200 ON THE PATHOLOGICAL MORPHOLOGY OF SOME FLUIDS. 



On the third day after parturition, the reddish discharge contains 

 many yellowish-white globules, provided with central vesicles and mole- 

 cules ; the quantity of blood particles decreases, and that of the ductile 

 amorphous mass increases, (proper mucus.) Plate 7, fig. 12*. 



On the fourth day after parturition, the discharge is but slightly red- 

 dish, contains white flocculi, easily drawn into threads (of mucus), in 

 which there are irregular, more obscure globules (corrugated epithe- 

 lium), and some with central vesicles. A very few blood-particles are 

 also contained in it. Plate 7, fig. 13. 



On the fifth day after parturition, the mucous discharge is yellowish- 

 white, the globules which are found in it are white, and even ten times 

 larger than the blood particles. There are very few or no small mole- 

 cules included in them, and the central vesicles have disappeared, but I 

 observed an increased number of larger primitive molecules in them. 

 Plate 7, figs. 15, 16. 



From the 6th to the 13th days, the lochial discharge is white, con- 

 sists of white, perfectly round globules, provided with the smallest 

 primitive molecules without central vesicles or larger molecules. 

 Plate 7, figs. 1820. 



I have observed peculiar forms in a diminished discharge of the lochia, 

 when inflammatory puerperal fever has attacked the mother ; the cen- 

 tral vesicle, for instance, exceeding by four or five times the magnitude 

 of the blood particles, has been provided with primitive molecules, the 

 globules, on the contrary, enclosing this vesicle being entirely destitute 

 of them. Plate 7, fig. 21. 



Here and there, however, when the secretory process had been re- 

 tarded, or when a more difficult parturition produced metritis, the cen- 

 tral vesicles were found in the yellowish- white lochial discharge on the 

 5th and 8th days after parturition, and even beyond that time. Plate 7, 

 figs. 14, 17. 



Of Dysenteric Mucus. 



Mucus, discharged from the intestine in the commencement of the 

 dysenteric process, is limpid, easily drawn into threads, scarcely differs 

 from the mucus produced from a mild diarrhoea ; but the dysenteric 

 process increasing, reddish and very thick mucus is evacuated. The 

 red colour is caused by a mixture of the red particles of the blood with 

 the mucus produced from inflammation of the mucous membrane. In 

 the acme of the disease, the mucus is seen altogether as green ; it no 

 longer encloses globules of blood, but white, almost pellucid, globules 

 deprived of all primitive molecules, having large central vesicles filled 



