376 MR T. ARTHUR HELME ON OBSERVATIONS OF THE UTERUS. 



The changes in the musculature may be compared to a wave. During pregnancy we have the 

 ascent, the diminutive fibres becoming colossal in their dimensions ; then the descent of the puer- 

 perium, the fibres diminishing again to their previous volume. To support this temporarily 

 augmented musculature, there is a great development of a temporary connective tissue scaffolding. 

 When the function of this augmented musculature is discharged, there is no further need of the 

 support, which is accordingly destroyed and removed. 



Thus in the life-history of the uterine musculature we see, not as is generally thought, a fresh 

 development of tissue to meet the new demand, to be followed later by a total destruction of the 

 organ and its renovation or redevelopment, but a structure whose latent powers are evolved when 

 occasion demands — a gradual rising to meet the needs of the economy followed by a corresponding 

 return to the previous condition. 



The greater part of this work was carried out in the Pathological Institute of the University 

 of Strassburg, the remainder in the Research Laboratory of the Royal College of Physicians, 

 Edinburgh. 



I desire to express my best thanks to Professor von Recklinghausen and his assistant Dr 

 Stilling, for their many kindnesses, and to the committee of the Physicians' Laboratory and Dr 

 Woodhead, the superintendent, for their kind assistance. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 



Dividing nucleus of endothelial cell of blood capillary, uterus of rabbit. 3rd day pregnancy, x 1200. 

 Plasmodia from muscular coat of uterus of rabbit. 27th day pregnancy. x 350. 

 Do. do. do. 26th day pregnancy. x 350. 



Do. do. do. 1st day puerperium. x 350. 



Plasmodia from mucous membrane of uterus of rabbit. 3rd day puerperium. x 350. 

 6. Large periarterial venous sinus, from muscular coat of uterus of rabbit. x 350. 



Large granular plasmodial cell, with processes from muscular coat. 1st day puerperium. x 400. 

 Plasmodia in muscular wall of uterus. 3rd day puerperium. x 350. 

 9. Mucous membrane of uterus of rabbit, showing nuclei of gland epithelium in process of division ; also 

 phagocytes containing yellow pigment. 3rd day puerperium. x 350. 

 Proliferation of intima in an artery, from muscular coat of uterus. 10th day puerperium. 

 Muscle cells of uterus, showing various stages in diminution of volume during the puerperium. 

 1 and 2, 36 hours after labour. 



3, 3 days „ 



4 and 5, 6 days „ 



6 and 7, 10 days „ 



Fig. 1 2a. Isolated cells from subglandular connective tissue (mucous membrane) of uterus. These are prob- 

 ably the cells which become "phagocytes." 36 hours after labour. 

 Fig. 1 26 Isolated phagocytes containing yellow granules and red blood discs. 6 days after labour. 



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