8 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



Any departure from this process is considered pathological. 

 When this membrane is ca.st off, says Prof. Thomas, either 

 in shreds, in strips or as sac entire it then becomes membra- 

 nous dysmenorrhoea. He also says it is of rare occurrence, having 

 met with but five cases. That it is always accompanied by a pecu- 

 liar set of symptoms resembling and often exceeding in severity those 

 of abortion. This membranous dysmenorrhoea is considered a 

 serious pathological condition that has thus far baffled the skill of 

 the physician. 



For the etiology of this most interesting as well as most import- 

 ant phenomenon we can only give a diversity of opinions. Prof. 

 Thomas says "the want of accurate information depends upon the 

 fact that the true pathology of the condition is unknown." Many, 

 with Oldhime and Tilt, regard it as due to ovarian disease. 



Membrane from case of Membr.injus dysmenorrhoea (after Coste). 



Ricebarski, Labart, Handle, Jones and others, believe it to be a true 

 desquamation of the uterine membrane, for which no cause 

 can be assigned. Others say it is due to endometritis, but 

 Thomas denies this on the ground that in four out of his five cases 

 that disease was absent. It was formerly believed, and is still upheld 

 by some that a layer of plastic lymph was thrown out over the uter- 

 ine wall and then became organized. 



