A CLINICAL STUDY OF THE SKULL. 45 



of the frontal bone at the region of the vestibular roof, and small 

 portions of the maxilla and of the palatal bones, it follows that if it 

 is possible for defects to arise from faults of union, more than a 

 single place for such defects must be sought for ; oi', if by mere dis- 

 tortion any one of the parts may be found out of the straight line, 

 the, localities at which such deviation may occur are many. 



In point of fact the consideration of some of the lines of suture 

 and plates of bone need not be regarded. Deviations at the region 

 of the frontal spine and at the region of the palatal bone almost 

 never occur, but in the remaining component parts they are of fre- 

 quent occurrence and are apt to occur are as follows : 

 The perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone. 

 The perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone and the vomer 



acting as one factor. 

 The vomer. 



The ethmoido-vomerine suture. 

 The maxillary crest. 



As a rule, it may be said that deviations result from two struct- 

 ures differ in nature uniting one with another under unfavorable 

 conditions. The perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone may be 

 bent on a broad curve, while all the remaining parts are normal. 

 This is well seen in a Chilian skull,^ in a Hindoo," and in an Arab.^ 

 In the skull last named the plate is bulged to the left. 



The perpendicular plate may be in the position described and the 

 vomer be bent with it. No hyperostosis need exist at the suture. 

 This is well seen in a Peruvian skull.* 



The perpendicular plate and the vomer may be straight, but not 

 lie in the same vertical plane. In this way a " fault " is defined 

 between the two. This peculiarity also is shown in a Peruvian 

 skull.* 



The vomer may exhibit an angulation on the side, posteriorly — 

 i. e., at a point near the choanise — and is, therefore, best seen from 



1 No. 1699. 2 No. 432. » j^o. 499. 



* No. 1465. 5 No. 403. 



