&LASS 1. fc. 2. 19. OF IRRITATION. *79 



of the spine swells, and rises above the rest. This is not an un- 

 common disease, and belongs to the innutrition of the bones, as 

 the bone must become soft before it swells; which softness is 

 owing to defect of the secretion of phosporated calcareous earth. 

 The swelling of the bone compresses a part of the brain, called 

 the spinal marrow, within the cavity of the back bones; and in 

 consequence the lower limbs become paralytic, attended some- 

 times with difficulty of emptying the bladder and rectum. 



M. M. Issues put on each side of the prominent bone are of 

 great effect, I suppose, by their stimulus; which excites into 

 action more of the sensorial powers of irritation and sensation, 

 and thus gives greater activity to the vascular system in their 

 vicinity. The methods recommended in distortion of the spine 

 are also to be attended to. 



19. Spina bifida. Divided spine, called also Hydrorachitis, as 

 well as the Hydrocephalus externus, is probably owing in part 

 to a defect of ossification of the spine and cranium; and the col- 

 lection of fluid beneath them may originate from the general de- 

 bility of the system; which affects both the secerning and absor- 

 bent vessels. 



A curious circumstance, which is affirmed to attend the spina 

 bifida, is, that on compressing the tumour with the hand gently, 

 the whole brain becomes affected, and the patient falls asleep. I 

 suppose the same must happen on compressing the hydrocephalus 

 externus? See Sect. XVIII. 20. 



20. Ossis palati defectus. A defect of the bone of the palate, 

 which frequently accompanies a division of the upper lip, occurs 

 before nativity; and is owing to the deficient action of the secern- 

 ing system, from whence the extremities are not completed. 

 From a similar cause I have seen the point of the tongue deficient, 

 and one joint of the two least fingers, and of the two least toes, 

 in the same infant; who was otherwise a fine girl. See Sect. 

 XXXIX. 4. 4. 



The operation for the hair-lip is described by many surgical 

 writers; but there is a person in London, who makes very in- 

 genious artificial palates; which prevent that defect of speech, 

 which attends this malformation. This factitious palate consists of 

 a thin plate of silver of the shape and form of the roof of the mouth; 

 from the front edge to the back edge of this silver plate four 

 or five holes are made in a straight line large enough for a needle 

 to pass through them; on the back of it is then sewed a piece of 

 sponge; which, when expanded with moisture, is nearly as large 

 as the silver plate. This sponge is slipped through the division 

 of the bowe ef the palate, so as to lie above it, while the silver 



