pains. Examination with the oiled
hand in the rectum will reveal the womb of the natural, unimpregnated
size and shape and with both horns of one size. Further exploration may
detect an elastic mass apart from the womb, in the interior of which may
be felt the characteristic solid body of the fetus. If the latter is
still alive and can be stimulated to move, the evidence is even more
perfect. The fetus may die and be carried for years, its soft structures
becoming absorbed so as to leave only the bones, or by pressure it may
form a fistulous opening through the abdominal walls, or less frequently
through the vagina or rectum. In the latter cases the best course is to
favor the expulsion of the foal and to wash out the resulting cavity
with a solution of carbolic acid 1 part to water 50 parts. This may be
repeated daily. When there is no spontaneous opening it is injudicious
to interfere, as the danger from the retention of the fetus is less than
that from septic fermentation in the enormous fetal sac when that has
been opened to the air.

MOLES, OR ANIDIAN MONSTERS.

These are evidently products of conception, in which the impregnated
ovum has failed to develop naturally, and presents only a chaotic mass
of skin, hair, bones, muscles, etc., attached to the inner surface of
the womb by an umbilical cord, which is itself often shriveled and
wasted. They are usually accompanied with a well-developed fetus, so
that the mole may be looked upon as a twin which has undergone arrest
and vitiation of development. They are expelled by the ordinary process
of parturition, and usually at the same time with the normally developed
offspring.

CYSTIC DISEASE OF THE WALLS OF THE WOMB, OR VESICULAR MOLE.

This condition appears to be attributable to hypertrophy (enlargement)
of the villi on the inner surface of the womb, which become greatly
increased in number and hollowed out internally into a series of cysts,
or pouches, containing liquid. Unlike the true mole, therefore, they
appear to be disease of the maternal structure of the womb rather than
of the product of conception. Rodet, in a case of this kind, which had
produced active labor pains, quieted the disorder with anodynes and
effected a recovery. When this can not be done, attempts may be made to
remove the mass with the ecraseur or otherwise, following it up with
antiseptic injections, as advised under the last heading.

DROPSY OF THE WOMB.

This appears as a re