CHORION WITHOUT AMNION OR CYEMA. 



113 



the specimen was sent, part of it had been cut into sections, 

 and the accompanying record stated that no embryo had 

 been found. 



(4) The part received at the laboratory contained a 

 chorionic vesicle 3X2.5 mm., filled with magma, in which 

 was a cavity about 1.5 X 1 mm. 



(5) Sections showed that the cavity was natural, but 

 not sharply denned, with nothing to indicate that an 

 embryo had been in it. On the contrary, it was found 

 that the magma r<Sticul6 was filled with a loose network 

 of mesoderm cells, which unite one side of the chorion 

 with the other. These cells are directly continuous with 

 those of the mesoderm and resemble them in every particu- 

 lar. At one point there is a small group of epithelial cells, 

 which may represent what was originally the embryo. 

 Otherwise the chorion and villi are normal in appearance, 

 being encapsulated in decidua which has in it some uterine 

 glands. All in all, this specimen reminds one very much 

 of Peters's ovum. There is some general infiltration in 

 the decidua, and also a few accumulations of leucocytes 

 are present in the mucosa. The specimen shows some 

 maceration. We consider this specimen one in which the 

 embryo has been destroyed, leaving a normal chorion. 



(6) Slight infiltration. 



No. 280. 



(1) Thomas H. Magness, Baltimore, Maryland. 



(2) A 40X25X25 mm. 



(4) Within the mole, which is said to be five or six weeks 

 old, there is an irregular cavity with smooth walls measur- 

 ing 10X5X5 mm. 



(5) Sections were cut of the thick hemorrhagic walls. 

 These showed the walls of the chorion to be thin, with 

 considerable retieular magma attached to them on the 

 inside. No amnion was found. The villi, though not 

 very large, are well developed, contain remnants of blood- 

 vessels, and are covered with a mass of necrotic syncytium. 

 The blood and mucus over the syncytium is filled with 

 leucocytes which invade the mesoderm of many of the 

 villi. The latter are very degenerate and are surrounded 

 by severe leucocytic accumulations. The exterior of the 

 clot which surrounds the villi is formed by a thick wall 

 of densely packed leucocytes, which replaces the decidua 

 almost completely. It is probable that the whole ovum 

 had been dead for several weeks, the embryo and amnion 

 having been destroyed entirely. 



(6) Severe infection and rapid degeneration. 



No. 299. 



(1) W. B. Burns, Memphis, Tennessee. 



(2) A 16X12X10 mm. 



(4) The specimen, which apparently is normal, is filled 

 with a mass of dense magma rfiticule'. 



(5) Serial sections failed to show even a remnant of an 

 embryo. The structure of the chorion and villi is normal, 

 possibly a little edematous from maceration. No blood- 

 vessels are present. 



(6) Possibly a very early hydatiform degeneration. No 

 decidua. 



No. 310. 



(1) W. T. Watson, Baltimore, Maryland. 



(2) A 18X14X14 mm. 



(4) The specimen is covered with villi, which on section 

 proved to be markedly changed. 



(5) The mesoderm has undergone mucoid degeneration 

 and contains vacuoles in which there are free nuclei. The 

 epithelial layer is irregular. The villi are yacuolated, 

 contain some blood-vessels, and are covered with a fairly 

 active and preserved trophoblast. The interior of the 

 ovum is filled with magma reticule 1 , at the periphery of 

 which degenerated erythroblasts Hofbauer cells of Minot 

 are found. Many of the villi also contain numerous 

 Hofbauer cells. There is no trace of embryo or of the 

 amnion. The degenerate decidua is decidedly infiltrated. 



(6) Marked infiltration; hydatiform degeneration. 



No. 358. 



(1) C. M. Swett, Bangor, Maine. 



(2) A 30X16X10 mm. 



(3) Pregnancy of six weeks' duration. 



(4) The outer surface of the ovum is smooth, and the 

 specimen runs out into a pedicle which undoubtedly was 

 attached to the uterus. 



(5) Sections show that the villi are matted together, 

 and that much blood and syncytium is between them. 

 Around this there is a fibrous decidua contain ng many 

 leucocytes and necrotic areas. The mesoderm of the 

 chorion is swollen from maceration, and some of the villi 

 are rather fibrous. No blood-vessels are present in the 

 L atter 'i TIle coelom measures 8X6X6 mm. and is lined 

 by a layer of reticular magma, but contains no trace of 

 amnion or embryo. 



(6) Marked infiltration. 



No. 435a. 



(1) F. A. Conradi, Baltimore, Maryland. 



(2) A SOX 20X15 mm. 



(4) The ovum is filled with a dense reticulated magma 

 and contains a cavity measuring 20X15X10 mm. 



(5) The ovum, which was cut into serial sections, con- 

 tains no embryo or amnion. The villi are non-vascular 

 and atrophic, having undergone degeneration, partly mu- 

 coid and partly fibrous. They are covered with very 

 little trophoblast. The chorionic wall is fibrous, and 

 numerous cells are scattered throughout the dense magma. 

 The degenerate remnant of decidua which is present 

 suggests the presence of an infection. 



(6) Suggestive of hydatiform degeneration; too little 

 decidua. 



No. 593. 



(1) Abraham Poska, Hobson, Montana. 



(2) Ovum 30X25X20 mm. 



(3) Patient said she did not know she was pregnant 

 having had her last menstrual period four weeks before 

 the abortion. 



(4) The ovum, which is covered with large villi, has 

 a pedicle. The entire specimen measures 45X25X20 

 mm. The interior apparently is solid, and upon cutting it 

 open no cavity is found, nor can a remnant of the embryo 

 be seen. 



(5) Sections of the pedicle show it to be markedly in- 

 filtrated, much blood and pus being scattered through the 

 tissue. Several villi present here are degenerate, but 

 those on the main body of the specimen are large and 

 beautifully branching. Sections through these include 

 their points of attachment, which consist of chorionic 

 membrane practically destroyed by an invasion of leuco- 

 cytes. Apparently an abscess destroyed the main body 

 of the ovum almost entirely. The villi are disintegrating, 

 for the mesenchyme is breaking down. The spaces are 

 becoming larger and the nuclei fewer. The stems of the 

 villi are being invaded by leucocytes, but there are small 

 remnants of embryonic blood-vessels. The trophoblast 

 is scanty. 



(6) Marked infiltration and early hydatiform degen- 

 eration. 



No. 594. 



(1) Abraham Poska, Hobson, Montana. 



(2) A 47X40X30 mm. 



(3) There were several severe hemorrhages previous to 

 the abortion, which were interpreted by the patient as 

 frequent menstrual periods. She passed much clotted 

 blood. 



(4) The specimen, which is solid, is composed mostly 

 of blood containing a solid ovum with a long, narrow, slit- 

 like ccelom. No remnant of the embryo could be found. 



(5) The folds of the swollen, hemorrhagic chorion have 

 coalesced in certain areas, and at points numerous large 

 ridges of mesenchyme have grown into the ccelom. These 

 folds contain a great many Hofbauer cells. The chorionic 



