in Anatomy, a membrane in the abdomen, covering the greatest part of the guts; called, from its structure, Reticulum, but most frequently Omentum. See ANATOMY Index.

CAUL is likewise a little membrane, found on some children, encompassing the head when born.

Drelincourt takes the caul to be only a fragment of the membranes of the fetus; which ordinarily break at the birth of the child. Lampridus tells us, that the midwives sold this caul at a good price to the advocates and pleaders of his time; it being an opinion, that while they had this about them, they should carry with them a force of persuasion which no judge could withstand: the canons forbid the use of it; because some witches and sorcerers, it seems, had abused it.

Vol. V. Part I.