834 



THE FEMALE GENITAL TRACT. 



substance, and this substance composed the mass in which lay the unchanged 

 central nuclei described in the fourth case. 



Fibrous basis-substance may appear in the form of straight bundles in- 

 closing myxomatous fields. It is obvious that in this condition the liquid 

 contained in the original medullary corpuscles must have been transformed 

 into a solid basis-substance, while the living matter itself remained un- 

 changed. Living matter in a reticular arrangement first crosses the liquid, 

 and afterward the interstitial solid basis-substance. The fibrous basis-sub- 

 stance is always composed of slender spindles, which indicate that the 

 plastids had become elongated and divided up before a solidification of their 

 liquid had taken place. 



All specimens showed a varying amount of blood-vessels in longitudinal, 

 transverse, and oblique sections. Capillary vessels were most abundant, 



FIG. 376. DECIDUA CATAMENIALIS. 



M, nucleated medullary corpuscles ; 8, the medullary corpuscles split into spindles ; N, 

 such corpuscles transformed to basis-substance, the nuclei remaining unchanged ; E, colum- 

 nar ciliated epithelium of a utricular gland. Magnified 1000 diameters. 



being recognized as such by their flat, endothelial lining. In one of the speci- 

 mens scanty formations of vessels resembling arteries were observed. In 

 another case, arterial vessels were unmistakably present, characterized by 

 the muscular coat. All stages of arterial development could be traced. In 

 some parts there were only cord-like formations with parallel outlines, com- 

 posed of small medullary corpuscles which flattened each other, rendering 

 their shape polyhedral. The outer corpuscles, seen in front view, appeared 

 fusiform, so as to encircle the cord. Transverse sections of such a formation 

 .in some instances exhibited medullary bodies arranged in a radiating man- 



