Notes on diseases of women / by James Oliver.

  • Oliver, James
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes on diseases of women / by James Oliver. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The external sexual organs, on the other hand, are essentially dermal in character, being- developed from the epiblast or external ger- minal layer. In many of the lower organisms where structural differentiation is ill-defined, vicarious function is readily fulfilled. The ani- mal may be turned inside out with impunity, and the vital state of the organism be never- theless maintained unimpaired. The endoderm as yet but feebly specialized, although set apart for assimilation, will assume with ease the function of the ectoderm, that of elimination; whilst the ectoderm on the other hand will with equal readiness discharge the function of the endoderm, that of absorption. This is a fact not sufficiently appreciated as far as direct medi- cation—in gynaecology at least—is concerned. When the mucous membrane of the vagina, as happens in complete prolapse of its walls with descent of the uterus, is exposed to those multifarious influences acting constantly on the general surface of the body, it tends to lose its softness and become hardened, and will event- ually assume an appearance characteristic of cutaneous tissue. The mucous membrane of the vagina is but little removed structurally from that of the skin, the change therefore which ensues from prolapse of the vaginal walls, cor-
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