alimentary cæcum, and that the Reproductive system consists in a double series of segmental organs, one on either side of this great cæcum and the ventral median line; that in this family the sexes are seated on separate individuals; that the reproductive elements at no time find their way into the general cavity; that in fact these Annelids, anomalous only in the disposition of their alimentary system, conform, as regards the type and mode of repetition of segmental organs, to the standard offered by the great Nereid group. Chlorama Dujardinii, especially the female, presents an extremely favourable opportunity of observing the looped arrangement of the segmental organ, and of proving the fact, so constantly seen in the other families of Annelids, viz. that one limb of the loop is the true ovary, or the primary seat of the ovo-genesis; that the ovules travel round the curve of the loop; that they acquire a considerably developed size at the other limb, just before they escape externally. In Chlorama the vitelline body of the ova is almost ink-black. The entire extent of the segmental organ is thus rendered perfectly and easily traceable amid the surrounding transparent structures. In this genus it does not at present appear that either limb of the loop opens into the general cavity. This type prevails, as far as he knows at present, throughout the Nereid group; in other words, in these Annelids the function of a discharge tube does not appear to be thrown upon the segmental organ under any circumstances; hence the limited dimensions of the general cavity and the highly developed character of the blood-vascular apparatus. The group lastly examined, is that of the Aphroditaceæ. On the reproductive organs of this large, numerous and interesting family, no single observation is contained in any work on comparative anatomy that the author is acquainted with. He enters upon a detailed account of his own researches. They have ended in what he would fain believe to be a complete solution of the difficulties in which the history of the Reproductive or segmental system of this family has been hitherto shrouded. This family, without exception, is unisexual. The segmental organs constitute a complete and regularly branched series, situated, as in all other Annelids, on either side of the ventral median line. They embrace, like a gauze-work, the diverticula of the alimentary system, with which they correspond in number. They fall under the general designation of the "segmental organ," in the feature of their having two limbs, being therefore looped, although only rudimentarily. The author then proceeds to give an account of his studies into the history of this organ amongst the grotesque and highly varied species of the genus Polynoë. They have rendered it certain that throughout the family of the Aphroditaceæ there obtains but one type of segmental organ, and that upon it always are ingrafted the generative structures. At this stage the attempt is made to show that the segmental organs of the Echinidæ, Asteriada and Holothuriadæ conform, structurally and functionally, in the most remarkably intimate manner with the typical standard exhibited by this organ in the Aphroditaceæ. But between these Echinoderm and Annelidan families the author attempts to indicate other zoological affinities. He shows, that, according to his researches amongst the Aphroditaceæ, there is no trace whatever to be discovered of a blood-vascular system. In this respect they correspond with the Echinidan and Asteridan families. He shows that in the Aphroditaceæ the general cavity is never, under any circumstances, used as an incubatory chamber. In this point of their generative history the Echinidæ and Asteriadæ exactly agree with the Aphroditaceæ. The author regrets, that, in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining specimens, he is obliged to defer to a second memoir many special points of anatomical structure and physiological relations, the determination of which he still feels to be necessary to the complete history of the segmental organ in the Annulose and Radiated classes. The paper is illustrated by numerous drawings. III. "Addition to a Memoir on the Determination of Unknown Functions that are evolved under Definite Integrals." By J. GOMES DE SOUZA, Esq. Communicated by Dr. SHARPEY, Sec. R.S. Received November 1, 1856. In his previous communication (Proceedings, June 12, 1856) the author developed or in terms of the function A em,. In the present communication he developes in a more general way, using terms of the form A, Ser(w,m,)dw, the function of a being assumed at plea sure. February 19, 1857. Dr. W. A. MILLER, V.P., in the Chair. The following communications were read: I. " History of two Cases of Hernia of the Ovaries, in one of which there was a periodical Enlargement of one or other of these Organs." By HENRY OLDHAM, M.D., Member of the Royal College of Physicians, and Obstetric Physician to Guy's Hospital. Communicated by ARTHUR Farre, M.D., F.R.S. Received January 10, 1857. The two cases which I beg to present to the Royal Society, are examples of a rare conformation of the female sexual organs, in which the two ovaria have descended through the inguinal canals and have become permanently lodged in the upper part of the external labia; and in both of them the most careful and repeated physical examination has failed to detect either uterus or vagina. I should hardly, however, have ventured to bring them before the Society simply as examples of faulty conformation-because, although rare, yet they have been observed*-had not the first of the two cases presented the interesting physiological peculiarity of a spontaneous periodical increase of one or other of the ovaria, followed by its gradual reduction, thus supplying direct evidence of an ovarian menstrual act. The subject of the first case applied to me in September 1851 for advice on account of never having menstruated. She was nineteen years of age, of a tall figure, symmetrical frame, well-expanded pelvis, and womanly aspect, bearing all the marks of a full completion of the physical changes of puberty; and her general health, though not robust, was fairly good. She was one of a family of five children, and her sisters had menstruated between fifteen and sixteen years of * Vide Deneux, "Recherches sur la Hernie de l'Ovaire," 1813. age. The principal point which was elicited from her history in connexion with her complaint was, that, eighteen months before, a swelling had somewhat suddenly appeared on the right side of the external organs, which had caused her some pain for a few days, and had then disappeared. In four or five months a similar swelling again appeared, but was attended with so much suffering that a medical man was consulted, who took it for an abscess and ordered it to be poulticed. Again it passed away, again to recur at the end of two months; and so it had gone on at irregular intervals until the time of her seeing me, when the pain of a renewed attack of unusual severity had occasioned her some alarm. On examination, a swelling the size of a goose-egg was found to extend between the external abdominal ring and the centre of the labium on the right side, which was very tense and firm to the touch; and the cellular tissue, skin, and mucous membrane of the labium were oedematous and inflamed. It was painful, but by no means so painful as a labial abscess, which in its general aspect it resembled; and there was but little febrile disturbance. A more critical examination detected the presence of a solid body of an oval shape within the tissue of the labium, which proved to be the ovarium, whose enlargement had so compressed the surrounding tissues as to swell and inflame them. On the opposite side there was another oval body, the size of a walnut, which passed just beyond the outer ring, but readily slipped into the canal. This was the left ovary in a quiescent state. The external sexual parts were normally formed; but the ostium vagina was closed, a slight indentation in the median line alone marking its position. Frequent careful physical examinations failed to detect any trace of a vagina or uterus, and the conclusion arrived at was that these central pelvic organs had not been developed. The mammary glands were fully formed. I have had repeated opportunities during the six years which have intervened since first the case came before me, of examining the organs both during the periods of ovarian excitement and during the intervals. For nearly two years, however, I completely lost sight of her, when I learned to my amazement, that, in spite of my strong admonition both to her mother and herself that she should lead a single life, she had married. For some time past I have seen her more fre. quently, and have watched the recurrence of the ovarian swellings. For the first three years the right ovarium was exclusively enlarged, and the intervals were not so regularly marked, varying between three and six weeks; excepting for the first year, when they were much longer, occasionally extending to three months. For the last two years the left ovarium has been far more frequently affected, the right remaining quiescent; occasionally both are painful and tumid, but even then one more than the other. The intervals are now pretty regularly three weeks. The acute inflammatory symptoms which accompanied the onset of these swellings have long since ceased to recur, which is obviously due to the loose state of the tissues from repeated stretching, so that the swollen organ is no longer compressed. The accession of a menstrual time is sometimes suddenly felt. She will go to bed well, and in the morning the ovary will be swollen : more commonly, however, it is very gradual, augmenting in volume for four days, then remaining stationary for three days, and then gradually declining; the whole process, before the ovary is reduced, generally lasting ten or twelve days. On separating the ovary, when at its height of swelling, from the tissues surrounding it, it appears scarcely, if at all, less than double its usual volume; its outline is clearly defined, and it is plain that the whole, and not merely a part, of the organ is involved. There is no suffering worthy of notice during the time the swelling is tender if pressed; and tender, too, in the act of sitting down or rising up; but she walks about as usual without distress, and there is but little lumbar or hypogastric pain. Neither are there any manifest sympathies excited, either of the mammary glands or other organs. Nor is there any vicarious flux, either of blood or any secretion, with the exception of an excess of saliva, but this not in any large flow. The ovary alone appeared to be engaged in this periodical act, which it is not too much to suppose, in accordance with modern physiological views, would have been attended with a flux of blood, had not the organs which normally supply it been absent. But while this may be said to represent the usual course of a period, yet the volume of the ovary, and the length of time it remains. swollen, is subject to occasional variation; sometimes being much less tumid, and dying away in a shorter time. The repeated attempts at sexual union have only had the effect of somewhat loosening the tissues around the vulva, but the vagina VOL. VIII. 2 G |
