124 SEVENTH REPORT—1837. 
cellularity in the vessels of the pia mater and arachnoid coat. Protu- — 
berances of the brain received into depressions of the skull and the ~ 
nerves and blood-vessels find their road to their place of exit out of — 
the skull unchanged. 
This appears to be one of the most important and indispensable uses 
of the ventricles and convolutions of the brain. 
Abstract of Cases of Laceration of the Rectus Abdominis Muscle, &c. 
By Sir Davin J. H. Dickson, MD. FLRAS LE. FLAS. Physician 
of the Royal Hospital, Plymouth. 
William Cooper, zt, 37, Royal Marine, was admitted into Plymouth 
Hospital as a case of pneumonia, or of aggravated influenza, then pre- 
valent, on the 14th January, and after being considered convalescent, 
was attacked with excessive diarrhoea, and died on the 26th January, 
1837. There was no external indication, nor had any suspicion been 
previously entertained, of his having sustained any injury: but on open- 
ing the abdomen, the unusual thickness of its walls attracted atten- 
tion; and on raising the fascial and tendinous coverings, the left rectus 
abdominis was found to be torn across, midway between the pelvis and 
umbilicus, leaving a cavity between the retracted ends of the softened 
muscle, containing about four ounces of a bloody serous fluid. The 
superficial cellular tissue was infilated with a gelatinous-looking mat- 
ter, and the peritoneum beneath had an ecchymosed appearance. A 
corresponding portion of the right rectus abdominis was also so much 
softened, as almost to resemble clotted blood. Neither the thoracie 
nor abdominal viscera exhibited any traces of disease. A man, who 
had been a shipmate with the patient, stated he had heard of his ha- 
ving met with some accident, though he did not remember of what 
nature: but neither at the barracks, nor from the surgeon of the ship 
to which he had belonged in the Mediterranean, who was written to on 
the subject, could any information be obtained. The latter merely 
stated, that the man in question had not been in the sick-list for any 
accident during the time he had been in the vessel. 
In another case, the existence of abdominal injury was equally un- 
suspected. John Brown, seaman, et. 27, was admitted in a moribund 
state, from pulmonary apoplexy, and died within twenty-four hours af- — 
terwards. Besides pleural adhesions, the lungs, on dissection, were 
found much diseased; the left lung especially was tuberculated and — 
hepatised, with some calcareous deposits; while the lower lobe con- 
tained a very large coagulum of effused blood, from which the fibrine 
had separated. On opening the abdomen, the knife sunk into a cavity 
on the left side, containing extravasated blood ; and the greater part of 
the rectus abdominis muscle was discovered to be lacerated, and which ~ 
was supposed to have been caused by over-exertion in furling sails ; 
but from the absence of the vessel, no further particulars of the case 
could be obtained. 
The writer likewise adyerts to other instances, including two or three 
Se 
