16 STUDIES ON PATHOLOGIC OVA. 



TABLE 2. List of hospitals and laboratories contributing embryological material Continued. 



In order to obtain good specimens from hospitals, it is necessary that surgeons 

 and pathologists connected therewith be sufficiently interested in embryology to 

 preserve and transmit to this department any valuable specimens obtained at 

 operations. Only in this way can we secure human embryos in as good preservation 

 as those from the lower animals. It is very gratifying that in several instances 

 authorities of hospitals have passed resolutions requesting the members of their 

 respective staffs to send all of their embryological material to this department. 

 Upon the receipt of a specimen it is described, the records filed, and a copy 

 sent to the hospital. These records have in a number of instances enabled us to 

 give expert information, especially in operations upon the uterine tubes in cases 

 of doubtful pregnancy 



Table 3 is interesting as showing the difficulties encountered by embryologists 

 in collecting material. In our own experience we found at first that, although 

 physicians seemed to be entirely willing to send specimens, we rarely received them; 

 or, at best, only those which had been standing upon the shelves for years. These 

 were badly preserved and of little scientific value, not only because the tissues were 

 unfit for microscopic examination, but because histories were entirely lacking. 

 Nevertheless, we always thankfully receive such specimens, and in return gladly 

 send fixing fluids, write letters, and also send reprints of embryological studies to 

 donors. In this way we have learned that a physician who will take the trouble to 

 send one specimen is always willing to preserve carefully the next that falls into 

 his hands, and, in the course of time, he naturally becomes a regular contributor. 

 A number of physicians have been contributors for 30 years, and their unselfish 

 efforts have been a great encouragement to us. 



A glance at table 3 will suffice to show that over half of the specimens came from 

 Maryland, and most of these necessarily from Baltimore; next in order is New York, 

 and the third, Pennsylvania. The remainder cover widely scattered points, the 

 first century being drawn from 21 States, the second from 29 States, the sources 

 gradually expanding to include practically every State and Territory of the Union. 

 From the beginning, a few have come regularly from abroad, so that now we have 



