the scrotum.

Azema reports an instance of complete absence of the vagina and
impermeability and probable absence of the col uterinus. The
deficiencies were remedied by operation. Berard mentions a similar
deformity and operation in a girl of eighteen. Gooding cites an
instance of absent vagina in a married woman, the uterus discharging
the functions. Gosselin reports a case in which a voluminous tumor was
formed by the retained menstrual fluid in a woman without a vagina. An
artificial vagina was created, but the patient died from extravasation
of blood into the peritoneal cavity. Carter, Polaillon, Martin, Curtis,
Worthington, Hall, Hicks, Moliere, Patry, Dolbeau, Desormeaux, and
Gratigny also record instances of absence of the vagina.

There are some cases reported in extramedical literature which might be
cited. Bussy Rabutin in his Memoires in 1639 speaks of an instance. The
celebrated Madame Recamier was called by the younger Dumas an
involuntary virgin; and in this connection could be cited the malicious
and piquant sonnet--

Chateaubriand et Madame Recamier.

"Juliette et Rene s'aimaient d'amour si tendre
Que Dien, sans les punir, a pu leur pardonner:
Il n'avait pas voulu que l'une put donner
Ce que l'autre ne pouvait prendre."

Duplex vagina has been observed by Bartholinus, Malacarne, Asch,
Meckel, Osiander, Purcell, and other older writers. In more modern
times reports of this anomaly are quite frequent. Hunter reports a case
of labor at the seventh month in a woman with a double vagina, and
delivery through the rectum. Atthill and Watts speak of double vagina
with single uterus.

Robb of Johns Hopkins Hospital reports a case of double vagina in a
patient of twenty suffering from dyspareunia. The vaginal orifice was
contracted; the urethra was dilated and had evidently been used for
coitus. A membrane divided the vagina into two canals, the cervix lying
in the right half; the septum was also divided. Both the thumbs of the
patient were so short that their tips could scarcely meet those of the
little fingers. Double vagina is also reported by Anway, Moulton,
Freeman, Frazer, Haynes, Lemaistre, Boardman, Dickson, Dunoyer, and
Rossignol. This anomaly is usually associated with bipartite or double
uterus. Wilcox mentions a primipara, three months pregnant, with a
double vagina and a bicornate uterus, who was safely delivered of
several children. Haller and Borellus have seen double vagina, double