THE MUSCULAR FIBRE AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE OF THE UTERUS. 361 



During the early months, these two processes go on side by side ; after the fifth 

 month the second process only is to be found.* 



These conclusions were based upon the examination of two uteri, one at the fifth 

 month of pregnancy, and one at the second half of the sixth month, the muscle fibres 

 of which are carefully described. 



The new muscle fibres are developed from small formative cells.t 



Eobin, so far as I have read, is the only observer who states the case differently. 

 He describes only a single formative process, namely, the hypertrophy of pre-existing 

 cells.| I have been unable to obtain his original articles, which I believe appeared in 

 the Arch. gen. de Med.., 1848, 1858, and 1861. 



Most of the text-books (Playfair, Lusk, Schrceder, Quain, Rutherford, &c.) 

 teach Kolliker's views. 



Schafer, in Quain's Anatomy, describes the increase by hypertrophy of existing 

 cells, cautiously adding, — " It is said also by development of new muscular fibres."§ 



As to the origin of these new fibres most authors are silent, others adopt Kolliker's 

 view, while Rutherford points out that their " origin has yet to be made out."|| 



2. Connective Tissue. — As to the connective tissue, little has been written ; all agree 

 that it, along with the vessels, undergoes a great increase corresponding to and simul- 

 taneous with that of the musculature. 1F 



Lately, Meola has stated that, towards the end of pregnancy, he finds a marked 

 cellular development in the connective tissue, the cells remaining during pregnancy in 

 embryonal form. ## 



B. Puerperium. 



1. Muscular Tissue. — The earliest allusion to the state of the muscle fibres of the 

 uterus post partum that I can find, is one by Kolliker (in 1849), who describes their 

 rapid diminution in length, along with the presence of fat granules. He does not give 

 an account of the puerperal changes, but merely describes one uterus three days after 

 labour, tt 



The next observations were those of Heschl (in 1852), who described a total 

 destruction and reconstruction of the entire uterus. He based his conclusions on the 

 examination of a uterus, the description of which proves undoubtedly that it was a 

 pathological specimen, as he states that " the peritoneal investment is covered, two days 



* Kolliker, Mikroskopische Anatomie, 1854, Zweiter Band, Zweite halfte, s. 448-9 ; also in 4th edition, 1863, 

 pp. 567-8. 



t Ze.it. f. Wissensch. Zool., 1849, Erster Band, s. 72. 



X Diet. Encycl. de. Med., 1876, 2 me sene, vol. x. p. 537. 



§ Quain's Anatomy, 1882, 9th ed., vol. ii. p. 135. 



|| Rutherford, Text-Book of Physiology, vol. i. p. 135. 



IT Kolliker, Anatomie, s. 449 (Connective Tissue) ; s. 455 (Veins and Arteries). 

 ** Gent.f. Gynec, No. 1, 1885, Jan. 3, from 11 Morgagni, 1884. 

 tt " Beitrage zur Kentniss der glatten Muskeln, von. A. Kolliker," Zeit. f. Wissen. Zool., Erster Band, 1849, s. 73. 



