On a hitherto undescribed disease of the uterus, namely, unnatural patency of the inner extremity of a fallopian tube / by J. Matthews Duncan.

  • Duncan, J. Matthews (James Matthews), 1826-1890.
Date:
[1856]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On a hitherto undescribed disease of the uterus, namely, unnatural patency of the inner extremity of a fallopian tube / by J. Matthews Duncan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ON A HITHERTO UNDESCRIBED DISEASE OF THE UTERUS, NAMELY, UNNATURAL PATENCY OF THE INNER EXTREMITY OF A FALLOPIAN TUBE. By J. MATTHEWS DUNCAN, M.D., F.R.C.P.E., LECTURER ON MIDWIFERY, ETC. [REPRINTED FROM THE EDINBURGH MEDICAL JOURNAL, JUNE 1856.] It is the object of this paper to call attention to a pathological con¬ dition which has hitherto, so far as I know, escaped the observation of physicians. It consists in continued dilatation of the uterine ex¬ tremity of a Fallopian tube in the unimpregnated state. It is to be regretted that this condition has not yet been the subject of patho¬ logical investigation in the dead body. That demonstration of the disease may, for a long time, be desiderated, for the affection is not fatal, and in 'post-mortem examinations the anatomist is generally careless in observing the condition of parts unconnected with the seat of fatal disease. My confidence in the real existence of this morbid condition of the Fallopian tube, is not staggered by the small amount of actual and direct observation of the condition. For examples are not wanting, in morbid anatomy, of marvellous neglect, of morbid appearances, till attention has been particularly attracted to them. In the case of the uterus, the comparative infrequency of its examination by the morbid anatomist, and the fact of the usual examination, even when made, often not revealing the state of this particular part, are sufficient grounds for my at present believing that future researches will discover it. That the uterine ends of the Fallopian tubes are not always in that state of contraction, to the dimension of a bristle or hair, which