Anatomy of the Abdominal Viscera. 15*7 



that in many cases the line, if drawn correctly, is not horizontal. 

 For these reasons the transverse lines as fair and uniform divisions of 

 the abdomen, and as guides to the deeper parts, lose very much value. 

 Further it is desirable for practicable purposes that the determination 

 of the positions of parts of the viscera in regard to the surface by 

 measured distances, in centimetres or inches, as so much above, below, 

 to the right or left of certain points *or lines is to be avoided as much 

 as possible, seeing the very great variations that occur in the dimen- 

 sions of the trunk even in adults. 



The author has therefore sought to elaborate first some method of 

 abdominal surface-marking which shall be independent of the variable 

 surface points, which shall be unvarying and uniformly proportionate 

 to the size of the trunk, which shall be easily determined and in which 

 the lines used to divide the abdomen shall be possessed of such constancy 

 both in regard to the bony skeleton and the viscera that they them- 

 selves become reliable land-marks. 



With regard to the second part of this enquiry : Many very accu- 

 rate measurements of the position of individual organs or parts with 

 regard to the surface of the body are recorded. But it is of great im- 

 portance that, in any one case, not only the position of any one organ 

 should be recorded, but that of all the other organs or parts in its 

 neighbourhood, for in this way only can we discover the degree of 

 interdependence in the positions of the various organs, and the extent, if 

 any, to which when they are enlarged, or diminished in size, or dis- 

 placed, they tend to cause alterations in the positions of the various 

 neighbouring organs ; and, from the clinical point of view, it is per- 

 haps as important to determine that changes in the shape or position 

 of any one organ do not tend to cause alterations in the position of any 

 other particular organ, as to determine that they do. In the second 

 part of this enquiry therefore, by studying and comparing a series of 

 cases, the author has endeavoured to determine the forces which main- 

 tain the various mutual relations of the abdominal viscera or which 

 cause alterations in shape or displacements of them either as a whole 

 or with regard to one another. And in this connection has been con- 

 sidered, in the same manner, the position, and changes in position, of 

 the various lines of the peritoneal attachments to the body wall. 



Method. 



For obtaining the maps of the viscera the bodies of forty subjects,, 

 taken consecutively, were examined in the fresh state, with the exception 

 of two bodies that were hardened before examination by fluid injections. 

 In all but a few cases, the examination was within thirty hours after 

 death. The examination was conducted in the following manner : 

 Tables were prepared in each case recording the stature of the individual r 



