[The birth stool in texts of classical tradition]. / Der Geburtsstuhl in Texten antiker Tradition.

The author presents a collection of texts from Antiquity and from the Middle Ages to give an idea of the kind and incidence of references to the birth stool in medical and non-medical texts. The medieval texts are derived--at least indirectly--from classical sources, too. The mention of the birth stool is a marginal issue in medical as well as non-medical texts. In German-speaking culture areas, the widespread knowledge of the birth stool cannot be traced back to earlier than the beginning of the 16th century.

[Birth representation with reference to the magical coriander prescription of Codex Vindobonensis 93, fol. 102r, of the Austrian National Library]. / Die Geburtsdarstellung zum magischen Korianderrezept des Codex Vindobonensis 93, fol. 102r, der Osterreichischen Nationalbibliothek.

One of the most impressive manuscript illustrations of the medieval history of midwifery is found in the Codex Vindobonensis 93, fol. 102r (a manuscript from the early 13th century), illustrating a magic prescription of herba coriandrum to accelerate childbirth. The composition of the omnibus manuscript is critically delineated in its historical context. The illustration, being isolated without any obstetrical teaching text, is judged as part of the ancient tradition of teaching by images which has no parallel north of the Alps. The different image traditions are reflected in the historical use and illustration of the midwifery chair, which can be traced back only to the beginning of the 16th century in Central Europe and on the British Isles. The importance of the magic prescription is shown by comparison within the same and other collections used in the Middle Ages and classified in the context of further traditions of magic in midwifery.

["From the origin and development of the French disease" to "Major wound treatment". The work and contributions of Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, called Paracelsus, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of his birth year]. / "Vom Ursprung und Herkommen der Franzosen" zur "Grossen Wundartzney". Werk und Wirkung des Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, genannt Paracelsus, aus Anlass des 500. Geburtsjahres.

On the occasion of Paracelsus's 500th anniversary his life and works are critically portrayed and appreciated. The present state of Paracelsian research in different fields of academic science is shown in the congress report 'Neue Wege der Paracelsus-Forschung'.

[Detection of rupture of fetal membranes using a commercially available fibronectin test kit]. / Zum Nachweis des Blasensprungs mit Hilfe eines kommerziell erhältlichen Fibronectin-Nachweistests.

In a clinical examination an attempt was made to confirm the aptitude of a commercially available immunoassay to detect amniotic fluid. Pure amniotic fluid gained by amniocentesis, not mixed with other secretions, was used. On examination using three different batches the sensitivity of this test amounted to 35/55 in all, or 64%. We came to the conclusion that the present test was not sufficiently reliable to prove or disprove the discharge of amniotic fluid. An explanation is needed especially regarding the role played by the forces which occur during contractions and the presence of cervical and vaginal secretions when fetal fibronectin is found to be present. The evidence of fetal fibronectin could possibly become more important as a predictor of imminent labour than as being proof of the admixture of amniotic fluid in cervical and vaginal secretions.

[Teratoma of the placenta]. / Teratom der Plazenta.

The authors describe an extremely rare case of a teratoma of the placenta. The course of pregnancy was complicated by an EPH-gestosis pattern of signs and symptoms, and the foetus had hydrocephalus and a maxillary cleft combined with generalised hydrops foetalis and hydramnion. The morphological criteria of a placental teratoma are described and the requisite differential diagnostic delineations are drawn.