SELECTED ABSTRA( 'TN
93H
;\m.
_L Obst.
& Gynec.
April, 1950
deJiveTed of a premature stillborn infant of six and one-half months' gestation; she suffered a severe postpartum hemorrhage which was spontaneously controlled after she returned to the ground. The authors conclude from their observations that air travel is not the most advisable means of transportation for the pregnant woman. DOUGLAS M, HAYNES,
Nemirovsky, Jose, and Martinez, Alberto Raul:
Chiari-Frommel Syndrome, An. brasil. de
ginec. 27: 93, 194!l, The writPrs, from San Paulo, report a case of a 24-year-old woman, delivered two year~ before, Pxhibiting galactorrhea, neurovegetative disturbances, and a uterus sounding but 6.5 em. ThP patient had been persistently amenorrheic for nearly three years. The authors stress the rarity of the Chiari-Frommel Syndrome characterized by postpartum genital atrophy, amenorrhea, and persistent postweaning galactorrhea, ani! conclucl<> that while the pathogenesis is still obscure, they believe it is due to the persisting function of the pituitary lactogenic hormone-prolactin, that inhibits pituitary gonadotropic activity. C. E. FOLSOME.
Ribeiro, Flexa: Gynogram, An. brasil. de ginec. 27: ll9, 1949. The author, Director of Fine Arts at the University of Brazil, coins the word '' Gynogram'' to define the study of methods of representing woman's form in art. He illustrates representations of the female figure through various ages from prehistoric times, when nature·~ greatest perfection appears deformt>d by artists' incapacities, until now, when it is again disfigured by modernists' extravagance. In the writer's opinion only the classical period, the peak of which was attained in Greece, might be considered genuine art. This unusual articlf' on art, appearing in a gynecological journal, is well illustrated with twelve C. E, FOLSOME. figures.
Mengert, William F.:
Estimation of Pelvic Capacity, J. A. M. A. 138: 169, 1948.
( 1) size and 'l'he author mentions five components of cephalopelvic disproportion: shape of the bony pelvis, ( 2) size of the fetal head, ( 3) force exerted by the uterus, ( 4) rnoldability of the head, and ( 5) presentation and position, Only the first of these is susceptible to accurate measurements. Radiographic pelvic measurement is not feasible for all pregnant women. Moreover, it is unnecessary when manual methods indicate an obviously adequate pelvis. The author observed that the best index of either inlet or mid-plane capacity is the product of the transverse and the anteroposterior diameters. This necessitate radiographic measurements. The problem confronting the obstetrician is an accurate evaluation of these measurements. In general, inlet and mid-plane tended to vary together. WILLIAM BERMAN.
Kueger, Vera I.:
The Value of Albumin-Fortified Anti-Rh Serum for Rh Testing, M. J.
Australia, p. 233, Feb. 19, 1949. 'fhe author has shown that saline suspensions of reel blood cells can be tested for the Rh factor by direct incubation with serum containing blocking antibodies, provided these are fortified by the addition of a suitable concentration of bovine albumin. Rh-positive cells show gross clumping after incubation for thirty minutes at 37° C. if only a small drop of cell suspension is used. This precaution is necessary and may be explained by 'Wiener's statement that slight dilution of plasma or serum with isotonic aqueous solution causes the dissociation of the albumin-globulin complex ''conglutinin'' into albumin and globulin. These in themselves have little or no conglutinating activity. WILLIAM BERMAN.