LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. VOL. XXVII. JAMES M. ANDERS, M.D., LL.D., of Philadelphia. L. NAPOLEON BOSTON, A.M., M.D., of Philadelphia. JAMES BURNET, M.A., M.B., M.R.C.P. (Edin.), Edinburgh, Scotland. CH. DAVID, M.D., of Paris, France. JAMES J. EDMONDSON, M.D., of New York. E. B. GLEASON, M.D., LL.D., of Philadelphia. W. C. HOLLOPETER, A.M., M.D., of Philadelphia. H. LOWENBURG, A.M., M.D., of Philadelphia. JOHN A. McGLINN, A.B., M.D., of Philadelphia. GEORGE W. PFROMM, Ph.G., M.D., of Philadelphia. WILLIAM PICKETT, A.M., M.D., of Philadelphia. HERBERT J. SMITH, Ph.G., M.D., of Philadelphia. M. CLAYTON THRUSH, Ph.M., M.D., of Philadelphia. MEDICAL BULLETIN VOL. XXVII. A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY, 1905. Original Communications. THE UTERINE CIRCULATION: ITS PHASES IN DIFFERENT AGES AND FUNCTIONS OF LIFE (PUERITAS, PUBERTAS, MENSTRUATION, GESTATION, PUERPERIUM, SENESCENCE, AND DISEASE). BY BYRON ROBINSON, B.S., M.D., CHICAGO. THE tractus genitalis is subject to vast changes during the different ages and functions of life. The circulation of the uterus is for a definite purpose, and at the maximum circulation the genital manifestations are evident in the condition of the tractus genitalis and in the adnexa-the mammary glands. There are two phenomena connected with the uterus which excite the wonder of all observers. These two phenomena are the circulation of the uterus and the method which the uterus exercises in controlling its own vascularity. At certain periods or phases of life (pubertas, menstruation, gestation, and puerperium) the uterus becomes supplied with an extra quantity of blood for functional reasons-development and nourishment. The method by which the uterus controls its own blood-supply is through muscular and elastic reflex action: i.e., its muscular and elastic bundles act like living ligatures, ready at a moment's notice to control the uterine vessels. PUERITAS. No. 1. From birth to pubertas the uterus. changes but little in its endometrium, myometrium, perimetrium, or vascularity. The uterus is in a quiescent stage, nondeveloped; almost with the same dimensions at 1 year old as it is at 10 years old. I will present three infant uteri to illustrate this phase of circulation in female genitals. Fig. 1 presents the circulation by an x-ray of an infant uterus (see page 2). Fig. 2 presents the circulation of an infant's uterus by the method of celloidin injection and HNO, erosion. I carefully sketched it as it floated in the erosion fluid. Fig. 3 represents the circulation of an infant's uterus by the corrosion method and later photographed. Much time was spent to secure accurate, natural views. The oligamic uterine zones, the central longitudinal (A., B., C.), the bilateral cervical and the fundal are not marked as in multipara. The muscular (myometrium) and the glandular (endometrium) elements, as well as the circulatory apparatus (uteroovarian artery), are not developed. The functions of the tractus genitalis (ovulation, secretion, absorption, pubertas, menstruation, gestation, and puerperium) are quiescent, in abeyance (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3). PUBERTAS. At puberty, or the first external functional manifestation of the tractus genitalis, the utero-ovarian artery-the uterine bloodsupply-springs into activity. The tractus (1) 200050 |