The Womb.–the plate beautifully and effectively illustrates the location and formation of the womb, that wonderful organ which performs the function of parturition, and which is so constructed as to assist in all the necessary efforts of birth. Its structure is elastic and strong, and it expands readily to accommodate the growth of the child (fœtus). While this is true exteriorly, its inner parts are rather delicately lined, and subject to a variety of painful diseases, generally designated as “Diseases of the Womb.”

At this point, the author or authors just couldn’t help themselves and a return to some of their previous form.

First off it like to point out the use of the word parturition. This word simply means the act of giving birth.

Second, I’d like to point out the atypical spelling of the word fetus, spelled as “fœtus.” I have wonder if the use of the spelling using the Greek characters “œ” was used to describe the fetus from a secular perspective while being very respectable of nonsecular concerns and sensibilities. The etymology of the word is actually theoretically linked to a spelling mistake by Saint Isidore of Seville, who introduced Aristotle to his countrymen around between 535 ad and 636 ad in his work the Etymologiae (taking its title from the method he used in the transcription of his era’s knowledge). He may not have been a travelpro but he was well learned. He brought ancient knowledge back into Western knowledge as early as the beginning of the Dark Ages.

Third, the last phrase of this section “Diseases of the Womb” seems to hint to me, and my perspective may be flawed, that the author is referring to illnesses often associated with women, but downplayed by doctors hundred years ago. They lump the large number of health issues together at times it did not take practical nor realistic look at it as they were avoiding the sensibility issues of the day.