612 EMIL NOVAK 



More valuable would be the study of cases of congenital absence of 

 both ovaries, which anomaly, however, is exceedingly rare. Nagel states 

 that this defect is always associated with complete absence of the internal 

 genitalia and with other grave malformations. This assertion, however, 

 is contradicted by Mayer, who believes that the uterus may be present in 

 such cases, although always of rudimentary type. He attempted a direct 

 solution of the problem by the experimental intra-uterine castration of 

 the female fetus. The operation was performed by transabdominal open- 

 ing of the maternal uterus and the castration of the fetus in utero. . Unfor- 

 tunately, this unique experiment was without result, owing to the occur- 

 rence of fatal infection. 



Mayer's view is that the growth of the uterus in fetal life is not de- 

 pendent upon the presence or activity of the ovaries, but that it follows 

 the general laws of body growth. In passing, it may be stated that the 

 maternal ovary is certainly not of great importance 1 to the fetus, as shown 

 in many cases by the birth of perfect children in mothers who have for 

 one reason or another been surgically castrated early in pregnancy. The 

 corpus luteum, so important in the later physiology of the ovary, can play 

 no role in the early development of the generative tract, for this structure 

 is not found before the age of puberty. 



Aside from the ovary, the endocrine structures which must be con- 

 sidered as possibly important during the fetal phase are the pituitary, 

 thymus, adrenal and pineal bodies. In the present state of our knowledge, 

 it seems unprofitable to speculate as to the exact relation of these structures 

 to the female generative tract during fetal life. 



The characteristics of the internal genitalia at this period are well 

 known. The uterus is, of course, small, measuring about 5 mm. in length 

 in a fetus of 76 mm. (12 weeks' development), 9 mm. at about the fifth 

 month of fetal life and 26 mm. at birth. It is simply a straight, or almost 

 straight, tube of uniform caliber, presenting practically no differentiation 

 into corpus and cornu. In view of the undoubted importance of the ovary 

 in the later development of the corpus uteri, the exceedingly rudimentary 

 condition of this portion of the uterus in fetal life bears out what has 

 been said above as to the subordinate role of the ovary in fetal life. 



The Influence of the Ovary During Infancy and Childhood. These 

 two epochs are considered together, because of the fact that, from the 

 standpoint of the ovary, they are similar. Indeed, what has been said 

 concerning the role of the ovary in the fetus applies to these two epochs 

 as well. The genital tract remains practically stationary, so that it is 

 often difficult to distinguish, from its size or shape, the uterus of a new- 

 born babe from that of a girl of 8 or 9 years. 



The Influence of the Ovary During Adult Life. The onset of puberty 

 is unquestionably due to the awakening activity of the ovaries. The old 



