X PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



well-formed head and tubercle, the shaft of which is fused with that 

 of the succeeding rib. On the left side there is also a cervical rib, 

 but in this case the rib ends in a point, and is free from both the suc- 

 ceeding rib and the sternum. 



The second rib (first sternal rib) in both sides resembles in general 

 form the normal second rib. 



A point of additional interest in the specimen lies in the form of 

 the prassternum, which possesses on the left side a tapering horn of - 

 cartilage, apparently the first costal cartilage. This is separated by a 

 wide interval from the cervical rib. The clavicles articulated in the 

 normal position at the upper border of the prsesternura. 



(3) Professor Paterson showed examples oi suprasternal ossifications, 

 and stated that out of 563 sterna of various ages examined, 467, or 

 83 per cent., might be regarded as normal in regard to the condition 

 of the suprasternal notch. The remaining 96 cases (17 percent.) pre- 

 sented deviations from the normal along two lines, accompanied by 

 absence of the notch. In 51 cases (9 per cent.) there was a tendency 

 towards the formation of a single median protuberance in place of the 

 notch. In some cases the border was flat, in some convex, and in 

 the most pronounced cases there existed a distinct median projection. 

 In 45 cases (8 per cent.) there were found in the suprasternal border 

 two lateral projections in the form of ridges or tubercles (which were 

 in some cases provided with articular facets). In one case there was 

 a pronounced tubercle on one side and a sessile prominence on the 

 other side, surmounted by an articular facet. Among the whole series 

 there was only one example in which a pair of separate suprasternal 

 ossicles articulated with facets in the upper border of the prsesternum. 



(4) Mr H. L. Barnard showed a specimen of large loculated bursa 

 between the semimemhranosus tendon and the inner head of the gastro- 

 cnemius. A narrow process passed beneath the latter tendon. 



Injection showed that this bursa did not communicate with the 

 joint although in the recent state it had become prominent and tense 

 on extension of the knee joint and flaccid and indistinct when the 

 knee was flexed. 



The specimen was exhibited to show how fallacious this sign was as 

 an indication of communication with the joint. It is well known to 

 surgeons and anatomists that only about one-third of these enlargeil 

 bursce communicate with the joint (Gruber, IMacalister), yet practically 

 all give this sign. 



The true explanation of this sign appears to be that the popliteal 

 space is much more capacious in the flexed than in the extended 

 position. 



In the flexed position the floor of the popliteal space slopes from 

 above and below to its deepest point opposite the line of the joint, 

 whilst the protuberant posterior extremities of the condyles of the 

 femur rotate and glide forw'ard on the tibial articular surfaces. The 

 sides are deep and are formed by the liamstring tendons projecting 

 Avell behind the lower end of the femur. The roof formed by the 



