immoveable. Under these circumstances it was decided that it would be unwise to attempt its removal, consequently the wound was closed and the operation desisted from. The subsequent history was all that could be desired, or could, under any circumstances, have been expected. I think the most probable explanation of the disappearance of the tumor is this: The case was one of extra-uterine pregnancy of the abdominal variety, the ovum became attached to the peritoneum and a connective tissue proliferation was set up which surrounded it with a vascular sack, the walls of which kept pace with the growth of the ovum, and as they extended into the abdominal cavity formed adhesions to the cœcum, intestines, and other parts in the vicinity. During the operation these adhesions were ligated and divided, and in consequence the nutrition of the ovum was entirely cut off, and death and absorption was the result. Since writing the report of this case the patient has been seen and examined. She seems to be in perfect health, and says she never felt better. There is not a vestige of the tumor remaining, except two or three small indurated spots that can be felt through the vagina. STAMMERING, STUTTERING. BY PROF. G. DELON, LATE OF PARIS, FRANCE. Here is an universal and very strange infirmity, impeding speech, the origin of which must be anterior to the formation of languages. Hippocrates, the “Père de la Médecine,” Galen and Aristotle attributed it to an abnormal moisture of the brain and tongue and to a defective construction of the tongue, and their theories have been revived by modern writers. We find in Aristotle a double definition that stammering is an inability of articulating a certain letter, and stuttering an inability of joining one syllable to another. Notwithstanding the difference between the causes, the characteristics and the effects of both defects, several languages have but one word to express it; in French, for instance, “Bégaiement” means either stammering or stuttering. American dictionaries give the same definition for both; and in common talk no distinction is made, all stoppages in speech being called indiscriminately stammering or stuttering. Speech being a combination of separate sounds produced by the expired air, it is certain that the first condition required for natural and correct speech is an undisturbed and normal action of the breathing apparatus. The movements performed by the respiratory organs for the modification of the currents of air being produced by muscles owing their activity to nerves—motor and sensory—and the vocal organs being, like all parts of the organism, provided with nerves, it becomes evident that a general excitation of the nervous system, or any unusual excitement of the motor-nerves in action, will affect the muscles, cause irritation and create disturbances in inspiration, expiration and speech.