ON COCCYDYNIA AND HEMORRHOIDS 267 



of claiming the case as an illustration of the embryonic 

 and foetal arrest and perversion of the metamorphic 

 changes in progress in the differentiation and division of 

 the neurenteric canal. 



In our opinion the tumour is not a new growth, or an 

 adenoma arising from the embryonic neurenteric canal, 

 but a simple enlargement or hypertrophy of the coccygeal 

 gland itself and its capsule, due, in all probability, to 

 imperfect or absent eliminatory facilities for, and the 

 consequent accumulation of cerebro-spinal fluid and other 

 debris in the enclosing lumen of the neurenteric canal and 

 the developing coccygeal gland ; this opinion being borne 

 out by the macroscopic, as well as microscopic, character 

 of the tumour and its contents, its normal, although hyper- 

 trophied, encapsulation, and its still 'very patent connection 

 with the intra-meningeal cavity. We, therefore, claim 

 this case as another proof of the truth of the views we 

 have advanced in this hitherto very obscure and little 

 noticed subject, and would add that, had this child sur- 

 vived, the local conditions were such as to justify a 

 favourable prognosis. On "all fours" with this case is a 

 case of pendulous tumour hanging from the buttocks, or 

 a so-called tailed child, described and illustrated by Mr. 

 J. B. Sutton on page 52 of his work on Evolution and 

 Disease. 



