Page:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Vol 4.djvu/215

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John Rogers, Jun., Esq. was balloted for, and duly elected into the Society.

No paper read.

December 12, 1839.

MAJOR SABINE, R.A., V.P., in the Chair.

George Leith Roupell, M.D., was balloted for, and duly elected into the Society.

" On the Nerves of the Gravid Uterus." By Robert Lee, M.D., F.R.S.

The author, while dissecting a gravid uterus of seven months, on the 8th of April, 1838, observed the trunk of a large nerve proceeding upwards from the cervix to the body of that organ along with the right uterine vein, and sending off branches to the posterior surface of the uterus; some of which accompanied the vein, and others appeared to be inserted into the peritoneum. A broad band, resembling a plexus of nerves, was seen extending across the posterior surface of the uterus, and covering the nerve about midway from the fundus to the cervix. On the left side, a large plexus oi nerves was seen, surrounding the uterine veins at the place where they were about to enter the hypogastric vein. From this plexus three large trunks of nerves were seen accompanying the uterine vein, which increased in size as they ascended to the fundus uteri. From the nerve situated on the posterior surface of the vein, numerous filaments passed off towards the mesial line, as on the right side ; some following the smaller veins on the posterior surface of the uterus, and others becoming intimately adherent to the peritoneum. The largest of the nerves which accompanied the uterine vein was traced as high as the part where the Fallopian tube enters the uterus ; and there it divided into numerous filaments, which plunged deep into the muscular coat of the uterus along with the vein. A large fasciculated band, like a plexus of nerves, was also seen on the left side