TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 113 
_ ject the sacral ribs are four on each side; and they remain in a 
separate and distinguishable state until the age of from three till seven 
years, after which period they are all, except in rare instances, consoli- 
dated, along with the bodies and transverse processes of the corre- 
sponding sacral vertebrz, into a single mass. The os ilium in the 
foetal state, and for some years after birth in the human subject, 
is connected to only éwo of the sacral ribs, a fact which is consistent 
with the imperfect development at this period of the lower extremities, 
and with the disposition at an early age to walk on all fours; and 
which affords an additional example to those already known, of the 
resemblance which prevails between the temporary forms of certain 
parts of the human body, and the permanent dispositions of correspond- 
ing parts in animals of the lower classes. In many of the quadru- 
mana of quadrupeds and reptiles, two is the number of sacral ribs 
constantly in opposition with the os ilium. In the human subject, ata 
more advanced period of life, the os ilium at each side is connected by a 
cartilaginous intermedium to the extremities of three sacral ribs: in one 
__ instance, in the skeleton of a negro, Mr. Carlile observed it conjoined to 
four. This communication was terminated by-some observations on the 
skeleton in some of the Chelonian reptiles. Mr. Carlile considers 
that in the Yestudo Greca there are two sacral bones, one for the 
anterior, and one for the posterior extremities; while in the Testudo 
Mydas, whose anterior extremities are moved with much freedom, and ~ 
through considerable extent of space, the anterior sacrum is wanting, 
and the scapula is connected to the rest of the skeleton, much in the 
same manner as in birds and some quadrupeds. 
Mr. Carlile exhibited two examples of remarkable malformations of 
the cerebellum in the human subject. In one the size of the cerebel- 
lum was not more than one sixth of the usual magnitude, and pos- 
sessed internally an extremely deficient structure. The person, a 
female, was idiotic ; the genital organs were very fully developed ; and 
there was evidence that sexual intercourse had taken place. 
The second example was one in a male adult in whom more than 
the half of the cerebellum was wanting, the left hemisphere and the 
vermiform processes being deficient by a congenital malformation. 
The person was deaf and dumb, but possessed moderate intellectual 
capacities. His muscular system was well developed, and he enjoyed 
the complete use of his limbs and other muscular organs. The organs 
of generation were also well formed. 
VOL. vi. 1837. i 
