FETUS COMPRESSUS. 



167 



strual period about November, and abortion January 

 following. No venereal diseases. Family fertile. 



(4) This specimen consists of a compressed oval mass, 

 measuring 52X30X16 mm. On being opened, the 

 firm hemorrhagic wall disclosed a smooth-lined cavity 

 from which some blood-stained fluid emerged. It was 

 filled with reticular magma, in which was embedded a 

 macerated embryo GL 8 mm. The chorionic cavity 

 measures 30X12X10 mm. The embryo is in fragments, 

 two of the limbs being free; these, however, preserved 

 their form well. The umbilical vesicle measures about 5 

 mm. in diameter and appears normal. 



(5) Sections of the chorion show that the chorionic 

 membrane is macerated, well infiltrated with leucocytes, 

 and covered with matted villi, together with an inflam- 

 matory exudate. There is much fibrinoid substance and 

 many buds of syncytium. The embryonic mass is com- 

 posed mostly of a well-developed cord and portions of a 

 macerated and disintegrated embryo, more or less en- 

 circled by the amnion. In the cord there are indications 

 of dissociation, as the walls of the distended blood-vessels 

 are not sharply defined. 



(6) Severe intervillous infection. 



No. 831. 



(1) Austin Miller, Portersville, California. 



(2) A 85X85X85 mm.; B 115mm. 



(3) Patient aged 29 years. Two pregnancies ending at 

 full term. Last menstrual period July 21 and abortion 

 January 20 following. Uterus normal as far as known. 

 No venereal diseases. Family fertile. 



(4) The specimen consists of a fetus compressus well 

 curled upon itself and inclosed in its membranes, with 

 placenta attached. The whole mass, which is spherical, 

 measures about 85 mm. in diameter. On opening the mem- 

 branes, the amnion could be separated from the chorion; on 

 opening the amniotic cavity, a white, cloudy fluid poured 

 out. The inclosed fetus is somewhat macerated, the 

 epidermis being off in places and the head compressed. 

 The umbilical cord is about 30 mm. long and very much 

 twisted upon itself. Otherwise the specimen is normal in 

 form. 



(5) Sections were made through the chorion at the 

 attachment of the umbilical cord. The chorion and villi 

 are fibrous and matted together by a great quantity of 

 fibrinous substance, more or less invaded by tropho- 

 blast cells, making the substance look like cartilage. 

 There are numerous buds of trophoblast undergoing con- 

 version into nuclear dust. The decidua is atrophic and 

 inflamed. 



(6) Slight infiltration of the decidua; probably luetic. 



No. 868. 



(1) E. H. Egbert, Washington, District of Columbia. 



(2) A 75X48X22 mm.; B 39 mm. 



(3) Patient aged 26 years, with no specific family or 

 personal history on the part of patient or her husband. 

 Both are in good health. Miscarriage March 1911, at 

 2J^ months; May 1912, stillbirth at term; miscarriage at 

 2}^ months, with curettage, May 25, 1913. Last men- 

 strual period September 26, 1914; all symptoms of preg- 

 nancy. Flowed November 1 to 15 (a few clots); abortion 

 April 7, 1914. 



(4) The specimen consists of a pear-shaped abortion 

 mass, measuring 75X48X22 mm., and the fetus which 

 was inclosed therein measures CR 39 mm. It appears 

 unquestionably pathological, both regarding the shape of 

 the head and the extremities, which are club-like. The 

 lining of the chorion (amnion) presents a remarkable 

 sight, being profusely covered with small thickenings in 

 the form of minute tubercles in rings. 



(5) The chorionic membrane is very fibrous, and the 

 overlying villi are firmly matted together by fibrinoid 

 substance and some trophoblast. There are also numerous 

 plaques of nuclear dust. Upon examining the amnion, it 



is seen that the minute tubercles are due to local thicken- 

 ings in the fibrous layer. 



(6) Decidua absent. Probably luetic. 



No. 869. 



(1) G. C. McCormick, Sparrows Point, Maryland. 



(2) B 150 mm. 



(3) Negro, age 30 years, married April 24, 1907. Six 

 pregnancies: first, 7 months; second, 6 months; third, 6 

 months; fourth, 8 months; fifth, 4 months; sixth, P months. 

 Last menstrual period October 1^, 1913; abortion March 

 28 following. Condition of uterus good. Syphilis. Fam- 

 ily fertile. 



(4) The specimen is normal in form, but badly macer- 

 ated. Most of the epidermis has fallen off, and the ex- 

 tremities, as well as the head, are compressed in an irreg- 

 ular fashion. 



No. 896. 



(1) Edwin B. Fenby, Baltimore, Maryland. 



(2) B 88 mm. 



(3) Patient aged 25 years; married nearly 7 years. 

 Four pregnancies, but this is the first abortion, all the 

 others at term and living. Uterus apparently normal. 

 No historj of venereal diseases. Family fertile. 



(4) The abortion mass, consisting of placenta and fetus 

 intact in its amnion, was sent to the laboratory 2J^ hours 

 after being passed. It was opened under salt solution, and 

 much brown fluid with "debris" poured out. In this were 

 epidermal casts of hands and feet, and a badly macerated 

 fetus, length CR 88 mm., weight 26 grams, with a long, 

 twisted umbilical cord, 150 mm. The head is shrunken, 

 making it appear as an early stage of fetus compressus, 

 perhaps from strangulation due to the extreme twisting 

 of the cord. 



(5) Sections of the placenta at the attachment of the 

 cord show that the villi, though well formed, are practi- 

 cally non-vascular, and the stroma degenerate and cellular. 

 The intervillous spaces are filled with some blood, tropho- 

 blast, and a great deal of fibrinoid substance. There are 

 also numerous plaques of nuclear dust. 



(6) Slight infiltration of the decidua. 



No. 903a. 



(1) J. H. Bacon, Peoria, Illinois. 



(2) B 66 mm. 



(4) The embryo is greatly macerated, distorted, and 

 decerebrated. It weighs 11.5 grams in formalin, which 

 indicates that it is somewhat under weight. The umbilical 

 cord is very thin and twisted. 



No. 921. 



(1) J. L. Genella, New Orleans, Louisiana. 



(2) B 16.5 mm. 



(3) Patient aged 35 years. Mother died in childbirth 

 and father of dementia. About five years after a diagnosis 

 of malignancy was made the patient gave birth to a normal 

 child. Several recent abortions. Coitus March 9. 

 Beginning of last menstrual period February 28; abortion 

 March 30. Pathologists had made a diagnosis of chorio- 

 epithelioma and hysterectomy was advised. It appears 

 that the patient has syphilis. 



(4) The specimen consists of a rather poorly preserved 

 young fetus, measuring 16.5 mm. CR. The ventral 

 abdominal wall had been seriously injured. It is difficult 

 to be sure whether or not the specimen is normal, the left 

 hand plate being somewhat abnormal in outline. The 

 head is smaller than usual, being round in front. Macera- 

 tion is so complete that a depression is present over the 

 lower part of the spinal cord. 



No. 9296. 



(1) N. H. D. Cox, Baltimore, Maryland. 



(2) A 80X70X50 mm.; B 75 mm. 



(3) Patient aged 22 years; married 6 years. *our 

 pregnancies; one abortion and three births at term. 



