CHAP. 84.—THE WOMB: THE WOMB OF THE SOW: THE TEARS.
Women have all the same organs, except that adjoining to
the bladder there is one like a small sac, [Note] from which circumstance it is called the " uterus." Another name for this part is
" loci;" [Note] but in other animals it is known by the name of
"vulva." With the viper and other animals which generate
their young within themselves, the womb is double; while
with those which are oviparous, it is attached to the diaphragm.
In woman it has two concavities, one on either side: when
the matrix becomes displaced, it is productive of fatal effects, by
causing suffocation. [Note] It is asserted that the cow, when pregnant, carries her young only in the right concavity of the womb,
and that this is the case even when she produces twins. The
womb of the sow is considered better eating if she has slipped her
young, than if she has duly brought forth: in the former case
it is known by the name of "ejectitia," in the latter it is
called " porcaria." The womb of a sow that has farrowed only
once is the most esteemed, and that of those which have
ceased farrowing, the least. After farrowing, unless the animal is killed the same day, the womb is of a livid colour, and
lean. This part, however, is not esteemed in a young sow,
except just after the first farrowing: indeed, it is much more
highly valued in an animal of a more mature age, so long as it
is not past breeding, or has been killed two days before farrowing, or two days after, or upon the day on which it has
miscarried. The next best after that of a sow that has miscarried, is that of one that has been killed the day after farrowing: indeed, the paps of this last, if the young have not
begun to suck, are excellent eating, while those of an animal
that has miscarried are very inferior. The ancients called this
part by the name of " abdomen," before it grew hard, and
were not in the habit of killing swine while in a state of
pregnancy.
