Summary The concentrations of prostaglandins E2 and Fα were measured by radioimmunoassay in samples of endometrial tissue from 155 women. The results showed that the concentration of prostaglandin E2 (ng/100 mg of wet tissue; mean ± SD) in tissue from apparently healthy women with regular menstrual cycles was 79·3 ± 9·9 during the menstrual period. The level in the proliferative and early secretory phases fell to 11·8 ± 4·0 and 13·3± 8·3 respectively. During the late secretory phase there was a significant increase to 20·1±10·8. The corresponding values from patients with fibromyomata and without menorrhagia were similar. However, the concentration in tissue from patients with fibromyomata and menorrhagia was significantly higher (63·9 ±17·9) during the secretory phase of the uterine cycle. In addition, the amount was significantly higher in the groups with dysmenorrhoea (19 ·0 ± 4·5 proliferative; 68 · 0 ± 18 ·15 secretory) and irregular uterinbleeding (78·3 ± 59·0 proliferative; 87·4 ± 64·9 secretory). The mean concentration was higher in cases of endometriosis, and significantly elevated in endometrial carcinoma. The results for prostaglandin Fα showed a similar pattern, but the changes were less marked in patients with irregular dysfunctional bleeding. The findings are discussed.

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The concentrations of prostaglandins E, and F,, were measured by radioimmunoassay in samples of endometrial tissue from 155 women. The results showed that the concentration of prostaglandin E, (ng/100 mg of wet tissue; mean & SD) in tissue from apparently healthy women with regular menstrual cycles was 79 * 3 h 9 . 9 during the menstrual period. The level in the proliferative and early secretory phases fell to 1 1 .8 f 4 * 0 and 13 . 3 f 8 . 3 respectively. During the late secretory phase there was a significant increase to 20.1 flO.8. The corresponding values from patients with fibromyomata and without menorrhagia were similar. However, the concentration in tissue from patients with fibromyomata and menorrhagia was significantly higher (63.9h17.9) during the secretory phase of the uterine cycle. In addition, the amount was significantly higher in the groups with dysmenorrhoea (19.014.5 proliferative; 68.0f18.15 secretory) and irregular uterine bleeding (78.3159 a 0 proliferative; 87.4f64.9 secretory). The mean concentration was higher in cases of endometriosis, and significantly elevated in endometrial carcinoma. The results €or prostaglandin F,, showed a similar pattern, but the changes were less marked in patients with irregular dysfunctional bleeding. The findings are discussed.

BYIT is generally agreed that the average duration of human pregnancy is 280 days from the first day of the last menstrual period.The possibility of a gestation period longer than this was totally denied before 1855. It is now recognized, however, that abnormal prolongation of gestation does occasionally occur, though the difficulty in clinical diagnosis of postmaturity before or after the birth of the child is well known, largely because conception does not always occur at mid-cycle and dates are, therefore, unreliable if considered alone. For the purpose of this paper a case was not accepted as postmature unless the following criteria were all present : (I) A gestation of more than 294 days from the first day of the last period. (Patients with doubtful menstrual history were excluded.) (2) A baby weighing more than 74 pounds. (3) Evidence of over-development of the child.An examination of 3,339 consecutive labour-records has shown that when the above criteria are applied, the mortality rate for postmature infants is 7.9 per cent against that of 4.8 per cent for mature babies (premature infants under 5 pounds excluded). It has been suggested that the increased mortality-rate among postmature infants is due to degeneration of the placenta, and many textbooks (Teacher,' Kerr,' de Lee3) state that the postmature placenta calcifies, implying this to be a cause of foetal death. We have made a study of the degree of calcification in premature, mature and postmature placentae with the idea of finding out (i) whether degeneration and calcification are likely to be causes of foetal death, and (ii) whether calcification of the placenta might be used to assist in the diagnosis of postmaturity. PRESENT INVESTIGATION.Sixty-one placentae have been obtained and examined in the following ways : (a) by means of X-ray photographs, (b) chemically, (c) histologically. 437

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