Studies in Paleopathology 



385 



Fig. 9. Lateral view of a dorsal vertebra of a 

 saber-toothed cat, Smilodon, from the Rancho la 

 Brea asphalt beds, Pleistocene, of California, show- 

 ing the characteristic lesions of spondylitis defor- 

 mans. Natural size. About 500,000 years old. 



Fig. 1 1. Spondylitis in the lumbar vertebra of 

 an ancient Egyptian. About 5,000 vears old. (After 

 Ruffer.) 



Fig. 10. Posterior view of a dorsal vertebra of 

 a cave bear, Ursus spelxus, from Europe, showing 

 characteristic lesions of spondylitis deformans. Nat- 

 ural size. About 250,000 years old. (After Mayer.) 



Fig. 12. Spondylitis deformans in a recent human 

 vertebra. Natural size. 



These four figures show the characteristic lesions of this osteoarthritis at different periods of the history 

 of animals and man. So far as external appearances go there has been no change in the pathological pro- 

 cesses producing these lesions since the P eistocene at least. Similar lesions of greater antiquity have not 

 yet been seen. 



