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The following communications were read : 

 I. " On the Relations of the Vomer, Ethmoid, and Intermaxillary 

 Bones." By JOHN CLELAND, M.D., Demonstrator of 

 "Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh. Communicated 

 by Professor HUXLEY. Received February 28, 1861. 

 (Abstract.) 



The author commences by describing the connexions of the vomer 

 in mammalia generally, and states that r>f these by far the most 

 constant in occurrence and invariable in its nature is one to which 

 he believes he has been the first to attract attention, viz. that by 

 which it comes in contact with the lateral masses of the ethmoid. 

 He states that this connexion is effected by the alee of the vomer 

 being continued into two laminae which pass beneath the turbinations 

 of the ethmoid, and are united to the framework of the lateral masses 

 at a point corresponding to the margins of the sphenopalatine fora- 

 mina. These laminae he calls the " ethmovomerine laminae," and 

 for the sphenopalatine foramen he adopts the term " nasal foramen 

 of the palate-bone," because it is not the sphenoid, but the ethmoid, 

 which completes that foramen in cases where it is not quite encircled 

 by the palate-bone. 



According to the author, the connexion of the vomer, next in im- 

 portance to that with the lateral masses of the ethmoid, is that with 

 the intermaxillaries, which is constantly found when the mesial palatine 

 processes of the intermaxillaries are developed, and is always of such 

 a description that the groove formed by the superior margins of these 

 processes is continuous with the vomerine groove, while their inferior 

 margins likewise form a continuous line with the inferior margin of 

 the vomer. 



As to the connexion of the vomer with the central plate of the 

 ethmoid, the author considers it altogether of secondary importance ; 

 for, while that with the lateral masses of the ethmoid takes place at 

 a very early date, and is a connexion of continuity, i. e. by the bones 

 lying edge to edge, that with the central plate is of late occurrence, 

 and is one of contiguity, i. e. by the surfaces of the bones coming 

 accidentally in contact. The connexions of the vomer with the 

 maxillaries and palate-bones are also considered to be of secondary 

 importance. 



