VOL. XLIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 5 



j4n Observation of a Spina bifida, commonly so termed. By Mr. George ^ylett, 

 Surgeon, Windsor. N°472, p. 10. 



There appeared, covering the lower part of the loins of a lusty infant just born, 

 a large incysted tumour, that seemed capable of containing a pint of water, whose 

 contents had escaped in the birth from a small perforation in the middle of the cyst; 

 from whence, on pressure, issued out a bloody serum. Flannels, wrung out of a 

 hot, discutient, and restringent fomentation with spirits, were twice a day applied, 

 to prevent its mortifying; to which the upper part seemed greatly tending. 



The first 4 days there appeared no visible alteration in the child's health: she 

 sucked well; was as hearty and strong as most at that age are; no paralysis in the 

 extremities, but a daily discharge from the perforation of near 2 oz. of the same 

 bloody serum which at first issued out. The nurse had observed that during all 

 this time it had not made one drop of water. The 5 th day the child was con- 

 vulsed; which increasing, she died in the night following. On the division of 

 the cyst, next day, there appeared a thin membranous substance, lining it inter- 

 nally; and might be an expansion of the membrane which invelopes the medulla 

 spinalis. A number of small blood-vessels appeared about the perforation of the 

 bone; and underneath a small portion of the medulla of a very thin consistence. 

 There was no opportunity of making a further examination, through the mother's 

 importunities: but the lumbar vertebrae and os sacrum were taken out, as appears 

 in the annexed figure. 



Plate 1, fig. 1, by C. M. Here ab shows the vertebrae of the loins; bc the os 

 sacrum; cd the ossa coccygis; ef the spinal processes of the vertebrae of the loins; 

 which spines are here discontinued, and an opening formed, fghi, quite into the 

 canal of the vertebrae ; so that the medulla spinalis was entirely laid bare without 

 any bony covering. This opening has been mistaken for a parting of the spinal 

 processes into 1 rows; or as if at f they had divided into 2 branches; the 2 edges 

 p and G feeling through the integuments like a bifurcation of the spine, and so 

 have given rise to the notion of a spina bifida; which case C. M. doubts whether 

 it ever exists: for a perfect spina bifida must suppose the very canal and medulla 

 spinalis to divide into 2 branches, the bodies of the vertebrae to become near twice 

 as wide as usual, and the spinal processes to divaricate into 2 rows or ridges of 

 spines. 



Dr. Rutty, late Seer. R. S. has communicated a case like this. See Phil. Trans. 

 N° 366, or page 487, vol. vi. of these Abridgments. 



An Improvement on the Practice of Tapping; by which that Operation, instead 

 of a Relief for Symptoms, becomes an absolute Cure for an Ascites. By 

 Christopher f Far rick, of Truro, Surgeon. N°472, p. 12. 



In 1742, among a great many hydropics that fell under Mr. W.'s care that 



