Tubercular Disease of the Sjnnc. 519 



Tlie patient, a midille-ageil woman, was admitted to the Royal 

 Infirmary, Edinburgli, with a largo abscess in the left iliai- region. There 

 was no spinal curvatnrc, nor any history of ilefmite pain, pointing to spinal 

 disease, but by exclusion this was considered the most probable cause 

 of the abscess. Owing to the woman's weak state of health, any operation 

 was postponed, and she meanwhile died of rapidly advancing phthisis. 

 At the post-mortem examination an abscess was found running along the 

 iliac fascia to the spine, and extending also under the thigh in a line 

 with the psoas muscle. 



The intervertebral Jisc between the last two lumbar 

 vertebrae lias been destroyed. The front of the last vertebra 

 is eroded, while some nodules of new bone have been formed 

 on the left side of tlie fourth vertebra. G. C. 3452. 



Presented hij Ciiaki.ks W. Cathcaut, F.R.C.S.E.. 1892. 



7. 226. Tubercular Disease, with Advancing: Displacement. 



— Last dorsal and upper tw^o lumbar vertebrae of a woman who 

 ■' died of lumbar abscess " — macerated. 



The intervertebral cartilages were found softened, and the 

 ligaments loose and spongy, as if macerated by the pus 

 which was round the diseased part. The bodies of tlui 

 vertebra? have partly been consumed, an<l one vertebra is seen 

 to be sinking down, and, as it were, dove-tailing itself into the 

 one below. There arc numerous spots of rarefaction on the 

 sides of the bodies, and some form apertures, showing necrotic 

 bone within. Some of the ribs on the left side were " diseased 

 a similar way." B. C. 1. 3. M. 50. 



\\. Specimens illustrating distinct loss of substance leading to alteration 

 of the curves. 



The plan adopted in arranging the specimens has been as far as possible to 

 illustrate advancing stages of the disease in tlie various regions of the 

 spinal column, beginning from above downwards. 



7. 227. Tubercular Disease, involving- Atlas and Axis.— 



First four Cfrvical vertebrit — macerated, illustrating the above. 

 The right lateral mass of the atlas, with its articular surface, 

 has been for the most part destroyed, and the exposed bone is 



