408 



3) Demonstriert Mihalkovics im Auftrage von Dr. Thanhoffeb einen 

 Gefrierapparat, der bequem zum JuNo'schen Mikrotom verwendet werden 

 kann und womit in 3 Minuten der Gegenstand gefroren geschnitten werden 

 kann. Der Apparat hat auch den Vorteil, dafs der kondensierte Äther 

 in einer Flasche aufgefangen wird , zur Verhütung der Betäubung des 

 Arbeitenden. 



Ferner zeigt Mihalkovics Präparate, Photographien und Zeichnungen 

 von Dr. Thanhoffek über Nervenzellenanastomoseu, Teilungen von Axen- 

 cylindern, Verbindungen von Nervenzellenfortsätzen und Nervennetze aus 

 dem Rückenmark des Kalbes, die Thanhoffek nach seiner Methode — 

 Zerdrückung zwischen zwei Deckgläsern und nachherige Härtung — her- 

 stellte. 



Herr Walter J. Otis (Boston N. S. A.) begleitet seine Demon- 

 stration 



des menschliehen Mastdarms bei elektrischer Beleuchtung 



mit folgender Ansprache : 



Through the kindness of Prof. Braune I have the privilege of de- 

 monstrating before this Congress a method of rectal inspection, which 

 shows very clearly certain points in the anatomy of the rectum, that as 

 yet have never been correctly interpreted. By placing the dead body in 

 the knee-elbow position, the rectum will be dilated by atmospheric pres- 

 sure just as take place in the vagina under similar circumstances, the 

 result of a negative pressure within the abdomen. Being similar to the 

 arching of the diaphragm, or the inflation of the pericardium after it 

 has been opened from the abdomen without injuring the pleura, both 

 instances being the result of a negative pressure from within the thorax. 

 Here you will notice that the rectum is fully distended, and that the 

 cavity thus made is lined through out with smooth mucous membrane. 

 You will also see that the internal surface of the rectum is not that of 

 an even cylindrical tube, but that it is thrown into large saccular dila- 

 tations by the presence of certain transverse folds, or plicae, semilunar 

 in shape, placed alternately on the sides of the rectum, one beyond the 

 other. 



New what is the meaning or significance of this arrangement? At 

 various times attention has been called by different observers, to the exi- 

 stence of certain constant, and regular, folds of mucous membrane in the 

 interior of the rectum, and to certain constrictions occurring on the ex- 

 terior of the rectum, and also to the accumulation of the circular muscu- 

 lar fibres in greater numbers at these places. To this arrangement has 

 almost invariably been attributed either a valvular, or a sphincter action, 

 as shown by the terms used to designate it, viz., "Valves of the 

 rectum", "Plicae transversales recti", "Die Falten des 

 Mastdarms", "Sphincter superieur", Sphincter ani tertius". 

 This idea that these folds act as valves to hold back the faeces, or that 

 there exists another sphincter in the rectum abovf^ the internal sphin- 

 cter, the so-called "Third Sphincter", I maintain is erroneous. In 



