An experimental inquiry into the effect upon the mother of poisoning the foetus / by W.S. Savory.

  • Savory, William Scovell, 1826-1895.
Date:
[1858]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An experimental inquiry into the effect upon the mother of poisoning the foetus / by W.S. Savory. 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.

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    Again, Dr. Kirkes, referring to Professor Goodsir's obser- vations as to the intervention of two distinct layers of cells between the foetal and maternal portions of the placentji, speaks of the one being ' probably designed to separate from the blood of the parent the materials destined for the blood of the foetus,' while the other ' probably serves for the absorption of the material s^qreted by the other set of cells, and for its conveyance into the blood-vessels of the foetus,' no idea, seemingly, being entertained of a converse process.* Moreover, the view taken by most physiologists of the destination of that portion of the foetal blood which is transmitted to the placenta, appears to be exclusively that of renovation or aeratian, by coming into relation with the oxygenated blood of the mother, nothing being said as to re-ahsorption into the materna,! system. In a note, he a Ids, In his History of Medicine, Dr. Alison expresses himself even more strongly on the subject: ' The experiments of Majendie and others have proved that any substance which may be circulating in the blood of the mother finds ready access to that of the foetus, but that there is little or nu transference of fluids in the opposite direction.' Those authors who express a contrary opinion cannot refei to any facts in support of it. As the question at present stands then, the only demon- strative evidence is that yielded by the experiments of ♦ It is, however, only fair to add that, in the later editions of his work. Dr. Kirkes, in a note, expresses the following strong opinion :— Although, in the text, mention is made only of the passage of materials from the' blood of the mother into that of the foetus, yet there can be no doubt of the existence of a nmtual interchange of materials between the blood of both foetus and parent, the latter supplying the former with nutriment, and, in turn, abstracting from it materials which require to be removed. ' The most recent expression of Dr. Carpenter's opinion is to this effect. After giving the common account of the function of the placenta, as furnish-i ing materials for the nutrition of the embryo, and as a respiratory organ, ho] adds, And it is probable, too, tliat the placenta is to be regarded as an • excreting organ ; serving for llic removal, through the maternal blood, of j cxereiueniitious matter, whoso continued circulation in the blood of the fojtus j would bo prejudicial to it. ]