Part 11

The Tumour marked 2, I take to be the Ovarium on the other Side, just clear of the abdominal Muscles, but not come low enough for the Labium, but will no doubt in Time, if not prevented by some outward Compression. I am informed, that the other Tumour came down gradually.

6, 7. The slender Alæ or Pterygia vaginæ, improperly called Nymphæ. On the upper Part of these cuticular Foldings, the Frenulum 6, is observed to be lost, that comes obliquely downwards from the under Side of the Glans.

8. The Orificium, or Entrance into the Vagina, with a smooth whitish Skin on the Inside of the Labia.

9. The Furcula Vaginæ.

10. The large and broad Perinæum, or Distance between the Furca and the Anus.

The second and third Figures represent the external Parts, as they appeared in a Girl shewed about Town for an Hermaphrodite, of which I gave an Account that was read at a Meeting of the Royal Society, Feb. 17, 1714.

FIG. II.

Shews these Parts in a natural Situation.

1. Nympha Luxurians seu Clitoris.

2. Labium dextrum.

3. Labium sinistrum.

FIG. III.

Shews the same, the Labia being deducted or turned back to each Side.

1. Nympha Luxurians, seu Clitoris.

2. Labium dextrum.

3. Labium sinistrum.

4. The Alæ, Pterygia vaginæ, or Nymphæ vulgares.

5. Orificium vaginæ.

6. Furcula vaginæ.

In this Account also I supposed the Tumours to be from the Ovaries fallen down.

N. B. At this Time I protest I neither had read nor heard of Diemerbroeck’s Opinion.

Here, it is plain, is nothing but what is common to every Woman; and whatsoever Appearances may be in her, such as the Largeness of the Clitoris, and that Tumour in the Labium, that are capable of raising other Opinions, they may be deemed a morbid State in the Accretion of the Parts; and as to the said Tumour in the Labium, several of the Learned are divided about it, and their different Opinions amount to three, viz.

1. That such are Testes like those in Men.

2. That they are Herniæ of the Ovaria.

3. That they are Glands of an indolent Nature, void of any Use, fallen from the Groins, and grown inordinately large and hard from the same Cause that enlarges any other neighbouring Parts that exceed their natural Size.

To the first of these Mr Cheselden, and, I am told, some others in Town, seem to assent.

The second is the Opinion of Dr Douglas, for which see his Explanation.

And the last is the Conjecture of Sir Hans Sloane. However, as none of these Opinions can be ascertained without a fair Dissection of such a Subject, as this is, in all Respects, and that by the best Anatomists; and tho’ many Queries and Arguments might be exhibited both for and against these Notions, we chuse rather to omit controverting any one Point, as to this Particular, for the present, and refer the Matter to the first Experiment that shall happen upon such an Occasion.