PREPARATIONS OF THE WOMB FOR THE RECEPTION OF THE NEW BEING.
The vital principle of the male having found access to the egg, through the tubes of the uterus, the egg has re- ceived its fecundating element, and is now to remain in that wonderful chamber, to grow, and develop into a human being. Were the womb neutral in this process, the egg would fall out of it from its specific gravity; but the womb is not a neutral organ, and has a great part to play for the reception and maintenance of its guest.
While the egg progresses in its journey through the Fallopian tube towards the womb, that organ forms in its interior a membrane, which lines its wall, and closes the opening of its mouth; when the egg enters, it pushes this membrane before it, embedding itself within.
When the egg has not been fecundated, the womb spends no waste effort; the membrane is not developed to any extent: in fact, it remains so incomplete and delicate, that it passes off with the egg, unnoticed by the subject.
But when it has been fertilized, the womb assists in the completion of that membrane which is to retain the child within its fold, increases in size, and prepares itself to supply all the elements necessary to the growth and maintenance of the fcctus.
The monthly production of an ovum is a part of the proper action of the female system. Why she should be subject to this once a month, while the lion and the ele- phant are subject to it but once in three years, can only be answered by such questions as. Why do some roses bloom every month, and others only every six months, or once a year?
