VOL. XXII.]] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 473 



where the bones of the nose are fastened, Q-l. inches ; from b drawing a trans- 

 verse line across the forehead to d, 12-rV inches; the thickness of the bone, 

 from one table to the other, about half an inch. 



Fig. 17 shows the reverse or inside of the same bone, drawn likewise in the 

 same proportion. What is most observable in this figure, is the great thickness 

 of the bone marked kk, which could not appear in the other posture ; and the 

 sharp and high process of the os cribrosum, called crista galli, marked 1. 



By comparing these figures, it is evident what an exact conformity there is in 

 all particulars between this large bone, and the like bone in a man of an ordi- 

 nary height ; and that they differ only in magnitude ; and as to the difference 

 in size, the dimensions of the larger were more than double those of the smaller; 

 whence it follows that this great os frontis was above twice as large every way 

 as a common bone of this sort in a full grown man. And arguing from the 

 proportion that the same bone in other men bears to their height, it must 

 follow that the man to whom this os frontis belonged, was more than twice the 

 height that men usually are, according to the common course of nature. And 

 setting down, as the most moderate computation, but 54^ feet for the height of 

 a man, he to whom this bone belonged must have been more than 1 1 or 12 

 feet high. 



It cannot reasonably be supposed, that a man of an ordinary size and stature 

 could have had such an exceedingly large head ; for it cannot be conceived how 

 such a one could possibly subsist while so ponderous and excessive a mass of 

 bone as this skull, with all that quantity of brain requisite to fill its spacious 

 cavity, was growing; much less continue so long alive as to come to maturity 

 of years, to which it is certain this person must have attained, by the great 

 thickness and solidity of this bone, as well as its large size. And though it is 

 true, that sometimes from obstructions or other morbific causes, our glands 

 and softer viscera are so unequally nourished as to grow to an immense size; 

 yet such a preternatural excess of growth in a hard and bony part has never yet 

 been observed. And if it should be alleged that infants far gone in the rickets, 

 are frequently observed to have great heads in proportion to their small ema- 

 ciated bodies, and that young children are also liable to another malady, called 

 hydrocephalus, or dropsy in the head ; which sometimes so dilates it, as to swell 

 their skull to a more immense size ; but neither of these disorders otherwise 

 affect the head than by a preternatural collection of serous humours inclosed in 

 the brain, which extend the yielding sides of the weak and tender skull, but 

 do not in the least increase its bony substance, nay, on the contrary, they rather 

 diminish it ; for it is always observed that they reduce it to a more than usual 

 thinness, and sometimes to be no thicker than an egg-shell or parchment. 



VOL. IV. 3 P 



