This membrane is sometimes thrown off in pieces, and at others entire, at which time it bears the strongest resemblance to the decidua, so much so that, when it occurs in unmarried females, it may and sometimes does give rise to most painful suspicions. There is a preparation in the museum of the College of Surgeons, Dublin, of an entire membrane of this kind, which might deceive the most experienced eye. Morgagni relates a very remarkable instance in which pregnancy occurred during the existence of the habit just described, but it is probable that there was a suspension of the disease for a time in that case, when the capability of conceiving might exist. It is well known that instances have happened in which persons have lived for years in unfruitful matrimony, and being after divorce remarried, have both had children. This is a fact which in the present state of our knowledge we are not able satisfactorily to explain, and we will not delay the reader by offering any speculative opinion upon it. _Treatment._ The treatment of impotence and sterility must be influenced by the causes from which they spring, some of which are incurable, whilst others may be removed by appropriate remedies. Those cases which depend upon congenital deficiency of the penis, testicles, vagina, uterus, Fallopian tubes, or ovaria, belong to the former; but we have seen that some of those arising from malformation and disease of these parts are susceptible of cure. Such are phimosis, adhesion of the prepuce to the glands with diminution of the orifice of the urethra, priapism, partial paralysis, strictures in the urethra, diseases of the neighbouring parts, contracted vagina, occlusion of the mouth of this canal by adhesion of the labia, or by a dense hymen, prolapsus and procidentia uteri, polypus in utero, leucorrhœa, dysmenorrhœa: all these are more or less capable of removal either by operation or general treatment. By persisting carefully in a proper plan, sterility may at length be frequently removed. There are many instances of women bearing children, after having been several years barren.