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In vaginal hysterectomy, by not severing the genital circle, only severing the rami laterales which nourish the uterus, the whole ligamentum latum and its contents, the oviducts and ovaries are left in situ and intact and perfectly, normally nourished as before the operation.

The oviducts, a part of the menstrual organ (which is the uterus and oviducts), may perform their regular periodic rhythmic function because the genital vascular circle may still pass through its monthly cycle of engorgement, the rami laterales oviductus and rami laterales avarii being still intact. The genital circle left undivided will allow the ovaries-organs of progressive function from before birth until the ovarian tissue is worn outto functionate normally until their tissue stroma yields to senile processes in the sixties. The universal rule of surgery is to sacrifice no healthy organs or tissue. The suggestions brought about by a study of the genital vascular circle will aid to prevent sacrificing genital organs or even genital tissue.

Thomas Willis (1622-1673), an English anatomist and philosopher, described at the base of the brain a vascular circle which has since borne his name. It is important in neurology, as the variation in blood supply to the brain, to a certain extent, governs many cerebral phenomena.

In what I shall term the genital vascular circle, or the uteroovarian vascular circle, we have a vastly more important vascular circle in both medicine and surgery, for much more utility can be accomplished for patients by practice on the utero-ovarian vascular circle than on the circle of Willis. The value of research work is the good it will do some one, and not simply to know the facts or truth. The research work on the circle of Willis and that on the utero-ovarian circle shows much more practical utility can be accomplished through the genital vascular circle. It is accessible to medicine and surgery. The straight segment of the genital vascu

lar circle does not, practically, concern gynecologists. It is the tortuous or spiral segment of the utero-ovarian vascular circle that plays such an important role in gynecology. The spiral segment consists of the anastomosed tortuous uterine ovarian and round ligament. The tortuous segment allows wide range of

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Fig. 4 shows circle of author in a guinea pig. It is an x-ray taken for me by Dr. Harry Pratt. 1, 3, 4, pelvic floor segment; 5, 6, uterine segment; 6, 7, 9 and 6, 8, 9, the oviducal segment; 9, 10, 11, the ovarian segment. The genital vascular circle or circle of author is the same in all mammals.

motion to the uterus, proximally to the diaphram, laterally to the lateral abdominal walls, and its chief utility in surgery is that this tortuous segment can be drawn distally sufficiently to enable the

surgeon to ligate both uterine and ovarian arteries outside of the pudendum. The spiral condition of the utero-ovarian vascular circle allows sudden and extensive movements of the uterus as in pregnancy, in the activity of bodily movements and in the use of traction forceps on the uterus. The capacity of the tortuous segment of the utero-ovarian vascular circle to elongate is its chiet

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Fig. 3- the circle of Byron Robinson. 1, abdominal aorta; 2, common iliac artery; 3, internal iliac artery; 1, 2 and 3 is the straight segment of the circle; 5, 6, 7 and 8, represents the spiral segments of the circle held in position by hooks. In this cut, free from complications, may be easily decerned the utility of the spiral segment of the circle in wide ranges of motion; 10, is the interior of the circle.

value to gynecologic surgery, especially per vaginam. With the traction forceps one can draw the uterus distalward sufficiently to ligate all its vessels at leisure outside the body. The future

route for pelvic surgery is per vaginam, and the facility of its ac complishment rests chiefly on the fact that the tortuous segment of the utero-ovarian vascular circle will elongate extensively without suffering loss of integrity or fatal damage.

AGE RELATIONS.

Age relations of the utero-ovarian vascular circle makes the woman subject to sexual crises and phases.

The spiral segment of the utero-ovarian vascular circle is an organ of limited life. In pueritas it is quiescent. At puberty it springs into activity, increases in size and spirality. In the menstrual rhythm it becomes engorged with blood. In gestation it increases in volume, length and tortuosity, becoming completely developed, so that, if any of its large rami laterales genitales rupture, these predominating elements at once contract if not close, its lumen. During senescence the spiral segment atrophies in all its coats becomes non-spiral. Its lumen lessens, its walls calcify and it again assumes the quiescent stage of childhood-pueritas.

THOMAS H. HAWKINS, M.D., LL.D., EDITOR AND PUBLISHER.

Henry O. Marcy, M D., Boston.

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EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT

ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF WATER IN DISEASE.

Medical News the following

G. Frank Lydston contributes to the a note on this subject, and arrives at conclusions: While the ingestion of large quantities of water in various affections is often of great value, the treatment is sometimes extremely detrimental. The nutritive value of the blood is often impaired by the relative hydremia produced by the ingestion of large quantities of water. Disturbances of the circulatory and nervous systems are frequently produced by it. So-called weak heart, palpitation, nervous irritability, lassitude and exhaustion on slight exertion are among the phenomena that may result. Serious digestive disturbance, involving impairment of the secretion and composition of the gastrointestinal juices, and gastromoter insufficiency may be produced by the ingestion of water in large quantities. Edema and anasarca, while often relieved by the free ingestion of water under favorable circumstances, are not infrequently enhanced by it. Renal water habit may develop, by virtue of which the kidney becomes permanently sluggish unless it receives its wonted stimulus of large quantities of water. Acute and chronic inflammatory affections of the kidney are sometimes aggravated by giving water in excess, simply by overworking the renal organs. Inflammatory infections of the lower portion of the genitourinary tract are

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