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PROFESSOR W. TURNER ON THE PLACENTATION OF THE APES. 
To some extent, also, observations Lave been made on the minute structure of tlie 
placenta, so that by the common consent of anatomists the placenta in the Apes is 
regarded as approximating in many particulars, both of form and structure, to the 
human placenta. As the recorded observations have for the most part been made on 
specimens preserved often for many years in spirit of wine, many questions connected 
with the minute structure of the organ have either been left in doubt or not 
examined ; more especially I may refer to the arrangement of the intra-placental 
decidua, the presence or absence of the utricular glands in the serotina, the relation 
of the maternal vascular system to the foetal villi, and the general disposition of the 
intra-placental system of maternal blood spaces. As I felt that it was important to 
inquire into these matters on a fresh specimen, and with the aid of transparent injec- 
tions and other modern histological appliances, I requested, some time ago, my friend 
Dr. James Murie to obtain for me, if possible, a monkey well advanced in pregnancy. 
This he very kindly succeeded in doing in the year 1876, and I have been able with 
the aid of this specimen not only to confirm many of the observations of my prede- 
cessors in this branch of investigation, but to ascertain a number of new facts in the 
structure of the monkey’s placenta. 
Gravid Uterus of Macacus cynomolgus. 
The monkey obtained for me by Dr. Murie was an adult Macacus cynomolgus , well 
advanced in pregnancy. After having been completely anaesthetized with chloroform 
it was killed by dividing the carotids and jugulars. As soon as respiration had ceased 
the abdominal cavity was opened into by a crucial incision, when the uterus was seen 
to occupy a large part of the abdominal cavity. It was broadly ovoid in shape, and 
ascended from the pelvis to within 2f inches from the xiphi-sternum. No portion of 
the small intestine was visible. The transverse colon appeared at the left side of the 
fundus uteri, and the coecum projected immediately above the fundus. Both the 
ccecum and colon were covered by the great omentum, which contained bright yellow 
lobules of fat. Above the ccecum the pyloric end of the stomach occupied the 
epigastrium. No other abdominal viscus was visible until the uterus was pushed to 
one side. 
The uterus was of a delicate bluish-grey colour mingled with pink. Slight changes 
in the contour of its anterior wall took place during about half an hour after the 
abdominal cavity was opened. Bulgings arose here and there which slotvly subsided, 
to be succeeded by similar bulgings in adjacent parts of the wall. These movements 
were obviously due to slight movements of the foetus within the uterine cavity. 
From the sides of the uterus the broad ligaments passed to the postero-lateral walls 
of the abdomen. Large ovarian veins distended with fluid blood lay between their 
folds, and ramified on the wall of the uterus beneath the serous membrane. From the 
lower part of each antero-lateral aspect of the uterus a distinct ligamentum teres 
