Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/3590
Scientific nameHomo sapiens
CollectionHunterian
CategoryWet preparations
Object nameovary, fallopian tubes, Uterus, Products of generation - Humans, Mounted wet tissue
DescriptionThe left ovary, fallopian tube and half of the uterus from a woman in the first month of pregnancy.
The ovary and fallopian tube have been opened and the cavity of the uterus has been exposed. The blood vessels have been injected.
These specimens come from a woman aged 25. She was a domestic servant who died by suicide by taking poison. According to John Hunter, who carried out the post-mortem examination, she was pregnant, although her family suggested that her last period had been less than one month before. At the time it was suggested that the lateness of her period and the realisation that she was pregnant may have prompted her to take her own life.
Production date exact 1792
Preparator
Owner/user
Surgeon/clinician
Patient/subject
Acquisition source
Related objectsRCSHC/P 1014RCSHC/3592RCSHC/3591
Physical Location
LocationOn display in the Hunterian Museum, Room 7: St George's Hospital
Physical Information
Physical descriptionWet preparation of tissue mounted in an oval glass jar with a glass lid.
Materialglass (material), alcohol (70%)
Homo
Dimensions
whole height: 140 mm
whole width: 109 mm
whole depth: 72 mm
whole weight: 1004 g
whole width: 109 mm
whole depth: 72 mm
whole weight: 1004 g
Bibliography
SourceDobson 1970-71
Transcript3590: The left ovary, Fallopian tube and corresponding half of the uterus of a young woman, supposed to have been in the first month of her pregnancy, injected. A thin slice has been removed from the middle of the ovary and the remaining portions are divaricated, showing the two lateral parts of a large corpus luteum, which occupies nearly one third of the entire ovary; the cavity from which the ripe ovum escaped is completely occluded. The corpus luteum is adherent to the tunica of the Graafian follicle which it has replaced and is permeated by vessels introduced by ingrowths from this tunic. The tissue between it and the attachment of the ovary is highly vascular. Upon the cut surfaces of the ovary may be observed several large Graafian follicles in section. The Fallopian tube has been laid open and the cavity of the uterus exposed. The tissues next the cavity of the uterus are swollen but have received very little injection.
SourceHunter 'Works'
IV, 55-59
NotesThe preamble states that the case was originally published in 1794 in the Transactions of a Society for the Improvement of Medical and Chirurgical Knowledge: in fact, it was read in 1794 but not published until 1800.
SourceOgle 1800
Esp. 66-69
NotesThe paper gives the case history and also Hunter's account of the dissection of Mary Hunt's body. From the date given ("Thursday 19th April" it is evident that the of the original case was 1792.
