in Anatomy, the womb, or that part of the female of any kind, wherein the fetus is conceived and nourished till the time of its delivery. See ANATOMY, N° 108.

MATRIX is also applied to places proper for the generation of vegetables, minerals, and metals. Thus the earth is the matrix wherein seeds sprout; and marcasites are by many considered as the matrices of metals.

The matrix of ores is the earthy and stony substance in which these metallic matters are enveloped: these are various, as lime and heavy spar, quartz, fluors, &c.

an elderly married woman.

Jury of MATRONS. When a widow feigns herself with child in order to exclude the next heir, and a supposititious birth is suspected to be intended, then, upon the wit de ventre inficiendo, a jury of women is to be impanelled to try the question whether the woman is with child or not. So, if a woman is convicted of a capital offence, and, being condemned to suffer death, pleads in itay of execution, that she is pregnant, a jury of matrons is impanelled to inquire into the truth of the allegation; and, if they find it true, the convict is respited till after her delivery.