VOL. LXX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. §85 



Dissection. — The integuments of the abdomen felt harsh and dry, like a piece 

 of parchment. The veins were much enlarged, and their brandies could be 

 traced all over its surface in a very distinct manner. On the left side there still 

 remained an evident fulness, which pushed the integuments forwards to the size 

 of 2 fists, and which contained a fluid in considerable quantity. The thigh still 

 continued in the same position and cedematous state before described, so that 

 from those circumstances, and the distension of the abdomen, nothing particular 

 could be observed externally, at the lower part of the abdomen, on the right side 

 more than on the left. 



On examining the cavity, the intestines presented themselves nearly in their 

 natural situation : their appearance was sound, but in general they were much 

 inflated. The tumor on the left side proved to be the bladder distended with 

 urine, slightly adhering to the peritoneum : and this, together with the colon 

 passing on to its termination in the rectum, filled up the iliac region on that side, 

 while the right side, and indeed more than half the pelvis, was fully occupied by 

 a confused irregular mass, seemingly formed of scirrhous cartilage, bone, and 

 stone. As a large cartilaginous substance * arising from this mass seemed to 

 cover the bodies of the vertebrae, Mr. C. removed the intestines, and pursuing 

 this singular appearance, traced it upwards in the course of the spine, and of the 

 large blood vessels, to its termination somewhat above the kidneys. 



On laying bare the sternum and ribs, to inspect the cavity of the thorax, the 

 cartilages presented themselves in the whitest state Mr. C. ever saw, approaching 

 nearly to the colour of writing paper, still retaining their natural firmness and 

 texture. The lungs were in a full state of distension, and studded in many parts 

 with the same kind of cartilaginous substance which appeared so plentifully in 

 the lower cavity. 



Suspecting that the arterial system might, in some measure, be affected by 

 this prevailing disease, Mr. C. separated the heart from the lungs, for the pur- 

 pose of examining its larger system of vessels, and, dividing the aorta just below 

 its curvature, found, on examination, the heart very flaccid, empty, and of a 

 much smaller size than usual in adults of the age of this patient, but sound in 

 every respect. The semi-lunar and mitral valves were not at all diseased, nor 

 was there the smallest deviation in any part of the aorta from the most healthy 

 state, though it was entirely surrounded by this singular substance from the 

 passing off of the coeliac artery to where it bifurcates into the two iliacs. 



On raising the aorta from the spine, after he had divided it at its curvature, he 

 found a singular firmness on its right side, like a piece of hard pack-thread, and 

 exactly in the situation of the thoracic duct. He continued his dissection there- 



* This substance, when first taken out of the body, appeared cartilaginous ; but when dried was 

 perfect bone. — Orig. 



