360 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



coitus. The danger of contamination of the semen from the 

 vaginal flora, although undoubtedly lessened by the above 

 method, can not be said to be nullified. Some other technique 

 may lessen the contamination from each source. 



Recently I have used a common sputum cup for the with- 

 drawal of samples from the vagina. This method has con- 

 siderable advantage in the prevention of contamination. An 

 examination of the vaginal mucus taken prior to service 

 may serve as a check on the vaginal flora. With careful 

 disinfection, it seems that many samples may be taken free 

 from fecal flora, as only a few give a growth of the colon 

 group. If the sample is to undergo a bacteriological ex- 

 amination, it should be placed in a sterile vial, cooled im- 

 mediately, and cultured at the earliest possible date. Semen 

 for clinical and histological examination must be placed in 

 a warm vial, kept at a temperature ranging from 100° to 

 104° F., and examined under the microscope within thirty 

 to forty-five minutes after sampling. 



First, the physical characters of the semen are noted, in- 

 cluding the quantity, color, consistency, and coagulability. 

 A drop of semen is then placed on a warm microscope slide 

 and covered with a thin cover glass. Under a low-power 

 lens, the relative abundance of the spermatozoa is noted. 

 The semen is then placed under an oil immersion lens in 

 order that the degree of motility and the percentage of cells 

 which are motile may be observed. When possible, the 

 length of time which the motility continues should be re- 

 corded. I have observed motility as much as four hours 

 after taking a sample, and it is probable that, in a specimen 

 kept under proper conditions, the motility outside of the 

 female genital tract continues even longer. Much of the 

 cellular morphology can be determined by examining the 

 fresh specimen under the oil immersion lens, and the rela- 

 tionship between the non-motility and the morphological 

 imperfection can be established. 



For the determination of the finer morphological details. 

 a stained preparation is best. The film should be made 

 from a strictly fresh sample of semen, fixed with heat, and 



