CONTENTS vii 



PAGE 



periodic phenomena, general and local, of menstruation. 3. The re- 

 lations between ovulation, menstruation, and the variations of the 

 functional tone of the whole organism. 4. The female copulatory organs 

 and their functions during coitus. 5. The mechanism of the impregna- 

 tion of the ovum. 6. The phenomena of maturation, fertilisation of the 

 ovum, and their physiological significance. 7. The fertilised ovum as 

 the germ of the future organism. 8. The influence of the ovary on 

 the whole organism, deduced specially from the effects of spaying. 

 Bibliography. 



CHAPTER VI 



PREGNANCY PARTURITION PUERPERIUM . . . .211 



1. Segmentation of the fertilised ovum ; formation of the folds of the 

 blastodermic vesicle ; process by which the ovum grafts itself on the 

 uterine mucosa. 2. Formation of the decidua, chorion, and the maternal 

 and foetal placenta. 3. Formation of the amnion, the umbilical vesicle, the 

 allantois, and the umbilical cord. 4. Gravid changes in the uterus and 

 other organs of the genital apparatus, and functional modifications of the 

 whole organism. 5. Mechanism of uterine contractions and the pains 

 which occur during parturition ; innervatiou of the uterus ; the internal 

 causes which determine parturition ; the help of the abdominal pressure 

 during the ecbolic pains ; ligature of the cord ; the after-birth or secun- 

 dines. 6. The phenomena of the recovery of the parts, puerperium. 

 Bibliography. 



CHAPTER VII 



THE STAGES OF LIFE AND DEATH . 260 



I 



1. The functions of embryonic and foetal life ; omphalo-mesenteric 

 circulation and cardio-placental circulation. 2. The first phases of extra- 

 uterine life ; the establishment of the cardio-pulmonary circulation ; the 

 physiology of the new-born child. 3. The theory of growth ; the ana- 

 plastic period ; criteria for its estimation deduced from the length and 

 weight of the body and the development of the skeleton. 4. The three 

 periods of childhood ; the rhythmical variations in growth from early 

 infancy to puberty. 5. Youth ; the three periods of maturity and virility ; 

 the critical age in woman and man. 6. The ancient and modern theories 

 of senility. 7. The bodily basis and the phenomena of physiological and 

 pathological senility of the whole organism and of single organs. 8. 

 Modifications of the intelligence, affections, character, and psychical 

 personality in the aged. 9. My theory of death ; the death of the 

 tissues and the death of the whole organism ; Bichat's tripod of life 

 and death ; the primum moriens and the ultimum moriens. 10. The 

 psychical phenomena of the period preceding death ; euthanasia and the 

 fear of death. Bibliography. 



