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neutral. In this respect my results differ from those of Schlossberger, who, speaking of the reaction, says: "Das secret war geruchloss und reagirte in allen vier Fallen deutlich wenn auch schwach sauer. wurde dadurch an die haüfig saure Reaction der Kuhmilch erinnert," &c.

When the fluid obtained from the cotyledons is heated, we notice the formation of a pellicle over its surface, as when milk is boiled. (Such a pellicle was formerly always supposed to indicate the presence of casein in the fluid in which it occurred.) The liquid then solidifies, from the coagulation of the large quantity of albumen which it contains, and which is readily detected by all the tests for that substance. When evaporated to dryness, uterine milk leaves a brownish brittle residue, the colour of which depends very greatly upon the amount of heat which has been employed in the process of evaporation. If the dried residue be pulverized and treated with boiling ether, this dissolves out a certain amount of fat.

The amount of solid matter present in the uterine milk of the cow appears to vary from 9.63 to 11.65 per cent. In two analyses of the uterine milk of the ewe, I found the solids to amount to 11.70 and 8-12 in 100 parts.

The quantity of fatty matter in one specimen from the cow was 1.23, in another 1.40 per cent. In two specimens of the uterine milk of the ewe, I found the quantity to be 1·05 and 1·20 in 100 parts.

If the dried residue, which has been treated with ether, be burned in a crucible at a red heat, a very small amount of ash will be left. This I found to amount to 37 and 48 in 100 parts of the uterine milk of the cow, to 47 and 82 in that of the ewe. The quantity of the ash is so small, and my time has been so fully occupied, as not to enable me to examine it carefully.

Different portions of uterine milk were repeatedly tested for sugar, but none was found.

In order to determine the presence or absence of casein and albumen, I followed the following processes:

I diluted some uteriue milk with an equal bulk of water, and boiled it; an abundant coagulum was formed. On attempting to filter the fluid so as to separate it completely from the coagulum, the process was soon arrested by the clogging of the filter. I therefore added a few drops of acetic acid to another specimen of diluted uterine milk, when, after boiling, I found that the precipitate separated quite readily, and admitted of rapid filtration. Other specimens of uterine milk were precipitated by nitric acid and the other reagents which indicate the presence of albumen. Having diluted a considerable quantity

of uterine milk, I added a solution of chloride of ammonium, in amount more than sufficient to render the fluid neutral, I then boiled it for a few minutes, and filtered. The filtrate, which was quite clear, was divided into several portions. To one I added acetic acid; it caused a curdy precipitate. To another I added a solution of chloride of calcium; no precipitate occurred. To another portion I added a

solution of sulphate of magnesia; the fluid remained clear. A precipitate was, however, formed when the fluid was boiled.

The above reactions would formerly have been considered ample proofs of the presence of casein, especially when taken in connexion with the film which formed on heating the fluid. We are now aware, however, that albumen, if held in solution by potash and soda (the socalled albuminates of potash and soda), reacts in all these particulars like casein. I therefore added to another portion of the clear filtrate some rennet, and placed it over a fireplace, where the temperature was about 100° Fah. No coagulum formed. I repeated all the above experiments several times, with precisely the same results. They prove that uterine milk contains no casein, but that some of its albumen is held in solution by alkalies. In my quantitative analysis, I estimated separately the albumen precipitated by heat and that precipitated by acetic acid.

On the Quantitative Analysis of Uterine Milk.-1. A quantity of the fluid, varying from 200 to 600 grs., was evaporated to dryness in a porcelain capsule. The evaporation was carried on first in the hotwater oven, secondly in the hot-air oven, at a temperature of 220° Fah.; and lastly, the residue was allowed to cool in a bell-jar over sulphuric acid, and then weighed. By this means the amount of water and solids was ascertained.

2. The dry residue of (1) was pulverized and treated with successive portions of boiling ether. The ethereal solution was allowed to evaporate spontaneously, then heated gently in the water-oven, and weighed. Thus was found the amount of fatty matters.

3. The residue of (2) was incinerated until the organic matter was quite burned away, leaving a white ash, which was weighed. Thus was obtained the quantity of the inorganic salts.

4. About 300 grs. of uterine milk were accurately weighed and diluted with an equal bulk of water, and a considerable quantity of a saturated solution of chloride of ammonium was added. The liquid was then boiled for some time. The coagulum was then collected in a counterpoised filter, and dried in the water-oven. It was then cut into very small pieces with a knife, and these were further dried in the hot-air oven, and lastly weighed. The weight, minus that of the filterpaper, gave the amount of albumen, which carried down with it the cellular structures present in the fluid.

5. To the filtrate obtained in operation 4, acetic acid was added; the curdy precipitate was collected on a counterpoised filter, and the drying and weighing carried on as described above.

This plan of analysis, it will be observed, is not an absolutely accurate one. In the first place, the albumen cannot be obtained free from the cellular elements present in the fluid obtained from the cotyledons. Secondly, in order to save time, the precipitate of albumen was not incinerated after being dried, so that there must be a slight error in excess in the amount of albumen.

Analysis of Uterine Milk of the Cow, No. 1.-The amount which

could be obtained from the cotyledons was not ascertained. The reaction of the fluid was slightly alkaline. The density at 60° Fah. was 1033.

Note. The amount of solids ascertained separately exceed by 77 the aggregate solids determined by evaporating the fluid.

Analysis of Uterine Milk of the Cow, No. 2.-This specimen was obtained from the cotyledons of a cow at an advanced period of gestation. The following observations were made upon the number and weight of the cotyledons, and upon the quantity of the fluid yielded by 1000 grs. of the maternal portion of the cotyledons. The cotyledons were 90 in number.

quantity of uterine milk which could be squeezed from 1000 grains of the maternal portion of the cotyledon was Quantity of cotyledonary fluid, which could at this rate be expressed from the whole of the maternal portions of the cotyledons, estimated at

149 8

3009.48

The following are the results of the analysis of this specimen :
Specific gravity at 60° Fah.

1040

Reaction.

neutral

Having estimated the amount of the fluid which was yielded by a given weight of the cotyledons, and having calculated from this the amount that could have been expressed from the whole of the maternal portions of the cotyledons, we can calculate how much of the separate constituents would be found in the whole quantity of the uterine milk.

Analysis of Uterine Milk of Ewe, No. 1—Reaction Alkaline.

The uterus in this case contained a lamb weighing 9 oz.

Analysis of Uterine Milk of Ewe No. 2.

Weight of uterus and membranes

of lamb contained

2 lbs. 14 ozs.
3

Uterine milk expressed from the maternal portions of

all the cotyledons

1

دو

544.5 grs.

Specific gravity of uterine milk

Water in 100 parts

Solids

Fat

Albumen, with cellular structures and alkaline

albuminates

Salts

1033

91.88

8.12

1:05

6.12

.82

In this case a considerable quantity of mucus existed between the chorion and mucous membrane of the uterus, external to the cotyledons.

Having given the results of my researches on the composition of the so-called uterine milk of ruminants, I would direct attention to the fact that in other orders of animals a fluid is found between the chorion and uterine mucous membrane, which in physical characters appears to resemble it. In the sow I have found such a fluid. In one case, I collected a considerable quantity of a milky fluid (737-5 grs), which was situated between the mucous membrane of the uterus and the chorion. It had an alkaline reaction; its density was 1017; it was highly coagulable, and contained fat. As it was beginning to decompose, I did not make a quantitative analysis of it. My brother has also informed me that in his dissections of the uterus of pregnant mares he has noticed a considerable quantity of a creamy fluid between the chorion and the uterine mucous membrane.

Without wishing to draw rash conclusions from the few facts which I have adduced, I would remark that they appear to be of some importance; that they seem to bear out the views of those who believe that the placenta contains arrangements which separate those constituents of the blood which are requisite for the nutrition of the fœtus, and that they give support to those anatomists who attribute such a function to the external and internal cells of the villi of the human placenta.* It is a subject in which, however, further researches are much wanted, and to which I hope to revert, when I shall have had *See Professor Goodsir's Paper On the Structure of the Human Placenta, in his Anatomical and Pathological Observations. Edinburgh, 1845.

opportunities and leisure to study more fully the chemical composition, and especially the microscopic character of the interesting fluid which forms the subject of this paper. For the convenience of reference, I have annexed a table in which the results of analysis of uterine milk, made by Schlossberger and myself, may be seen and compared. To be more complete, I have added below the results of Prevost and Morin's analysis.

Tabular View of Analyses of Uterine Milk.

Analysis of the Uterine Milk of the Cow by Prevost and Morin.

By

Remarks on some Cases of Vascular Tumour seated in Muscle. CAMPBELL DE MORGAN, F.R.S., Surgeon to the Middlesex Hospital. THE records of surgery and pathology relating to vascular tumours seated in the muscles are, so far as I have discovered, but few and meagre. The disease, unless as an extension from the cutaneous or subcutaneous vascular growths, is either very uncommon or has not attracted the attention of surgeons, for the cases mentioned in this communication are all that I have seen myself or found described by others.

M. Demarquay, in a paper published in 'L'Union Médicale,' maintains that these tumours are not rare, and expresses surprise that surgeons have not oftener met with them. The reason why they have not been met with undoubtedly is, that they are amongst the rarest of tumours, especially that form of them in which they are surrounded by a fibrous sheath. M. Demarquay himself only brings forward six cases which he has been able to collect. Mr. Teevan, in his article on tumours in muscle, published in the last number of the 'Medico