70 OPENING BETWEEN THE EIGHT AND LEFT AURICLES. 



Table V. — Size of Opening between Auricles — Combined Results. 



158 



General Conclusions. 



1. That a patent foramen ovale exists in 28^ per cent, of cases. 



2. That it may possibly occur more frequently in the female 

 than the male. 



3. That its size varies from 1 to 15 mm., but the most frequent 



sizes are — 



{a) Under 2 mm. 



{h) Over 5 mm. 



(c) Over 6 mm. but under 7 mm. 



In two cases there could have been no valvular closing of the 

 foramen; in fact, no valve existed; both were 15 mm. in dia- 

 meter, and no sign or symptom showed itself during life. 



As this investigation was undertaken with the prime object 

 of determining the frequency of patency of the foramen, we 

 make no remark as to the site or as to the character of the 

 annulus ; that, we propose to relegate to a future occasion. 



We append a note as to the character of the opening as ob- 

 served in 50 males and 45 females : — 



In males, 50 cases. 



Single, . . 46 



Double, . . 3 



Quadruple, . 1 



In females, 45 cases. 



Single, . . 43 



Triple, . 1 



Foenestrated, . 1 



92 per cent. 

 61 „ 

 21 „ 



95-5 „ 

 2-2 „ 

 2-2 ,. 



