MALFORMATIONS OF THE AXIS FROM DISEASE. 65 



posterior aspect of the abdominal wall has a transverse ridge 

 below the neck of the exomphalos ; this corresponds to the pubic 

 symphysis ; below the ridge the external abdominal wall looks 

 backward and presents a mucous surface of a triangular form. 

 This surface may be looked upon as a kind of cloaca. The intes- 

 tine opens at the apex of the triangle, where it is marked by a 

 green glass rod ; it has probably been cut at this point, as it en- 

 tered the umbilical cord to form an umbilical hernia, a condition com- 

 monly seen in such malformations when the bowel ends in a blind 

 extremity in the cord. The ureters open by two minute openings 

 marked by bristles at the base of the triangle. The vagina is situ- 

 ated in the centre of the space ; it is marked by a purple rod : a 

 papilla, with a blind foramen between it and the vagina, is seen 

 above the latter and between it and the ureters ; its nature is un- 

 certain, but it probably represents the blind rectum ; it is marked 

 by a pale blue glass rod. The liver and intestine are voluminous. 

 The kidneys have coalesced in the median line, and open externally 

 by a single ureter, the other ureter ends in an impervious cord. 

 A purple rod is passed under both ureters. There is a body on 

 the left side which is not paired on the right, it appears to be a 

 suprarenal capsule. The uterus is very large, and its cornua are 

 widely separated. The diaphragm is imperfect, and the heart is 

 much drawn down by the displacement of the abdominal viscera. 



264. The bones of a foetal Calf with strong backward curvature 

 of the spine, and doubling back of the ribs. The pelvic 

 bones are closely approximated, and several of the ribs 

 are fused together. There has evidently been complete 

 ectopia of the viscera. No anterior extremities existed. 

 This condition is nearly identical with, except in the ab- 

 sence of the anterior extremities, that described by Gurlt 

 under the term Schistozomus reflexus. Hunterian. 



Subclass II. Dropsy of the axial canal of the cerebro -spinal 



system. 



Dropsy of the axial canal of the brain and spinal cord is by 

 far the most frequent disease of intra-uterine life. When con- 

 fined to the cord, it gives rise to the condition known as spina 

 bifida ; the neural arches are open behind, although they are 

 usually well developed. In extreme forms a lamina and spinous 

 process is formed on each side of the vertebral column and lies 

 parallel to the transverse process, the canal being completely 



