The Dublin practice of midwifery / by Henry Maunsell.

Henry Maunsell

Date:: 1856

Credit: The Dublin practice of midwifery / by Henry Maunsell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$after a very free circiilation. tlirough it, returns by tlie umbilical vein directly to tlie beart. Tliis cir- culation continues until respiration is estabUsbed, wben it ceases spontaneously, and any interiniption of it, before tlie latter process bas commenced, is immediately fatal. From tliese facts, we are war- ranted in inferring tbat a cbange necessary to life (probably oxygenisation) is effected in tbe pla- centa, altbougb tbe natm'e of tbat cbange is ob- sciu-e, and tbe relative properties of tbe blood in tbe umbilical arteries and veins are not at all knomi. Tbat tbe organ in question not only re\ivifies tbe blood, but also elaborates new \'ital fluid, tbus per- forming a function analogous to tbat of tbe stomacb, can only be inferred from tbe absence of any otber som'ce fi'om wbence tbe foetus could obtain materials for growtb and support. Witb respect to tbe manner in wbicb tbe pla- centa is formed, aU is obscm-ity; but tbe following appears to me to be a probable conjecture. In speaking of tbe decidua reflexa, I bave mentioned tbe probal)ility of its being formed by tbe ovum, in its entrance into tbe womb, pushing before it tbat portion of decidua vera wbicb covered tbe opening of tbe tube, and so forming a bag, tbe neck of wbicb would remain attached to tbe tube, wbde it would itself (from its plastic natm*e) in- crease in a ratio witb tbe increase of tbe o^oim. In a short time this bag of decidua reflexa would$

The Dublin practice of midwifery / by Henry Maunsell.

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