70 
OVARIAN PREGNANCY 
is earlier than in any of the cases hitherto recorded. It serves to 
reconcile the data of previous observers, its histological details throw 
light on some of the points still at issue, while comparison with the 
very early ovum described in the first paper helps to explain more 
clearly the nature of the processes involved. 
Catherine v. Tussenbrcek justly claims that her investigations 
furnish incontestible proof that the plasmodium, which covers the villi 
of an ovum imbedded in the ovary, just as it does those of an ovum 
imbedded in the uterine mucous membrane, cannot be a derivative under 
any circumstances of the uterine epithelium. The corollary however, that 
her specimen provides a proof of the foetal origin of the layer, is not 
fully warranted. Her case affords strong presumptive evidence that the 
plasmodium is foetal, but it carries us little further than the data on 
the subject accumulated by Peters. A combination of the data from the 
two cases described in the present memoir furnishes more decisive proof. 
HISTORY OF THE CASE. 
The patient was 27 years of age, had been married for two years, 
and had one child born eleven months before the present occurrence. 
During lactation, and subsequently, menstruation was regularly repeated. 
On November 20th, 1903, she became unwell for the last time, and as 
menstruation did not recur in December she believed that pregnancy had 
supervened. On January 1st, 1904, she made complaint of pain in the 
back and lower part of the abdomen. This recurred at intervals during 
the succeeding days, and was associated with abdominal tenderness and 
inclination to faint. On the night of January 8th she had a more severe 
attack of pain, and on January 9th was seen by Dr. Munro Kerr, who 
made a diagnosis of extra-uterine pregnancy with the tube probably as yet 
unruptured. For certain reasons the operation was postponed till January 
13th, when the symptoms pointed to rupture having taken place. When 
the abdomen was opened two or three pints of blood were found in the 
cavity. On drawing up the right appendages Dr. Kerr was surprised to 
