RESORPTION OF CONCEPTUSES. 



303 



uterus this can occur before the impregnated ovum is imbedded, 

 for failing to imbed it undoubtedly would escape relatively 

 promptly although the observations of Kirkham, '16, show that 

 the fertilized ova in mice suckling their young, may lie unim- 

 planted within the uterus for over a week. 



A free fertilized or unfertilized ovum which disintegrated 

 within the tube on the other hand, might be absorbed com- 

 pletely. The same thing holds for early conceptuses within the 



FIG. 10. Cross section of a tube with the contained blood clot and scattered 



chorionic villi, No. 977. X 4.4. 



implantation cavity, for a relatively small amount of hemorrhage 

 could detach them completely without rupturing the capsularis. 

 Death, disintegration, and absorption, as illustrated in the cases 

 above, then might occur. In case of older specimens the hemor- 



