On Epignatlius. 



The condition known as epignathus is comparatively rare and of much 

 interest. 



The study of its aetiology is a subject involving important biological 

 and pathological problems. Windle (26) in 1899 published a paper in 

 which he reviewed in detail the literature of the subject, and discussed 

 the various and diverse opinions regarding the nature of this class of 

 monstrosity. 



Since then, on the one hand, the work of Marchand (i^), Bonnet (J), 

 Wilms (24), and E. Schwalbe, has altered our opinions as to the tera- 

 tomata, while, on the other hand, the experimental embryological work 

 of Driesch (1°), Wilson (^S), Spemann (22), Loeb (16), O. Schultze (21), 

 Bataillon (3), has broadened our view by the artificial production of 

 malformations, more especially of double formations. 



Recently, E. Schwalbe (20) has expressed the opinion that the 

 epignathi, and those formations related to them, merit detailed work. 

 Looking on epignathus as a connecting link between the true double 

 formations and the teratomata, by the study of these we hope to obtain 

 hints as to the origin and nature of epignathus. 



Although records of cases of epignathus are to be found scattered 

 throughout literature, still a large proportion of the cases are very 

 imperfectly described. Many of the specimens have been more or less 

 decomposed, and unfit for detailed microscopical examination ; or the 

 specimen has only been examined after having been preserved as a 

 museum specimen for a length of time, and in such cases the history has 

 been incomplete or altogether wanting. 



I have been fortunate in receiving a very perfect specimen of epignathus, 

 which occurred in the practice of Dr. Alexander G. Gall,* of Aberdeen. 



* I wish to express my indebtedness to Dr. Gall for bringing me the specimen in perfect 

 preservation, and also for furnishing me with notes of the maternal history. 



(177) N 



