264 PHYSIC 



of diagnosing a case bearing directly on the truth of our 

 views regarding the functional role of the coccygeal gland, 

 and associated anatomical ductiform outlets, as well as 

 on the meaning and significance of the morbid entity 

 coccygodynia. M. G., a gentleman of active business 

 habits, and at the time he consulted us in the middle of 

 worry, had allowed his bowels, which were usually inclined 

 to be costive, to become unusually so, owing to the various 

 distractions with which he was at the time surrounded, 

 and had thought to make things right again by having 

 recourse to some aperient. This, however, he had not 

 done, when the following occurrence dismayed and alarmed 

 him into seeking advice, and he 'narrated as follows: 

 "This morning I dreamt that I was visiting some 

 mountain scenery, where there were other people besides 

 myself engaged in the same pleasant manner, moving 

 about to the best points for gaining views of the surround- 

 ing hills and dales, when a desire came upon me to gain 

 a quiet retreat in which I might * relieve nature.' In 

 doing so, it seemed to me that I had chosen a place where 

 I could be overlooked, and I immediately prepared to 

 obtain another where such danger did not exist. I then 

 awoke, and realised that it was true that I needed actually 

 to follow out what I had so realistically dreamt. In 

 doing so, and when in the act of micturating, I became 

 aware of a trickling sound, as well as a feeling of a very 

 embarrassing nature, due to the escape from the rectum 

 of a fluid. Of what nature that fluid was became a 

 question of pressing importance, as my character for 

 personal cleanliness and the possible existence of personal 

 danger, seemed to me to be in the balance, and I proceeded 

 at once to strike a light and obtain ocular demonstration 

 on the subject. I had thought it might be blood, or that 

 it might turn out that my bowels, which at the time, as 

 has been already observed, were costive, might have 

 become relaxed, and hence my trouble ; but neither the 

 one nor the other fear proved true, and I was at my wits' 

 end for an explanation of the occurrence and a means of 

 satisfying myself that there was really nothing seriously 

 wrong with me, hence my visit to you." On questioning 

 him as to his feelings at the time of the occurrence, we 



