THE PENIS-ITS FUNCTIONS.

The penis appears just above the testicles. Its origin is at the neck of the bladder, and it has two principle uses; one is to convey the urine away from the bladder, and the other is to convey the semen from the ducts of the vesiculae seminales to the female reproductive organs.

ERECTION.

But it requires a very different kind of an organ to properly deposit the semen in the reproductive organs of woman, from what is needed to carry the urine away from the bladder. As the penis performs these two functions and performs them both well, it becomes a very interesting organ to study. In its usual relaxed condition it would be impossible for it to enter and deposit the seed in the reproductive organs of the woman. The change which takes place in the organ to adapt it to perform this wonderful function, is called erection.

But in the state of erection it cannot perform its other function any better, probably hardly so well; and it would be exceedingly inconvenient besides, and not only inconvenient, but the organ would be in constant danger as well. It would be in the way when walking and working, and would frequently be getting hurt unless the most constant

Side view of the male sexual and urinary organs, showing the relation that the different parts bear to each other. Left side. The organs are represented as cut in two from before backward.

care should be taken for its protection. But how is the erection accomplished? That is a question which has puzzled many an older head, but when it is understood, it is seen to be quite simple; as, indeed, are most things that seem so strange when we know but little about them.

HOW AN ERECTION TAKES PLACE.

The greater part of the penis is somewhat like a sponge. It contains a large supply of blood vessels. When an erection is taking place, large quantities of blood are being forced into these vessels and this causes a distention of the organ. This distension enables the muscles to act and they aid in completing and maintaining the erection. When the organ again becomes relaxed, the excess of blood has simply left the organ and returned to the general circulation.

If you should take a relaxed rubber tube and force it full of water, the effect would be much like that which takes place in the penis during erection. When you permit the water to run out of the tube, it again becomes relaxed as does the penis when the excess of blood leaves it.

CHAPTER III.

THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS.

It will be difficult to describe these organs so that you will easily understand them; and what the description lacks in clearness, you must supply by harder study.

THE WOMB-ITS FUNCTION.

Your attention will first be invited to the womb. This is the organ in which little babies live and grow until they are large enough and strong enough to live without its protection, when they are born into the world. You will see that the womb must be a large organ to hold a babe that will weigh eight or ten pounds as many of them do when they are first born. And some babies are even heavier. But the wombs of girls and women who have never become mothers, are quite small. It would seem impossible for them to enlarge so much, but Nature is always equal to the work she has to do. And the wombs of women who are healthful and vigorous, will enlarge without difficulty as the little babies in

them need larger homes. But with ladies who lace tightly and otherwise violate the laws of health, the case is often quite different and they frequently suffer severely at this time.

WHAT THE WOMB LOOKS LIKE-ITS SHAPE,
SIZE AND WEIGHT.

The shape of the womb is much like that of a pear, except that it is flattened on two opposite sides. If you should pull the stem out of a soft pear, and then squeeze the pear between your hands until it is considerably flattened, it will be an object almost exactly the shape of the womb. The unimpregnated womb is from two and a half to three inches long, one and a half to two inches broad at the widest part, and about one inch thick. Its weight is about one and one half ounces. During pregnancy it becomes many times heavier and often weighs no less than two pounds, but it gradually decreases in size after the babe is born until it is little larger than before impregnation. See Fig. 6 page 29.

THE OVARIES-THEIR SIZE, SHAPE

AND FUNCTIONS.

On either side of the widest part of the womb is another important organ called an ovary.

The ovaries are about the size and shape of almouds. Their relation to the female reproductive