ALTERATIONS OP THE ORGANIZATION. 105 



pubis, of the urethra, of the perineum, spina bifida, cranium 

 bifidum, etc. are merely the permanent state of a fissure, which 

 should only be temporary. 



The junction of the fingers, the prolongation of the coccyx, 

 the persistence of the pupillary membrane, the bifid uterus, the 

 testicle in the abdpmen, etc, are merely, situations, divisions, 

 reunions, states of continuance of organs, which ought only to be 

 temporary, and which have remained permanent. It is the same 

 with the anormal communications of the cavities of the heart, 

 of the opening of the bladder at the umbilicus, of the existence 

 of a cloaca and congenital umbilical hernia. 



Sometimes, it happens, that when one of these vices exists, 

 the rest of the organization is developed, nearly, as usual; but 

 in certain cases, one imperfection is the unavoidable cause of 

 others, and here is one of the most striking examples; if the 

 olfactory nerve and ethmoidal bone which contain it, are ar- 

 rested in their development, the orbits and the eyes will be- 

 come more or less intimately confounded, and will constitute 

 what is called a cyclops. * It is the same with respect to seve- 

 ral others. 



This part of pathological antomy, which has been regarded 

 as a mere matter of curiosity, is on the contrary, of great in- 

 terest to the physiologist, and the pathologist. 



121. The derangements of the organization, may also consist 

 in an alteration of the texture, and composition of the organs. 

 The following are the effects and productions of irritation, 

 of inflammation, and of other less known derangements of the 

 secretions, and of nutrition: adhesion, generally, and the dif- 

 ferences it presents in the various divided organs; pus and 

 other liquid products of inflammation; transformations of one 

 tissue into another resembling healthy tissues; the degenera- 

 tion or the changing of an organ into a substance that has no 

 analogy with anything in the regular organization; the hard 

 or soft concretions which are formed in the ducts and reser- 

 voirs of follicles and glands, and which are owing to an altera- 

 tion in the liqui'd secreted, and in the secretory organ, are so 



* See Beclard. Memoir es sur les foetus acfyhales. 



