255 



metacarpal, and very rarely with the hainatum. A glance at the 

 figure will show how very accurately this bone tallies with this de- 

 scription. The slightly concave dorsal surface of the bone is articular, 

 resting on a corresponding articular surface of the capitatum. The 

 convex distal surface is also articular, fitting into an articular de- 

 pression on the base of the 3rd metacarpal. The free palmar surface 

 is rough and convex. The transverse diameter is the greatest, being 

 7 mm. The only difference worth noting ^between the bones in each 

 hand is that while the right one is in contact with both the trapezoid 

 and the 2nd metacarpal, the left one touches only the former. 



There can be no question that this bone is a subcapitatum. It 

 corresponds precisely with Pfitzner's prophetic description of it, 

 with the exception that it is decidedly smaller than the area inclosed 

 by the dotted line which is assumed to represent it in his diagram 

 of the possible bones of the carpus. It corresponds however pretty 

 well in size to the synostosed subcapitatum seen on the radial side ^). 



It seems to me that such confirmations as this one and others 

 above mentioned speak loudly for the acceptance of Pfitzner's 

 scheme of the carpus and tarsus as the most convenient working 

 hypothesis. It is not necessary to overlook difficulties. I must own 

 that I sometimes am not quite sure that the same element does not 

 appear twice in the same body. But although it is not the last word 

 it öfters the most satisfactory method we have of studying variation 

 in these parts. I regret that in describing the Os intercuneiforme I 

 spoke of it, apparently through an excessive conservatism, as an ac- 

 cessory 2) centre of the middle cuneiform. Pfitzner was kind enough 

 to send me photographs of the bone in different degrees of distinct- 

 ness, but all fused with the 2nd cuneiform: still further evidence in 

 support of his scheme. 



Boston, Harvard Medical School, Nov. 12th 1903. 



Bücheranzeigeii. 



Die syphilitischen Erkrankungen des Gehirns. Von O. 



Oppenheim. 2. durchgesehene Aufl. Mit 17 Abbild. Wien 1903, 



Alfred Holder. 200 SS. Preis 5 M. 60 Pf. 



Für die pathologischen Anatomen und Kliniker wichtig, „für nor- 

 male Anatomen" und Histologen zur Vermeidung der Deutung patho- 



1) Zeitschr. f. Morph, u. Anthrop., Bd. 2, Taf. 13, Fig. 30 a. 



2) Anat. Anz., Bd. 20, p. 465. 



