No. 1.] ORIGIN OF HUMAN MONSTERS. 279 
twisted cord enters the chorion at the border of the placenta. 
The embryo is well imbedded in granular magma. 
Sections from the placenta at the point the cord enters it 
show a most remarkable reaction. The amnion is folded upon 
itself and has undergone hyaline degeneration. The chorion 
is also hyaline and is infiltrated with leucocytes and syncytium. 
The villi are fibrous, with numerous spots of hyaline matter 
scattered through them. With them the lining cells of the 
large blood-vessels show remarkable growth, forming small 
Fic. 286b.—Photograph of the embryo. Natural size. 
pearls of endothelial cells. They are also invaded by syncy- 
tial cells at some points and at others by masses of leucocytes. 
Between the villi there is a great mass of necrotic syncy- 
tium mixed more or less with fresh blood. Throughout this 
general mass numerous small islands of active syncytium may 
be seen; there are also a great number of scattered leucocytes 
Sections of the cord, abdominal viscera and hand show that 
the embryo must have died quite suddenly, for there are no 
tissue reactions seen in them. However, the tissues do not 
stain well, the epidermis has fallen off and the large blood- 
vessels are filled with blood containing the proper number of 
leucocytes. 
