Fractures of the Spine. 71 



3. 77. Crushing: of the Body of the fifth Dorsal Vertebrae 

 with Fracture of several Spines and Ribs.— Lower five 

 cervical and upper seven dorsal vertebrae, vpith the adjacent 

 portions of ribs — macerated and dried, showing the above injury. 

 The patient, a man, having fallen from a height of 50 feet, landed on 

 his shoulders, and was instantly killed by compression of the cord just 

 below the medulla oblongata {see 3. 64). 



The Avhole of the body of the fifth and the upper part of 

 that of the sixth dorsal vertebree have been comminuted by 

 crushing. There is also fracture of the seventh cervical and 

 first four dorsal spines, and fracture of the first, second, third, 

 fourth, and sixth right ribs, and of the fifth and sixth left 

 ribs at their articulations with the bodies and the transverse 

 processes of the vertebrae. 



The crushing of the fifth body has probably been caused 

 by the forcible forward bending of the spine, while the injury 

 to the spinous processes and ribs may have been the result of 

 direct violence. B. C. 1. 4. M. 15. 



3. 78. Severe Crushing* and Comminution of the Body of 

 the sixth and Part of that of the seventh Dorsal 

 Vertebrae. — Lower part of the third and following six dorsal 

 vertebrae, with the adjacent parts of the ribs. The muscles 

 and most of the ligaments are cleaned off — in spirit — showing 

 the above injury. 



"Thomas AVills, ret. 30, while trying to extinguish a fire, fell from 

 the roof of a house for a distance of two stories, and landed with his back 

 upon the pavement. (He seems to have been doubled forwards, and 

 perhaps turned a somersault as he struck the ground. ) 



"No injury to the spine was to be felt, but he had lost sensation of 

 and motion in all the lower part of his body and lower extremities. 

 The bladder and intestines were insensible to their natural stimuli ; he 

 complained of a pain in his back, and referred it to the middle dorsal 

 vertebrse, 



"Respiration was performed by a heaving of his chest, the abdomen 

 being full and flaccid. There was a catch in his breath from pain running 

 round his ribs on a line with the injury of the spine. 



"For six days he remained in this state, the catheter being used 

 twice dailv. 



