PHYSIOLOGY OF THE OVIDUCT 397 



The experiments already described were confined to a study 

 of the physiological processes of the oviduct itself. In all 

 cases the functional integrity of the duct was preserved. Dur- 

 ing the course of the investigations into the physiology of re- 

 production, however, several operations have been performed 

 where egg production has been prevented by the removal of a 

 part or all of the oviduct, or by closing it at various levels. The 

 purpose of the present paper is to show the results of such in- 

 terferences upon, first, the growth of the ovary, second, the 

 secondary sexual characters, third, the body metabolism, and 

 fourth, the growth and ability to function of any remaining 

 portion of the oviduct itself. 



TECHNIQUE 



The technique used in these operations was a simplified form 

 of the technique of aseptic human surgery. A bird was given 

 a subcutaneous injection of 1/200 grain atropine sulphate in 

 1 cc. of normal salt solution. Just sufficient ether was given 

 to maintain complete insensibility (Pearl and Surface '09 b). 

 On the bird was placed a clean muslin jacket which held the 

 wings close to the body and covered most of the feathers. The' 

 feathers were picked off the field of operation and the skin painted 

 with iodine. 



The top of the operating table used is an especially con- 

 structed adjustable slat trough. This trough is adjusted so 

 that when the back of the bird is at the bottom of the trough 

 the ventral surface is even with the edges. The bird is se- 

 cured to this table by means of strings attached to the legs 

 and wings. 



A sterile muslin screen attached to an iron hoop at one end 

 of the table is stretched back over the bird. A hole is made 

 in this screen in the proper place to expose the field of operation. 

 This screen makes the bird's head accessible to the person giving 

 the ether and yet shuts off this source of contamination from 

 the field of operation. Sterile towels are placed above the 

 screen so as to cover deeply the whole bird except the iodine 



