The danger arose not only from septic infection of the peritoneum, but from papillomatous or other infection from the escape into the peritoneal cavity of some of the cyst-contents. Reference has already been made to the occurrence of the papillomatous infection at the site of puncture in the abdominal wall. At the present day tapping an ovarian cyst with the hope of cure is never practised. Tapping as a palliative procedure should never be performed. The dangers that may result from the tapping cannot be disregarded, and no hope whatever of cure can be held out to the patient. When operation is finally performed, it is rendered much more difficult from the adhesions that have resulted from previous tappings. =Operation.=--The treatment of ovarian cysts is operative. Celiotomy should be performed and the tumor removed without delay. The dangers due to the accidents that may occur show the risk of waiting after a diagnosis has been made. When the tumor is small the operative complications and dangers are at a minimum. Even if the tumor be discovered accidentally by the physician, and has never given any trouble to the woman, operation for its removal should be advised. A dermoid that has existed for years may suddenly endanger the woman’s life. Delay in the case of papillomatous tumors--and no one can determine in the early stages whether or not a cyst be papillomatous--is especially dangerous. About one-half the women upon whom I have operated for papillomatous cysts have come to me after the peritoneum had become infected. Though the peritoneum be extensively involved, operation is by no means hopeless. As in the case of tuberculosis of the peritoneum, so in papilloma, the opening and draining of the abdominal cavity may result in cure. Pregnancy is no contraindication to operation. In fact, the dangers of obstructed labor, of rupture of the cyst, and of torsion of the pedicle urgently call for immediate operation in such cases. Pregnancy usually progresses to full term after operation. CHAPTER XXXII. SOLID TUMORS OF THE OVARY. Solid tumors of the ovary are of rare occurrence. They are said to be found in about 5 per cent. of all the cases of ovarian tumors that are submitted to operation. The solid tumors of the ovary are fibromata, myomata, sarcomata, carcinomata, and papillomata.