| OCR Text |
Show 520 THE FEMALE ORGANS OF THE INDIAN ELEPHANT. [Nov. 20, the condition of a fibrous cord ; and thirdly, the two orifices of the canals of Gaertner, which were situated on either side of the os vaginae, and therefore occupied the same position as in the specimen which I formerly described. The examination of the female organs of the Indian Elephant just described shows that we have not as yet arrived at an understanding of the normal configuration of these parts, and of the variations which they manifest in different specimens of the same species. In some, as in the specimens described by Stukeley, Hunter, Mayer, Miall and Greenwood, the corpus uteri was single, and the uterine septum fell short of the mouth of the uterus ; while in at least one other, that described by myself in the Transactions of this Society, the uterus was divided into two compartments by a perfect septum uteri, which extended from end to end of that organ. In some specimens, as in those described by Stukeley1, Hunter2, Owen3, Miall and Greenwood, as well as in that formerly described by myself, a secondary vagina was clearly differentiated from the uterus in front, and from the urogenital canal behind; while in at least one other, that described by Mayer, the secondary vagina was not distinguishable as a distinct structure, but apparently formed part of the uterus. In some, as in the specimen just described, as well as in those described by Mayer, Hunter, and Owen, there was not the slightest trace of a vaginal septum; iu others, such as that formerly described by myself in the Transactions of this Society, the vagina was divided from end to end by a complete septum : while in that described by Miall and Greenwood, and probably in that figured by Stukeley, the vaginal septum was represented by a fibrous cord which, stretching across the mouth of the vagina, divided that orifice into two. In some specimens, as in that just described, and in those of Mayer, Hunter, and Owen, there were four separate orifices which communicated with the commencement of the urogenital canal, namely those of the single os vaginae, of the urethra, and of the two canals of Gaertner; while in the specimen examined on a previous occasion by myself, as well as in that examined by Miall and Greenwood, the single os vaginae was divided into two parts by the posterior extremity of the vaginal septum. In the last-named specimens therefore there were five apertures which communicated with the urogenital canal, namely the two ora vaginae, the orifices of the two canals of Gaertner, and the orifice of the urethra. Further research is necessary to enable us to explain and reconcile the variations in structure of the female organs which are met with in different specimens of the Indian Elephant; and it is to be hoped that those who have an opportunity of investigating the structure of this animal will not lose sight of the fact that much 1 ' On the Spleen, to which is added some Anatomical Observations on the Dissection of an Elephant.' London, 1723, p. 104. 2 ' Essays and Observations,' vol. ii. p. 175. 3 ' Anatomy of Vertebrates,' vol. iii. p. 692. |
