76 THE TONER LECTURES. 



measurement thau to other craniological Hues into which the teeth 

 may enter. It is also difficult to determine the anterior limit of the 

 line extending from the vault of the naso-pharynx to the anterior 

 nasal aperture (pharyngo-narial line), for the reason that the depth 

 of the soft parts covering the nasal aperture is variable; but such 

 an ending is not more inconstant thau that of the anterior nasal 

 spine, which is relied upon generally as a point from which meas- 

 urements may be taken. The individual who furnished these 

 measurements had a high basi-cranial angle. Indeed, it was im- 

 j)ossible to inspect the vault of the pharynx of this subject with 

 satisfaction, since the anterior position of the body of the axis con- 

 joining with the acute angle of the vault made it difficult to depress 

 the mirror so as to obtain a satisfactory image of the space. 



In addition to the above the following observations were made: 

 The lower jaw with marked outward deflection of the left angle; 

 the antegonial depression marked ; the mentum high ; the bregmal 

 depression marked; the post-coronal depression absent; the deep 

 depression in the region of the obelion present; the para-tuberal 

 and meso-lambdoidal eminences well developed. 



It is submitted that a series of measurements made on this simple 

 scheme might yield interesting results. The material I have col- 

 lected is insufficient for study at this time. 



The study of the skull in children often throws light upon the 

 nature of morbid processes. In this connection I have special ref- 

 erence to minor changes, some of them, indeed, so slight as to escape 

 notice if the standards of comparison be those which the observer is 

 usually expected to entertain — such, for example, if the gross 

 changes recognized as cretinic, hydrocephalic, etc., be selected as 

 basis for study. I allude more particularly to such appearances as 

 would follow a delayed disappearance of the anterior fontanel, the 

 result of which is a saucer-shaped concavity at the anterior portion 

 of the vertex. Another peculiarity is an unduly marked convexity 

 on either side of the sagittal depression. This need not be suffi- 

 cient to constitute the natiform skull (see page 56), but to suggest 



