Fractures of the Skull. 43 



condition for about twelve hours after his admission into the Royal 

 Infirmary. 



At the post-mortem examination, the fissure was found to have 

 extended through the anterior fossa of the skull into the hard palate. 



The fissure begins about two inches from the lambdoidal 

 suture near the middle on the right side, and runs forward, 

 keeping nearly parallel to the middle line. G. C. 3113. 



Presented by P. H. Maclaren, F.R.C.S.E. 



3. 11. Fracture of the Base of the Skull.— Portion of the 



left half of the base of a skull — macerated — showing a fissure 

 running from the vault into the base. 



The patient had fallen down a stair, and struck the right occiput 

 as well as the left parietal bone. A slight scalp wound, not down to the 

 bone, was all that was seen at the occiput. He was treated as an out- 

 patient at first, but upon his becoming dull, sluggish, and comatose, and 

 showing some blood in his left ear, he was taken into the wards, where he 

 died four days afterwards. 



The fissure began on the parietal bone, and is seen extend- 

 ing downwards into the squamous portion of the temporal bone. 

 One part passes forwards and another continues into the 

 foramen spinosum. This latter is more visible on the inner 

 than on the outer aspect. There was also some injury to 

 the roof of the tympanum, and the membrana tympani was 

 ruptured, but there is no part of the fissure traceable into the 

 petrous part of the temporal bone. 



It is of great interest to note that the membrana tympani 

 was ruptured, and that there was bleeding from the ear, although 

 there is no fissure to be detected in the petrous portion of the 

 temporal bone, even after maceration. G. C. 2845. 



Presented by V. H. Maclaken, F.R.C.S.E. 



3. 12. Dura Mater injured by Fracture of the Skull.— 



Dura mater from the foregoing case — dried — showing the lacer- 

 ation of this membrane, which was found below the simple 



