256 STUDIES ON PATHOLOGIC OVA. 



other matters. Moreover, the cases which are accompanied by a careful histologic 

 examination, and which for this reason alone are wholly unequivocal from an 

 anatomic standpoint, are still relatively few. 



Specimen No. 550 of the Carnegie Collection is of interest to both the surgeon 

 and the embryologist. It is also of great scientific value, for it shows conclusively 

 that the ovum had lodged itself in the Graafian follicle, undoubtedly in the one 

 from which it came, indicating that the sperm must have entered the follicle 

 after it had ruptured. The fertilized ovum then found lodgment in the follicle, 

 around which the corpus luteum developed. As in other cases which have been 

 reported, no decidua was formed, showing that the decidua is not of embryonic 

 origin. 



This case illustrates well the advantage of cooperation in research. Under a 

 special organization, with a properly equipped laboratory attached to a surgical 

 clinic, specimens of great scientific value may be recognized and properly reported; 

 and it is not necessary to have an entire medical faculty attached to each clinical 

 laboratory in order to make progress in medico-biological science. 



The specimen was sent to the Gynecological-Pathological Laboratory to be ex- 

 amined and the following record was made: 



"The specimen consists of a tube and ovary from the right side. The tube at its 

 outer extremity has been considerably mutilated. The portion received measures 6 cm. 

 in length and is somewhat tortuous. It shows a few adhesions on the surface. Section 

 through the middle portion of the tube shows the mucosa to be somewhat thickened 

 and blood-tinged. Section through the distal portion gives a similar picture. There is 

 no gross evidence of an extrauterine pregnancy. There is a portion of the fimbria present, 

 but the portion of the tube between this and the middle is missing. There is nothing 

 to suggest placental tissue. The mucosa appears normal in the sections. 



"The ovary measures 5 by 4 by 3.5 cm. The surface shows a few old adhesions. 

 On section the ovary shows a cyst 3 cm. in diameter. Clinging to the wall and bulging 

 into the cavity is a blood-clot 2 cm. in width and 8 mm. in thickness. This on section 

 appears to be corpus luteum. It is intimately connected with the walls of the cystic 

 space. Further sections show villi in the clot attached to the inner surface of the space 

 in the ovary." 



The appearance of the specimen, with a section through the ovary, is shown 

 well in figures 157 and 158. When received there came with it several sections 

 from the Gynecological-Pathological Laboratory and these two drawings by 

 Professor Brodel. These sections included the chorion, ovary, and uterine tube. 

 The sections of the uterine tube appear normal, with a very extensive infolding 

 of mucous membrane and occasional lymph-nodules in its walls. Doubtless the 

 sections are from the distal or fimbriated end of the tube. The sections from the 

 chorion are apparently at right angles to its main wall, as shown in the figure. 



The villi, which are irregular in arrangement, show attachment to the main 

 wall of the chorion, while at their distal ends they invariably abut against the 

 blood-clot (figure 162). In no instance is there any sign of the decidua, nor do the 

 sections through the villi contain any of the adjacent ovarian tissue. The blood- 

 clot is well organized, with strands of fibrin extending in all directions and without 



