THE FEMALE GENITAL TRACT. 843 



structure. Although to the naked eye these appearances resemble those of 

 fatty degeneration, the microscope showed the morbid condition to be that of 

 waxy rather than fatty degeneration. 



The subject appeared to be of sufficient interest to bestow a few weeks 

 upon its investigation. I had at my disposal ten placentae of the following 

 ages : 



First. A placenta of six or seven weeks, foetus attached. This placenta 

 was a solid, clumsy-looking mass. Its substance had in some places been 

 entirely transformed into a grayish-yellow material, of a shining appearance ; 

 in other parts the shining material appeared only in scattered foci. 



Second. A three-months' placenta, which had been detached from the uter- 

 ine wall six weeks after abortion, a severe haemorrhage having occurred. In 

 this placenta there was no perceptible change to the naked eye. To the touch 

 the mass appeared rather denser than normal placental tissue. 



Third. A four-months' placenta. A portion of this placenta, with the 

 umbilical cord attached, came under my observation. This specimen exhib- 

 ited the same general characteristics as the others the same yellowish 

 patches scattered throughout the placenta. The decidual portion had been 

 extensively invaded by a yellowish material, varying greatly in width in dif- 

 ferent parts. The amniotic surface had a mottled appearance and was deeply 

 corrugated. 



Fourth. A five-months' placenta, together with the foetus. This specimen, 

 normal in its main mass, showed in the decidual portion small, homogeneous 

 patches of a yellow color, and in the villous portion scattered points, also of 

 a yellowish color. 



Fifth. A flesh mole, fifth month of pregnancy. This specimen was a mass 

 about the size of the foetal head at term. It was irregularly lobed, and con- 

 sisted principally of hsemorrhagic clots. Within the tissues on the periphery, 

 and between the clots, remains of the decidua were to be seen, of a grayish- 

 yellow color. The foetus was lost. 



Sixth. A six months' placenta. Several microscopical specimens were sent 

 to the laboratory for examination. These specimens exhibited the same gen- 

 eral characteristics observed in the other cases. 



Seventh. A placenta of seven months. The whole placenta was paler than 

 normal, and the entire tissue, both decidual and villous, presented a decidedly 

 glistening and lardaceous appearance. There were no isolated spots of 

 degeneration. The attached cord was somewhat oedematous. The cross-sec- 

 tion presented the same lardaceous appearance observed in the placenta. 



Eiyhth. A seven-months' placenta. This placenta was coarsely lobulated, 

 and of a consistency and thickness greater than normal. The entire tissue, 

 but chiefly the decidual portion, was of a yellow color, greatly resembling fat 

 in appearance. The umbilical cord presented no changes of any kind. Foetus 

 died soon after delivery. 



Ninth. A placenta of eight months. There was no change in the villous 

 portion, and in the decidual portion only an occasional spot of yellowish dis- 

 coloration. Foetus lived. 



Tenth. An eight-months' placenta. The decidual portion presented a lar- 

 daceous appearance ; the remaining tissues were normal. Foetus living at 

 birth. 



In all cases in which the yellow discoloration was apparent, the diagnosis 

 made without the aid of the microscope was fatty degeneration of the pla- 



