389 
diaphanous. A deep depression exists in this region, at the 
bottom of which is a slightly prominent crest, and on either 
side a very rugged surface for the attachment of the ligamen- 
tum nuchz, which substance I now also place before you; it is 
a yellow, elastic tissue of immense strength, attached by thick 
roots to the spinous processes of the vertebre ; ascending 
thence it divides into two thick vertical and diverging plates, 
which are inserted into the rough surfaces of the occipital bone 
already alluded to, and it is worthy of remark, that each fasci- 
eulus or lamina of these plates of yellow tissue first ends 
obliquely in a round tendinous cord, and it is through the me- 
dium of an infinite number of these tendons the attachment to 
the skull takes place. This peculiar structure is well seen in 
the preparation on the table; its design, most probably, is to 
effect a more intimate union with the bone than the elastic 
tissue could obtain. The internal table of the cranium is 
thin, but very hard and vitreous, and the base is rough and 
irregular ; the cribriform plate is very broad and deeply 
depressed, with numerous foramina for the passage of the 
olfactory nerves, which are also numerous and large; the 
foramen for the nasal branch of the opthalmic is also very 
large; the optic holes are small; there is little or no sella 
Turcica, and there is no distinct pituitary body attached to 
the brain; some vascular and fibro-cellular tissue corresponds 
to its situation: the foramen rotundum is very large, to trans- 
mit the superior maxillary nerve, which is of prodigious size. 
**I next place before you the cast of the encephalon, and two 
drawings, one of its upper, the other of its under surface, both 
of the full size ; also portions of the organ hardened in spirits. 
The brain, though very large, forms a diminutive contrast to 
the immense cranium. On examining the three divisions of 
the encephalon, I found the anterior lobes of the cerebrum 
to be but of moderate size, narrow anteriorly, and arched a little 
downwards ; beneath each is the olfactory lobe, of considerable 
size; its rounded oval ganglion was so depressed into the 
ethmoidal recesses, that it was necessary to cut through each 
