The menstruation and ovulation of Macacus rhesus : with observations on the changes undergone by the discharged follicle. Pt. II / by Walter Heape ; [communicated by M. Foster].

  • Heape, Walter, 1855-1929.
Date:
1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The menstruation and ovulation of Macacus rhesus : with observations on the changes undergone by the discharged follicle. Pt. II / by Walter Heape ; [communicated by M. Foster]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    9/40 (page 139)
    Menstrvation. With regard to the regularity of menstruation in Monkeys, it seems advisable 1 should add a word to what I have already said in Part I. of this paper (No. 8). There is considerable evidence in favour of the view that certain monkeys menstru- ate regularly all the year round. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire and Cuvjer (No. 7) found that in three different species, Cercopithecus, Cynocephalus, and Macacus, there was a regular monthly discharge of blood from the generative organs. Sutton (No. 17) states that the specimens of M. rhesus which he investigated, and which I understand he obtained from the Zoological Gardens in London, menstruated fairly regularly ; while Mr. Bartlett, Superintendent of the Zoological Gardens in London and Mr. SInyal, Superintendent of the Gardens in Calcutta, have both assured me that monkeys menstruate regularly in their establishments. A specimen of M. cynomolgus which I observed in the Gardens at Calcutta for three months menstruated regularly during that time, a bloody discharge exuding from the vagina on 20th December 1890, 20th January 1891, and about the 20th February 1891. A specimen of Cynoce])lialus 'porcarius I also noticed in the Calcutta Gardens for two months, menstruated regularly for that period, while the specimens of Semno- pithecus entellus which I kept for observation in Calcutta, menstruated each month and the flow from the vagina lasted about four days. The specimens of M. rhesus which I kept in Cambridge, were not all adults at the time they were sent to me, two of the adults, however, menstruated regularly for the three months during which they were under observation. In these animals the flow was observed to last for three to five days, and the probable mean dates were : Specimen A. 7th May, 1892 ; 2nd June, 1892; and 6th July, 1892. „ B. about 11th May, 1892 ; 11th June, 1892 ; and 6th July, 1892. After this date until the end of the year, specimen B was irregular; she generally was found to have a secretion exuding from the vagina but it was rarely tinged with blood. A third specimen suffered much from cold and cough and rarely menstruated, two others died, two were young ones which did not menstruate at all, and the eighth menstruated irregularly. External Signs of Menstruatio'n. Apart from the menstrual flow, other signs were observed which regularly recurred with menstruation in M. rhesus and M. cynomolgus; the nipples and vulva became swollen and deeply congested, and the skin of the buttocks swollen, tense, and of a brilliant red or even purple colour ; the abdominal wall also, for a short space upwards, and the inside of the thighs, sometimes as far down as the heel, and the T 2