THE SKELETON 43 



to is really the basal oi 2. pre-pollex, oi -which, digit no further trace has 

 remained. This view was supported by Baur (1888), Rabl (1901), 

 Steiner (1921), and others. 



So far as the present investigation of Salamandra is concerned the 

 description of the anatomical relations given by these authors has 

 been entirely confirmed, i.e. that the first two digits articulate with 

 a common basal, and that the first basal is not at all closely associated 

 with the first digit, and lies rather more proximally than the other 

 basal elements. Further, in a specimen in which the bones had been 

 stained with alizarin, and the soft tissues cleared with potassium 

 hydroxide and glycerine, it was apparent that the basal common to 

 the first two digits had ossified from two centres, in fact it presented 

 an appearance comparable with that of the fused ulnare + inter- 

 medium. Finally, the fact that the short flexor muscles for the first 

 digit take their origin from this element and not from the most pre- 

 axial cartilage seems to add conclusive evidence in favour of 

 Strasser's view. Various other authors have made contributions 

 bearing on the subject, and their views may be summarized, accord- 

 ing to whether they support or oppose the conclusions set forth 

 above, as follows. 



In support: Strasser (1879); Kehrer (1886); Baur (1888); 

 Emery (1895); Zwick (1898); Rabl (1901); Sewertzoff (1907); 

 Steiner (1921). 



Opposed : Gegenbaur ( 1 8 64) ; Goette (1879); Braus ( 1 906). 



It must be pointed out that Sewertzoff and Zwick do not regard 

 the cart, pre-pollicis as having such a status, but rather suppose it 

 to be a supernumerary centrale. 



In the carpus of Salamandra we have therefore (if the above inter- 

 pretation be accepted) in the distal row of carpalia, starting from the 

 pre-axial border, a cartilago pre-pollicis (c.pr.p.) which remains carti- 

 laginous throughout life; a fused basale 1+2 (o.b.c. 1+2) {Easale 

 commune^ Strasser), with an osseous centre in the adult, serving the 

 first two digits ; a basale 3 for the third finger, and a basale 4 for the 

 fourth, both of which also become ossified in the centre. There is a 

 bony centrale (o.c.) which articulates with all the other elements of 

 the carpus with the exception of the pars ulnaris (o.u'+i.) of the 

 ulnare + intermedium. The radiale (c.rd.) remains entirely cartila- 

 ginous. It is relatively small and articulates proximally with the 

 radius, mesially with the pars intermedia (o.u.-j-i'.) of the ulnare + 

 intermedium, and distally with the centrale and cart, pre-pollicis. 

 As already indicated the ulnare and intermedium fuse in the adult 

 to form a common element, of which the major portion ossifies. The 



