1906-7.] 
Effects of Diet on the Uterus. 
11 
III. — The Effects of Diet on the Development and Structure of 
the Uterus. By Malcolm Campbell, M.B., Ch.B., F.R.C.S. Edin. 
(From the Physiological Department, University of Edinburgh.) 
Communicated by Professor Schafer, F.R.S. (With Four Plates.) 
(MS. received November 27, 1906. Read December 3, 1906.) 
The investigation was undertaken to discover what changes, if any, were 
produced in the development and structure of the uterus by various diets. 
The animals employed in the research were rats. The uteri of 86 animals 
were examined, both macroscopically and microscopically. The tissue for 
microscopic examination was removed in all cases from, as nearly as possible, 
the same area, viz., the junction of the distal and middle thirds of the uterus. 
Eight wild rats, in various stages of development, from the immature 
to the adult animal, were examined in order to form an opinion as to 
the structure of the uterus in animals living, presumably, under natural 
conditions. 
The remaining animals were divided into five series, viz. : — 
(a) A series of 13 animals fed from weaning, for periods of from 
9 to 14 weeks, on an exclusively milk diet. In one section of this 
series plain milk was used ; in another, Pasteurised milk ; in the third, 
sterilised milk. 
( b ) A series of 27 animals fed for periods of from 21 days to 9 months 
on bread soaked in milk. 
(c) A series of 11 animals fed for periods of from 4 to 14 weeks on a 
rice diet. 
(d) A series of 5 animals fed for varying periods on a diet of porridge 
or oats. 
(e) A series of 22 animals fed for periods of from 21 days to 8 months 
on a raw meat diet. 
In the cases of the raw meat and rice diets, some animals were put on 
the diet as soon as weaned, others after they had reached various stages of 
development. 
The uterus of the adult wild rat is lined by columnar epithelium. 
There are glands lined by epithelium which varies from low cubical to 
columnar in type. The mucous coat is bounded externally by a muscular 
coat. 
