, as the necke thereof, and the annexed parts in stead of the yard; so that if any more exactly consider the parts of generation in wo∣men and men, he shall finde that they differ not much in number, but one∣ly in situation and use. For that which man hath apparent without, that women have hid within, both by the singular providence of Nature, as also by the defect of heate in women, which could not drive and thrust forth those parts as in men. The wombe is of a nervous and membranous substance, that it may be more easily dilated and contracted, as neede shall require.

The magnitude thereof is diverse, according to the diversitie of age, the use of * 1.2 venery, the flowing of their courses, and the time of conception. The wombe is but small in one of unripe age, having not used venery, nor which is menstruous; there∣fore the quantititie cannot be rightly defined.

The figure of the wombe is absolutely like that of the bladder, if you consider it * 1.3 without the productions, which Herophilus called hornes, by reason of the similitude * 1.4 they have with the hornes of Oxen at their first comming forth. It consists of simple and compound parts. The simple are the veines, arteries, nerves, and coates. The veines and arteries are foure in number, two from the preparing spermaticke vessels, * 1.5 the two other ascend thither from the Hypogastricke, after this manner.

First, these vessels before they ascend on each side to the wombe, divide them∣selves into two branches, from which othersome goe to the lower part of the wombe, othersome to the necke thereof, by which the menstruous bloud, if it abound from the conception, may be purged.

Nerves come on both sides to the wombe, both from the sixt conjugation, descen∣ding * 1.6 by the length of the backe bone, as also from the holy bone, which presently united and joyned together, ascend and are distributed through the wombe, like the veines and arteries.

The utmost or common coate of the wombe, proceeds from the Peritonaeum, on * 1.7 that part it touches the holy bone; but the proper it hath from the first conformation, which is composed of the three sorts of fibers, of the right on the inside for the attra∣ction of both seedes; the transverse without to expell, if occasion be; the oblique in the midst for the due retention thereof.

The wombe admits no division, unlesse into the right and left side, by an obscure line or seame, such as we see in the Scrotum, but scarse so manifest; neither must we af∣terthe maner of the ancients, or imagine any other cels in the womb. For by the * 1.8 law of nature, a woman at one birth can have no more than two. An argument here∣of is, they have no more than two dugges. If any chance to bring forth more, it is besides nature, and somewhat monstrous, because nature hath made no provision of nourishment for them.

Nature hath placed the wombe at the bottome of the belly, because that place * 1.9 seemes most fit to receive seede, to carrie and bring forth the young. It is placed be∣tweene the bladder and right gut, and is bound to these parts much more straitly, by the necke, than by the body thereof; but also besides it is tied with two most strong ligaments on the sides, and upper parts of the sharebone, on which it seemes to hang; but by its common coate from the Peritonaeum, chiefly thicke in that place, it is tied to the hollow bone, and the bones of the hanch and loines.

By reason of this strait connexion, a woman with child feeling the painefull draw∣ings backe, and as it were conuvlsions of those ligaments, knowes her selfe with child. It is of a cold and moist temper, rather by accident, than of it selfe. The acti∣on * 1.10 thereof is to containe both the seedes, and to chearish, preserve, and nourish it, so contained, untill the time appointed by nature; and also besides, to receive, and eua∣cuate the menstruous bloud. The compound parts of the wombe are, the proper bo∣dy and necke thereof. That body is extended in women bigge with child, even to the navell, in some higher, in some lower.

In the inner side the Cotyledones come into our consideration, which are nothing else * 1.11 than the orifices and mouthes of the veines, ending in that place. They scarse ap∣peare in women, unlesse presently after child-bearing, or their menstruall purgation; but they are apparent in sheepe, Goates, and Kine, at all times like wheat cornes, unlesse when they are with young, for then they are of the bignesse of hasell nuts: but then also they swell up in women, and are like a rude piece of flesh of a finger and a halfe thicke; which begirt all the naturall parts of the infant shut up in the wombe; * 1.12 out of which respect this shapelesse flesh, according to the opinion of some, is reckoned amongst the number of coates investing the infant, and called Chorion, be∣cause, as in beasts, the Chorion is interwoven with veines, and arteries, whence the um∣bilicall vessels proceede; so in women this fleshie lumpe is woven with veines, and arteries, whence such vessels have their originall. Which thing, how true and agree∣able to reason it is, let other men judge.

There is one thing whereof I would admonish thee, that as the growth of the Co∣telidones in beasts, are not called by the name of Chorion, but are onely said to be the dependants thereof, so in women such swollen Cotelidones merit not the name of Chorion, but rather of the dependances thereof.

This body ends in a certaine straitnesse which is met withall, in following it to∣wards the privities, in women who have borne no children, or have remained barren some certaine time; for in such as are lately delivered, you can see nothing but a ca∣vitie and no straitnsse at all. This straitnesse wee call the proper orifice of the wombe, * 1.13 which is most exactly shut after the conception, especially untill the membrane, or coats incompassing the child be finished, and strong enough to containe the seede, that it flow not forth, nor be corrupted by entrance of the aire; for it is opened to send forth the seede, and in some the courses and serous humors, which are heaped up in the wombe in the time of their being with clild.

From this orifice the necke of the wombe taking its originall, is extended even to the privities. It is of a musculous substance, composed of soft flesh, because it might be extended and contracted, wrinkled, and stretched forth, and unfolded, and wrested, and shaken at the comming forth of the child, and after be restored to its former soundnesse and integritie. In processe of age it growes harder, both by use of venery, and also by reason of age, by which the whole body in all parts thereof be∣comes drie and hard. But in growing, and young women, it is more tractable and flexible for the necessitie of nature.

The magnitude is sufficiently large in all dimensions, though divers, by reason of the infinite varietie of bodies. The figure is long, round, and hollow. The compo∣sition * 1.14 is the same with the wombe, but it receives not so many vessels as the wombe; for it hath none but those which are sent from the Hypogastricke veines, by the branches ascending to the wombe. This necke on the inside is wrinckled with many crests, like the upper part of a dogges mouth, so in copulation to cause greater pleasure by that inequalitie, and also to shorten the act.

It is onely one, and that situate betweene the necke of the bladder and the right * 1.15 gut, to which it closely sticketh, as to the wombe by the proper orifice thereof, and to the privities by its owne orifice; but by the vessels to all the parts from whence they are sent.

It is of a cold and drie temper, and the way to admit the seede into the wombe, * 1.16 to exclude the infant out of the wombe, as also the menstruall evacuation. But it is worth observation, that in all this passage there is no such membrane found, as that they called Hymen, which they feigned to be broken at the first coition. Yet not∣withstanding * 1.17 Columbus, Fallopius, Wierus, and many other learned men of our time think otherwise, and say, that in Virgjns a litle above the passage of the urine, may be found and seene such a nervous membrane, placed overtwhart as it were in the middle way of this necke, and perforated for the passage of the courses. But you may finde this false by experience; it is likely the Ancients fell into this error through this occa∣sion, because that in some a good quantitie of bloud breakes forth of these places at the first copulation.

But it is more probable, that this happens by the violent attrition of certaine ves∣sels lying in the inward superficies of the necke of the wombe, not being able to en∣dure * 1.18 without breaking so great extention as that nervous necke undergoes at the first coition. For a maide which is marriageable, and hath her genitall parts proportio∣nable in quantitie and bignesse to a mans, shall finde no such effusion of bloud, as we shall shew more at large in our Booke of Generation.

This necke ends at the privities, where its proper orifice is, which privy parts we must treate of, as being the productions and appendices of this necke. This Pudendum, or privitie, is of a middle substance, betweene the flesh and a nerve; the magnitude is sufficiently large, the figure round, hollow, long. It is composed of veines, arteries, nerves, descending to the necke of the wombe, and a double coate proceeding from the true skinne and fleshie pannicle; both these coates are there firmely united by the flesh comming betweene them; whereupon it is said, that this part consists of a musculous coate. It is one in number, situate above the Perinaum. It hath connexion with the fundament, the necke of the wombe and bladder by both their peculiar orifices.

It hath a middle temper, betweene hot, and cold, moist and drie. It hath the same use as a mans Praeputium or fore-skinne, that is, that together with the Numpha it may hinder the entrance of the aire, by which the wombe may be in danger to take cold. The lips of the privities called by the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by the Latines Ala, con∣taine * 1.19 all that region which is invested with haires; and because we have falne into mention of these Nympha, you must know that they are as it were productions of the musculous skinne, which descend on both sides, from the upper part of the share-bone downewards, even to the orifice of the necke of the bladder, oft times growing to so great a bignesse, that they will stand out like a mans yard. Wherefore in some they must be cut off in their young yeares, yet with a great deale of caution, left if they be cut too rashly, so great an effusion of bloud may follow, that it may cause, ei∣ther death to the woman, or barrennesse of the wombe by reason of the refrigeration by the too great effusion of bloud. The latter Anatomists, as Columbus and Fallopius besides these parts, have made mention of another particle, which stands forth in the upper part of the privities, and also of the urinary passage, which joynes together those wings wee formerly mentioned: Columbus cals it Tentigo, Fallopius Cleitoris, whence proceeds that infamous word Cleitorizein, (which signifies impudently to * 1.20 handle that part.) But because it is an obscene part, let those which desire to know, more of it, reade the Authors which I cited.

[illustration]

The thirteenth Figure, shewing the parts of women different from these in men.

A. B. C. D. The Peritonaeum refle∣cted or turned backward, above and below.

E. F. the gibbous part of the liver 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the cave or hollow part E.

G. The trunke of the gate veine.

H. the hollow veine.

I. the great artery.

K. the rootes of the Coelicall artery which accompanieth the gate veine.

L. M. the fatty veine going to the coate of the kidneies.

N. O. the fore-part of both the kid∣neies.

T. V. the emulgent veines and arte∣ries.

aa. the right ureter at the lowest a, cut from a part which neere to b, sticketh yet to the bladder, be∣cause the bottome of the bladder is drawne to the left-side.

c. the left ureter inserted into the bladder neere to r.

dd. the spermaticke veine which goeth to the left testicle marked with i.

ee. the spermaticke veine which go∣eth to the left testicle with i, also. f. the trunke of the great arterie from whence the spermaticall arteries doe proceed. g. h. the spermaticall arteries. ii. the two testicles. ll, a branch which from the sperma∣ticke vessels reacheth unto the bottome of the wombe. mm. the leading vessell of the seede which Falopius calleth the tuba or trumpet, because it is crooked and reflected. n. a branch of the spermaticke vessel, compassing the leading vessell. oo. a vessell like a worme which passeth to the wombe, some call it Cremaster. p. the bottome of the wombe called fundus vteri. q. a part of the right gut. r. s. the bottome of the bladder whereto is inserted the left ureter, and a veine led from the necke of the wombe neere unto r. t. the necke of the bladder. u. the same inserted into the privitie or lap. x. a part of the necke of the wombe above the privity. yy. certaine skinnie Caruncles of the privities, in the midst of which is the slit, and on both sides appeare little hillocks.

The Figures belonging to the Dugges and Breasts.

αα, The veines of the Dugs which come from those, which descending from the top of the shoulder, are offered to the skinne. β. the veines of the dugges derived from those which through the arme-hole are led into the hand γ. the body of the Dugge or Breast. δδ. the kernels and fat betweene them. εε. the vessels of the Dugges descending from the lower part of the necke called iugulum, under the breast bone.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Wherein the privy parts in weomen differ from those in men.
• * 1.2

  The substance and magni∣tude of the wombe.
• * 1.3

  Figure.
• * 1.4

  The hornes of the wombe.
• * 1.5

  Composure. The veines and Arteryes.
• * 1.6

  Nerves.
• * 1.7

  The Coats.
• * 1.8

  No cels in the wombe.
• * 1.9

  The site.
• * 1.10

  The temper and action.
• * 1.11

  The Cotyle∣dones.
• * 1.12

  Columbus ju∣stly reproved.
• * 1.13

  The orifice of the wombe. The proper o∣rifice of the wombe is not alwayes ex∣actly shut in women with child. The necke of the wombe.
• * 1.14

  Its magnitude. Composition.
• * 1.15

  Number and site.
• * 1.16

  Temper.
• * 1.17

  No Hymen.
• * 1.18

  From whence the blood pro∣ceeds that breaks forth in some vir∣gins in the first coition.
• * 1.19

  Alae. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.20

  Cleitoris, tentige