that of solid bodies failed. The circumstances have changed in every respect during the last few years; solid bodies, including the spirillum of remittent fever and even the bacillus anthracis, were found in the fetuses of the infected maternal animals.

At any rate, this difference still exists, that the contagium of variola extends very rapidly, other infectious matters more slowly, to the fetus.

Three years ago, when he was still impressed with the experimental labors then known, he explained this difference to himself thus, that the poison of variola is soluble, while that of the other diseases is inclosed in cells. In order to test this, he filtered lymph through porcus clay, in imitation of the clay-cell filtration introduced by F. W. Zahn, and inoculated the filtrate. The result was positive, the new-born children thus vaccinated developed perfect vaccination pustules.

He was dissuaded from continuing the experiments by some critic who, basing on a well-known citation, asserted that the schizomycetes are able to pass through porous clay. Therefore, the continuation of the experiments was useless for the theoretical investigation.

Last year, however, he became aware of three papers which positively claim that the clay cells retain organized germs. He referred to the article by Chamberland,' who filtered water in this way and made it free from bacteria, and two experimental publications by Leube and Sattler. Both succeeded in producing by filtration pure sterilized solutions which remained free from decomposition.

Through these results his former experiments again gained in interest. Although such investigations can hardly decide the question as to the nature of the poison of variola, the method gains in practical value, as we might expect from it that vaccine virus can be simply purrified from other carriers of infection, and thus the opponents of vaccination can be deprived of the last justification for their opposition. Further investigations will soon follow.

DR. KRUKENBERG reported some experiments respecting the transition of solid bodies (sulphate of baryta) into the fetus. The results cannot yet be given.

DR. ZWEIFEL emphasized the fact that the transition of solid bodies had been demonstrated, for instance, the spirillum of remittent fever.

DR. KRUKENBERG pointed out that the white blood-corpuscles may take up the solid bodies and carry them along. He did not deny the transition of micro-organisms.

DR. ZWEIFEL also exhibited some

1Chamberland, "Sur un filtre donnant de l'eau pur." Comptes rendus, T. 90, p. 247. Ref. in Virchow-Hirsch's Jahrb., 1884, I., p. 496.

MEDICATING TUBES,

bent like a sound, by means of which he introduces drugs into the uterus; a small brush inserted into the tube propels the drug.

DR. KUESTNER simply attaches rubber tubing to an injection catheter and thus introduces the drug into the uterus.

DR. FROMMEL (Munich) read a contribution to the

HISTOLOGY OF THE OVIDUCTS.

Referring to the findings recently reported by Martin, the reader remarked that Hennig claims the tubal epithelium to be composed of several layers, while Hensen described only one layer. The latter view is correct, but the nuclei are not disposed in a row. The cells exhibit remarkable forms, and their nuclei are at different places. On preparations from the tube of a cat, he found a rod-shaped formation; after maceration in 33% alcohol, this proved to be composed of compressed nucleated cells without protoplasm. The same condition was found in dogs, sheep, and monkeys. The tubal epithelium probably possesses some secretory activity; at the time when the ovum passes through, protoplasm is evacuated into the tube. The mucosa of the tube is arranged in longitudinal folds and makes the impression of villous proliferations. monkeys and bats, the appearances resemble those of early human embryos. In them we find four main folds, a cross section of which produces a star shape. The human embryo of four months still lacks the muscular structure of the tube. Smaller folds subsequently arise beside the main folds. During pregnancy the folds increase in size; at the same time the lumen of the tube is increased rather than obstructed, owing to the simultaneous growth of the wall. The reader had not found any glands. The vessels run a longitudinal course and are particularly well developed at the wall of the tube, but show also ample ramifications in the villi. In gravidæ the abundance of vessels was striking, not only in the villi, but also in the wall. The paper was illustrated with numerous drawings.

DR. BUMM (Würzburg) read a paper on

THE ETIOLOGY OF PUERPERAL CATARRH OF THE BLADDER, BASED ON OBSERVATIONS OF PUERPERÆ AND EXPERIMENTS ON ANIMALS. Having had under observation eight cases of puerperal cystitis, the reader had experimented to ascertain the etiology. Catheterization in the puerperium not rarely provokes the catarrh. The urine in these cases is always acid. It invariably contained a diplococcus bearing the greatest resemblance to the gonococcus. The cocci were gathered in colonies which often were arranged in or around a cell. They differed from gonococci in their staining capacity after Gram's method-they assumed a dark-yellow color -and in their pure culture; they assumed the shape of yellow

plots, thus showing great similarity to the Staphylococcus aureus. This fungus, which according to Doléris is invariably present in the lochia, reaches the bladder with the catheter and increases there. The reader experimented with dogs and kids, and found that, if the bladder was normal and the escape of the urine unhindered, millions of cocci could be introduced into the bladder without any development of colonies supervening in the urine; a short time afterwards the bladder was again cleared. In fact, if all organisms eliminated by the kidneys were to cause cystitis, this affection would be of more frequent occurrence. As the reader's experiments showed, the effect of the fungi on the bladder depends upon whether its mucous membrane is intact or whether it has been placed in an abnormal condition by direct or indirect injuries. In the latter cases a violent purulent catarrh appeared. This seems to indicate that the diplococci found in puerperal cystitis determine the violent purulent character of the inflammation. The stasis of urine in puerperæ, and the contusions of the vesical mucosa which are not rare during labor, favor the nidation of the cocci. It also shows that the latter, like the germs of wound infection, possess only a slight power of invasion, not to be compared with the energy of the organisms of the contagious diseases, e. g., gonorrhea, anthrax, etc. While the fungi of these diseases take root at all times and under all circumstances, the germs of wound infection require a favorable state of the soil on which they develop. Therapeutically this experience may be utilized in this way, that, aside from keeping aloof the carriers of infection, we may oppose to them a healthy surface.

DR. OLSHAUSEN.-Puerperal cystitis is not always of one and the same character. Sometimes it passes away rapidly; at other times the process quickly extends upwards into the renal pelvis, and even into the kidneys. This condition is accompanied by high fever, often of long duration. After the vesical catarrh is recovered from, the kidney disease remains behind. After several weeks of apparent health, there is a sudden explosion of rigors, pain in the region of the kidneys, etc. After months of intermission another attack may supervene. These prolonged intermissions render the diagnosis very difficult. In other cases, a most offensive odor is present; such cases are very stubborn. It is probable, therefore, that we have to deal with various organisms in vesical catarrh.

DR. MICHAEL (Dresden) had found the same micrococcus as Bumm, in all cases of vesical catarrh with thickened ureter. The urine always had an acid reaction.

DR. HIRSCHBERG inquired whether Olshausen had found the urine clear in the periods of intermission. (Dr. Olshausen replied in the affirmative, as regards some of the cases.) The disappearance of the vesical catarrh might also rest on central causes, which he had found to be the case in an attack of hysterical paraplegia.

DR. OLSHAUSEN believes that the violent symptoms after prolonged intervals do not indicate that the vesical catarrh persisted

or had returned, but merely that there was an exacerbation of the kidney affection.

DR. HIRSCHBERG thought that the differentiation between catarrh of the renal pelvis and that of the bladder was very difficult.

DR. KRUKENBERG (Bonn) read a paper on

THE BEHAVIOR OF OLD CICATRICES FROM THE CESAREAN SECTION DURING SUBSEQUENT PREGNANCIES.

The reader reported briefly on twenty-six such cases found in the literature, and on another case from the Bonn clinic, in which a diverticulum formed in the uterus and was followed by rupture. [A more complete abstract will appear in the Arch. f. Gynaecologie.]

DR. SAENGER (Leipzig) read a paper on

SIMPLIFICATION OF THE TECHNIQUE OF THE CESAREAN SECTION. If the improved Cesarean section is to become common property of the profession, it must be simplified as much as possible. The reader described his latest method; first, the preparatory steps which, aside from disinfection, are as simple as possible. Abdominal incision in the linea alba. Turning out of the intact uterus is not advisable, since the abdominal incision may have to be extended, and the intestines might prolapse. Uterine incision in situ, to be made as an anterior median section, avoiding the lower uterine segment. In case of placenta previa, rapid division of the placenta or lateral detachment. The fetus is delivered most easily and rapidly by the feet.

Eventration of the uterus; a napkin is spread over the intestines, another one envelops the uterus. Elastic ligature of the lower uterine segment, for which could also be substituted manual compression or torsion of the uterus around its longitudinal axis. Manual detachment of the placenta, disinfection of the uterine cavity (iodoform), in which is placed a sponge or a strip of gauze until the deep sutures are inserted.

Suture. The peritoneum is loosened and bent over; resection of the musculature is not necessary. The main point is the close double suture of the uterine wound: deep stitches embracing the peritoneum and muscular structure, but not the decidua, best of flexible silver wire, eight to ten in number; superficial “seroserous" sutures, doubly perforating each wound margin, of fine silk, ten to thirty, according to circumstances. In the absence of silver wire, the deep sutures may be made with strong aseptic silk. In opposition to Schauta, the reader could not admit that silver wire would continue the sole material for the deep suture.

Then follow: washing of the uterus (sublimate 1:2,000); powdering the line of the suture with iodoform; dropping into the abdominal cavity only after every bleeding point has been secured by ligature. Toilet of the abdominal cavity only where special indications are present. No drainage; abdominal wound

closed with button suture; dusting with iodoform. Thin adhesiveplaster dressing, so that the uterus can be closely watched. Icebladder to the abdomen; injections of ergotin. After-treatment as inactive as possible. According to this method of the reader, 30 operations have thus far been performed, with 21 recoveries (73.3%). In the clinics of Leipzig, Dresden, and Innsbruck, there were 19 cases with 18 recoveries (94.7%).

DR. SCHAUTA.-If the placenta is encountered in front, it is not immaterial whether we penetrate it directly or detach it. He thought it preferable to perforate it directly with the hand; because, in lateral detachment, more vessels are opened, and the loosened lobe crowds into the wound. The hand, and not the knife, should penetrate the placenta; then the funis can be readily felt, while the knife might possibly sever it and cause great loss of blood to the child. The fetus should be extracted by that part which is nearest to the wound; in head presentation by the feet, in footling cases by the head. He would not do without the rubber tube, owing to the great loss of blood which is entailed by the length of time consumed by the suture. Saenger himself had declared for the silver wire, because it holds the wound in better apposition than silk, as had been proven experimentally. The cases stitched with silk show a greater fatality (7 out of 10) than those treated with silver wire.

DR. FREUND, JR. (Strassburg), related a case of Cesarean operation in which, despite the deep uterine suture, the hemorrhage was so profuse that the rubber tube had to be reapplied and the Porro operation performed. Then the tube was taken off and the stump dropped. Death from peritonitis. The extirpated uterus was exceedingly thin and only fourteen centimetres long.

DR. KALTENBACH expressed himself in favor of the improved classical operation. The sero-serous suture had been performed in laparotomies even before the old Cesarean section had been modified. Saenger's merit is, that he has rehabilitated the old Cesarean section, in comparison with the Porro operation, and has extended the indications for the operation in view of the better results obtained. Of Saenger's method nothing had remained but the sero-serous suture. Very good results can also be obtained with thoroughly disinfected silk.

DR. FEHLING likewise spoke in favor of the improved Cesarean section. He would turn out the unopened uterus through the abdominal incision, since the length of the latter and prolapse of the intestines are of no consequence. Then the elastic tube can be applied before the uterus is opened-a matter of importance especially in reference to the needs of the general practitioner. He, too, would extract the child by that portion which is pressed into the wound. Silk he thought to be the suture material of the future; sewing with silver wire has to be learned, particularly the knotting of it. Good silk, provided it do not project into the uterus, cannot be dangerous.

DR. ZWEIFEL was likewise in favor of the improved classical section, especially since there had been added the modification which does away with the resection. The Porro operation he would no longer employ.

DR. LEOPOLD believed it also more correct, particularly in view of the needs of the general practitioner, to turn out the uterus;