Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Memoirs on the ganglia and nerves of the uterus / by Robert Lee. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
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![the conclusion that these are formed for the purpose of supplying the uterus with that nervous power which it requires during labour. These dissections prove that the human uterus possesses a great system of nerves, which enlarges with the coats, bloodvessels, and absorbents during pregnancy, and which returns after parturition to its original condition before conception takes place. It is chiefly by the influence of these nerves that the uterus performs the varied functions of menstruation, conception, and parturition, and it is solely by their means that the whole fabric of the nervous system sympathizes with the different morbid affections of the uterus. If these nerves of the uterus could not be demonstrated, its physiology and pathology would be completely inexplicable. After the publication of these papers in the Philosophical Transactions, I became a Member of the Council of the Royal Society, and continued in the Council two years. Certain transactions subsequently took place which, it was anticipated by some, would make all anatomists believe that my descriptions and delineations of the ganglia and nerves of the uterus were errors and misrepresentations. The information I possessed respecting this memorable scheme for the improvement of natural knowledge, which will hereafter furnish materials for a new chapter in the History of the Royal Society, induced me, during the years 1843 and 1844, to request all the most distinguished anatomists, physiologists, and medical practitioners whom I could prevail upon, to examine my dissections, and record their opinions in writing. Some of these opinions are subjoined. They are not produced as testimonials to recommend my labours, but are furnished for the purpose of proving that many scientific observers viewed the structures which I had displayed as true nervous structures. At different periods, the dissections have likewise been examined by many other gentle- men of established character, and I never heard one of them express a doubt respecting the accuracy of my descriptions and delineations of the uterine nerves. Of these were Dr. Chambers, Dr. Bright, Dr. Copland, Dr. F. Ramsbotham, Dr. Merriman, Dr. Collins, Dr. Ashwell, Dr. Oldham, Dr. Lever, the Professors Retzius of Stockholm, Professor Meigs of Philadelphia, Dr. Moore, Dr. Mantell, Dr. Melville, Dr. Tyler Smith, Dr. Craigie, Sir Charles Clarke, Dr. Baly, Dr. Boyd, Dr. Willis, Dr. Webster, Dr. B. Hawkins, Dr. Grana, Dr. Gibbs, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Pettigrew, Dr. Nairne, Dr. Bence Jones, Dr. Rees, Dr. S. Thompson, Dr. A. T. Thompson, Dr. Johnes, Dr. Chowne, Dr. Thatcher, Dr. Murphy, Dr. H. Davies, Dr. Hunt, Monsieur Velpeau, Dr. Bennett, Dr. Elliot of Stockholm, Dr. Boeck, Dr. N. Arnott, Dr. James Arnott, Dr. Willis, and by Mr. Liston, Mr. Hilton, Mr. Lane, Mr. Erasmus Wilson, Mr. Gregory Smith, Mr. Prescott Hewett, Mr. Streeter, Mr. Copeland, Mr. G. Babington, Mr. George Young, Mr. Gray, Mr. Simon, Mr. Higginbotham, and Mr. Barlow. My dear Sir, Moleswoeth-Steeet, Dublin, April 22, 1842. I received the paper on the Nerves of the Uterus which you so kindly sent me, and beg to congratulate you on the triumphant success of your researches ; and I rejoice exceedingly that what was begun in our own country by W. Hunter has been brought to perfection in our own country by your talent and perseverance ; and as such I shall speak of it.—Yours very sincerely, ^ -yy -p ]\/[ONTGOMERY M D My dear Sir, Cambeidge, February 23, 1843. I have just received a copy of your paper on the Nerves of the Uterus, and of the Appendix thereto, and beg you to accept my very grateful thanks for your present. You will allow me to express what I fully feel— that the dissections which the plates represent evince, in my opinion, such consummate skill and patience, as can only be equalled by the great value of that sure foundation which they afford to the physiology of the organ.—I am, my dear Sir, your obliged and very obedient, „ WILLIAM CLARK F R S Dr. E. Lee, &c. My dear Sir, <■ Cambeidge, March 22, 1846. You ask me whether, ' after having had an opportunity of examining your dissections of the Nerves of the Uterus, I am of opinion that the descriptions and delineations which you have given of them in the Philosophical Transactions, are correct ?' In answer, I beg to state that, in my judgment, the plates represent, as fairly as may be, the results of your extremely elaborate and minute dissections. They are certainly not](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21937394_0026.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
