termination. This was a tedious undertaking, as the ramifications of a single gland
were very great, and some of the branches were so long that they were sometimes
mistaken for the main tube and followed up, but to ■ end in a blind sacoulus.
Tortuous sacoulated branches were given off by the main stem close to its termination,
(Plate XXXVII, fig. 9)V As the end of the tubule was reached, it was found
to run for some distance longitudinally below the mucosa, and from the circumstance
that it was rather firmly attached to its under surface considering its delicate
nature, the difficulty in tracing out the gland at this part of the research was
great. After frequent similar observations conducted under the microscope, I
was enabled to satisfy myself that the glands terminated on the surfaces at the
base of the recesses and on the smooth spots scattered over the free surface of the
mucosa. When the bare spots were examined with a hand lens, I had no difficulty
in. detecting the existence of an opening in the centre of many of them, associated
in some instances (Plate XXXV, fig. 5) with a visible rounded linear eminence
corresponding to the course of the termination of the gland tubule. In other
instances, however, I failed to discover any very decided appearances of the glandular
orifices, hut I consider that these failures were due to a flaccid condition of
the spots in which they could not he detected, and not to'the absence of the openings.
I had numerous sections made through bare spots to try and demonstrate
the opening of a gland, but I failed, owing, I believe, to the circumstanoe that the
glands’ mouths open so obliquely on the surface. I would, however, again repeat
that when the fresh uterine mucosa is examined under a low power and even with
the naked eye, innumerable bare spots can be detected, each with an orifice generally
near its centre, and that underneath these hare spots the tubules of theiglands
terminate, and also at the bases of the recesses; and the nature of these recesses I
have already explained. Under a moderate power, the cylindrical epithelial lining
of the glands is readily visible, and where a clean transverse section has been made
(fig .ll), the clear interior with its layer of columnar epithelial cells is at once
recognisable.
Chorion.—In a specimen preserved in spirit for some time the outer surface
of the right horn is extremely rugose with some persistent lamellar folds radiating
from the pole of the cavity. There is no trace of the uterine pouch that occurs
in P . (Jangelica, although there is a slight dilatation in the corresponding portion..
The most non-villous portion of the chorion is that which occupies the left horn
and especially its two ends, the posterior Burface being exceedingly rugose and in
persistent folds as in P . gmgetica. The right pole of the left horn and the left pole
of the same caviiy are more or less marked with lamellar folds. The left horn of
the chorion (Plate XXXV, fig. 2), is covered with smooth spots of the same nature
as in P. gcmgetiea, hut from the contracted condition of the right or non-gravid pole
they are very difficult to detect on it, and are much less numerous than on the left
pole. In transmitted light the villi are seen to he collected in small groups, but
they are very minute on branched depressions which correspond to the course of the
uterine blood-vessels.
I could not detect a hare patch on the pole of the right horn nor on- the
portion of the chorion which is opposed to the os uteri, hutas the ohorion opposite
the os was shrivelled, I am not prepared to accept the apparent absence of thé
bare area as conclusive evidence of its non-existence. But a well-defined - patch
of that nature occurs opposite the orifice of the left Eallopian tube and on the
apical portion of the left horn, corresponding to the middle of the mesial septum,
which spot is absent in Platimistái and no such spot is mentioned by Turner in
Orca or in the Narwhal. _ >
On the surface where the vessels enter the chorion, there is a linear bare
patch (Hate XXXV, fig. 6), as in P . gamgeticf l but it is much more limited
in its extent than in that genus, being only 6-50 inches long, with an average
breadth of 0'-30; and that notwithstanding the greater size of the. membrane.
This area is slightly dilated towards the left of the funis, hut no cui dé see
exists as in Platamsta. I t rapidly contracts On either- side of this region, and
about T-6Ó to the right of the funis a pedunculated corpuscle (fig. 6) occurs,
as in Platamsta. But it is unlike that Of Platamsta in being slightly swollen at
the side of its base next the cord. Prom the base of the pedunde towards the
left side, and traversing the patch throughout its extent, is a narrow linear fold
continued to the right of the pedunculated body.
The bare area corresponding to the left Pallopian tube has a length of 0 31
and a maximum breadth of O'-ftiiOnly a very minute portion of its dilated.part is
perfectly smooth, and from it proceed small thickened folds, two pairs being opposite
each other, the remainder of the area being covered with minute papillary folds.
The área on the right extremity of the left pole of the chorion is pyramidal m form,
and is perfectly smooth, with the exception of a few papillary folds near its apex,
from which four larger smooth folds radiate downwards to its base. This pole of the
left horn of the chorion is much more villous than the left pole, and hence the-bare
spots hardly exist in this, locality. e ’ '
The so-called smooth areas or spots of the chorion are 6nly perfectly smooth
in a very limited number of cases, although they may be destitute of villi properly so
called, because the non-villous surface is thrown into fine wavy ridges which m some
instances occupy the whole of the spot, passing across it in nearly parallel lines, or-m
others diving outwards from near its centre in which there is a ndge or fold larger
than, the radial folds. In other cases, however, the centre or a portion of the spot
is perfectly smooth, but from its margin fine folds radiate outwards (Elate XXXV,
figs.AandS). T h e villi around these spots are s o m e w h a t longer t h a n t h e - others,
and hence- the chorion presents circular areas of enlarged villi (Plate XXXVII,
fig. 14). Besides these areas, there are numerous other long linear dichotomously
branched areas of varying extent, very sparsely covered with minute villi, that,-to the
unaided eye, appear almost smooth.. These do not lie in the course-of the chononifc
blood-vessels but correspond to the course Of the blood-vessels m the uterus. Bound
hon-villous spots may occur along the course of these smooth branched arras. The
long linear bare area (Plate XXXV, fig. 6) presents fine outwardly radiating folds
6 . 0 3