Whilst the seed remains confined in its capsule, it cannot answer its purpose; hence, when it is sufficiently ripe, the pericardium opens, and lets it out.

It is enclosed in a bell-shaped covering called the pericardium.

This fluid permits the heart and the pericardium to glide upon one another with the least possible amount of friction.

Between the lungs are situated the large bronchi, the oesophagus, the heart in its pericardium, and the great blood-vessels.

Pericardium (Gr. peri, about, and kardia, heart).

The various serous membranes are the pleura which envelops the lungs; the pericardium which surrounds the heart; the peritoneum which invests the viscera of the abdomen, and the arachnoid in the spinal canal and cranial cavity.

A correct idea may be formed of the arrangement of the pericardium around the heart by recalling how a boy puts on and wears his toboggan cap.

The pericardium encloses the heart exactly as this cap covers the boy's head.

Every Smatterer in Anatomy knows that this Pericardium, or Case of the Heart, contains in it a thin reddish Liquor, supposed to be bred from the Vapours which exhale out of the Heart, and, being stopt here, are condensed into this watry Substance.

Having cleared away the Pericardium, or the Case and Liquor above-mentioned, we came to the Heart itself.

"Disease of the heart," said theyI believe they called it "the pericardium"; and after paying a tribute of admiration to the loveliness of the dead lady, discussed the leading article of that day's Times with perfect equanimity.

On Tuesday night she was in a dangerous condition, and on Wednesday the pericardium was found to be seriously diseased.

Every Smatterer in Anatomy knows that this Pericardium, or Case of the Heart, contains in it a thin reddish Liquor, supposed to be bred from the Vapours which exhale out of the Heart, and, being stopt here, are condensed into this watry Substance.

Having cleared away the Pericardium, or the Case and Liquor above-mentioned, we came to the Heart itself.

The two boys were soon seized with pain of the pericardia, loss of speech, abolition of all the senses, and terrible convulsions.