Fig. 3.
The Pudendum and Fore-part of the Vagina Vteri Open'd.
A, Part of the Vagina, which lies under the Bladder of Urine.
B B, The Vagina and Meatus Vrinarius divided.
C C, The Corpus Glandulosum or Part Analogous to the Pro∣statae in Men, divided.
D D, The Ductus Secretorii or Lacunae of De Graaf, within the Gland, which have divers Ostiola about the Meatus Vrina∣rius, whence Issues Part of the Matter emitted in Coitu.
Besides these Ducts arising from Glands plac'd about the the Meatus Vrinarius, there are others of the same Kind in the Vagina, and Two remarkable ones arising from Two ve∣ry conspicuous Glands, plac'd towards the Lower Part of the Orificium Pudendi by the Anus, whose Ducts open at the Roots of the Carunculae Myrtiformes externally on each Side the Pudendum. These and the above-mention'd Ducts dis∣charge the Matter commonly call'd Semen.
E E E, The Meatus Vrinarius open'd; at whose Extremi∣ty divers of the aforesaid Ostiola appear.
F F, The Labia Pudendi open'd.
G, The Internal Rugous Membrane of the Vagina Vteri: This Internal Membrane is much fuller of Rugae towards its Upper Part, B, C, D, here divided, than in the Lower, G, next the Rectum: As it approaches the Pudendum, it becomes some∣what Narrower, and behind or above the Orifice of the Meatus Vrinarius it frames a Valvulous Appearance in Virgins of above 16 or 17 Years of Age. In Girls of 7 or 8, it appears to be a Transverse Membrane having a Small Perforation towards its Upper Part. When the Hymen is broke, whether in Coitu or otherwise, the divided Parts of it make the Carunculae Myrti∣formes, whence it is, the Figure and Number of those Carun∣cles are uncertain; Wierus, Parry, Hildanus and others give us Histories of Cases where the Hymen has been Impervious after Twenty-Two Years of Age, and such a Quantity of Menstrua Pent in the Vagina, &c. extend the Lower Belly, as if they had gone with Child. Some Years since I was call'd by my Ingenious Friend Dr. Chamberlin to see a Mar∣ry'd Woman of above Twenty Years of Age, whose Lower Belly was very much Distended, as if with Child. Upon Examining the Pudendum, we found the Hymen altogether Im∣pervious, and driven out beyond the Labia Pudendi in such Manner, that at First Sight it appear'd not unlike a Prolapsus Vteri. In the Upper Part towards the Clitoris we found the Orifice of the Meatus Vrinarius very open, and its Sides Ex∣truded not unlike the Anus or Cloaca of a Cock, and without any Difficulty I could put my Fore-finger into the Bladder of Urine. On dividing the Hymen, at least a Gallon of Gru∣mous Blood of divers Colours and Consistencies came from her, which was the retain'd Menstrua. The next Day no less a Quantity of the same Matter flow'd after removing the Pessary which I had put in the Day before. After Three, or Four Days she was easie, and soon after recover'd, and with in a Year was deliver'd of a healthful Child. Her Husband told us, Tho' lying with her at First was very painful to him∣self as well as to her, yet at last he had a more easie Access; which could be by no other Way than the Meatus Vri∣narius.