Lectures on the development of the gravid uterus / by William O. Priestley.
- Priestley, William Overend, 1829-1900.
- Date:
- 1860
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Lectures on the development of the gravid uterus / by William O. Priestley. 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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![sections of gland follicles of great length, which penetrated deeply into the uterine substance. Two or three canals of this kind were sometimes grouped together, and their cell-particles were entirely unaftected by atheromatous change. It is thus to be observed, that not only is a layer of young mucous membrane formed between the decidua and muscular coat of the uterus, but there are present also tnbular follicles deeply planted in the uterine substance, which do not separate with the membranes, but remain as centres of reproduction to assist in spreading a thick secretion of epithelium over the surface of the uterus, when occasion requires. The mode in which the uterine mucous membrane is further developed after parturition, is illustrated by the following descrip- tion taken at the post-mortem examination of a patient who died on the seventh day after delivery, from disease unconnected with her confinement:—The internal surface of the uterus was somewhat less irregular than that observed in the woman who died the day after her confinement, but fragmentary portions of the decidua mixed with blood-corpuscles and fat globules were everywhere present, and the placental spot, though somewhat more contracted, was prominent and well marked. It was especially remarked, however, that the shreds of the decidua were less firmly attached than at the earlier period, and so loose that they were readily brushed from the siuface. Immediately beneath was spread a pulpy layer, about the consistence of a jelly, which consisted of epithelial nucleated cells more or less spheroidal in form, and sparingly mixed with fat granules. The remains of the decidua were somewhat more firmly united to the placental spot; bnt even here the pulpy membrane was developing itself in meshes between the still noticeable but now contracted vascular orifices. The siumnary of conclusions may be stated as follows:— 1. After an onlinary labour, tenn mating in separation and expulsion of the secundines, the muscular substance of the uteius is nowhere laid bare, as some authors have supposed, noi is there any inflammatory false membrane spread o\ er the surface. As Dr Duncan has correctly pointed out, the interior of the uteius after parturition only bears analogy with the stump after amputa- tion, inasmuch as both have large open vessels liable to be inflamed and to absorb noxious materials. 2. When the membranes are thrown ott‘ in the third stage ot labour, a ])ortion of the decidua remains attached to the uterine .surface as a protection against external agencies. It is not, how-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22334452_0106.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
