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Gynecology sprang into existence as an offshoot from medicine to meet the demands of suffering womankind for more successful treatment of a train of symptoms, presumably due to disturbed conditions of the pelvic organs. Gynecologists first learned that a certain number of these symptoms could be relieved by replacing misplaced pelvic organs and by supporting them through mechanical means, but they soon learned that this relief was only temporary, and that better and more permanent relief could be obtained by repairing the faulty natural supports by means of a surgical operation, which soon led to the abandonment of pessaries. They then learned that many patients referred to them by physicians, who had been cured of all abnormal pelvic conditions, still had a train of grave disabling symptoms unaccounted for. These unfortunate patients were referred back to the physician, who pronounced them hysteric or dyspeptic, and treated them accordingly and with

PROLEGOMENON In May, 1881,1Dr. Glenard of Lyons, France, made the observation that many cases of nervous diseases were accompanied by a prolapsed position of the stomach. He proved this by palpation and percussion, which were advanced by his technic to a degree hitherto unknown. He soon afterward found that the other abdominal structures were prone to prolapse, especially the transverse colon, and the right kidney. From the time of this discovery of Glenard we may very properly date an era in the development of the science of medicine.2 The profession of France very early recognized the importance of these observations, and we take a lively pleasure at this time of revision in bringing to light a statement made by Fereal, at a meeting of the Hospital Medical Society, Paris, Dec. 24, 1886. After discussing neurasthenia and enteroptosis, he thus proceeded: The studies of Glenard confirm the exactitude

We are not dealing with the obscure conditions of the gastro-intestinal tract as they arise, but mostly with the common pathologic states, often misinterpreted on account of the unsatisfactory methods of diagnosis at the present day. The subject is so broad that we have decided to restrict our paper to the size, position, and motility of the gastro-intestinal tract. Normal patients, or patients with splanchnoptosis with or without intestinal symptoms, constitute our particular theme. Cases of ulcer and malignancy have been omitted on account of limitations of space. All the cases under consideration have been studied first with regard to the physical signs and the ordinary tests for gastro-intestinal secretions and contents. The Rontgen ray has been used as an aid confirmatory agent indiagnosis. Whereas due consideration in every case has been given to the history, subjective and objective signs, and examination of secretions, we have found the previous diagnosis