THE ANNEXES OF THE FCETUS 19 



view — rather improbable— thinks it a post-mortem product of 

 decomposition, and denies it any importance. Others consider 

 it of great importance in the nutrition of the embryo. This 

 opinion is defended by Bonnet, while Franck refers to the 

 similar composition of the cotyledonous fluid and colostrum. 

 According to Ercolani, the uterine milk is a product of the 

 uterine glands ; according to others, it follows fatty degenera- 

 tion and loosening of the epithelium of the surface of the 

 cotyledons. Many investigators have been unable to prove 

 the existence of this fluid intra vitam, probably as it is 

 immediately absorbed after being secreted. Post-mortem 

 examination shows more or less quantities of uterine milk. 



Franck states that possibly some cotyledonous fluid may 

 still be formed when the placental circulation stops, viz., after 

 death of the mother. At that moment no further absorption 

 by the chorion villi can take place, and an accumulation 

 of the uterine milk results. 



The greatest mass of the fcetal envelope is formed by the 

 chorion. Also from a practical standpoint the chorion is of 

 importance. Outside of its great importance as to nutrition of 

 the foetus, an exact knowledge in regard to the expulsion 

 of the afterbirth is necessary. It also plays an important role 

 in dropsy of the fcetal membranes. 



AMNION, TUNICA OVI INTIMA. 



The amnion is formed by the external layer of the 

 blastoderm. Beginning at the navel, it surrounds the foetus 

 like a sac, enclosing the latter entirely. This sac contains a 

 fluid, the liquor amnii. 



The amnion represents a thin membrane of little resist- 

 ance. Its inner surface in ruminants shows numerous little 

 yellow projecting spots, named by Claude Bernard, plaques 

 <lhjco<] enique, as they are composed of glandular tissue capable 

 of producing glycogen, thus replacing the function of the liver 

 until the latter is completely developed (Joulin, St. Cyr and 

 Violet, Traite a" Obstetrique). According to Lecoq, they are 

 changed parts of the fcetal skin, their histological structure 



