VOL. LXXXVIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 333 



communication has remained between the 2 auricles; and in others there has been 

 a communication between the 2 ventricles, from a deficiency in the septum. The 

 effect of all these deviations is the same, on the blood in the general circulation, 

 viz. that a part of the blood is not exposed to the air in the lungs; so that it is 

 less pure as it circulates over the body. A more remarkable deviation in the struc- 

 ture of the heart, than any to which I have just alluded, has been lately published 

 by Dr. Baillie, in his Morbid Anatomy. In this heart, the aorta arose from the 

 right ventricle, and the pulmonary artery from the left; the reverse of what ought, 

 in the regular course of circulation, to have taken place; the veins being as usual; 

 and no communication was found between the one vessel and the other, except 

 through the remains of the ductus arteriosus, which was not larger than a crow 

 quill, and a small part of the foramen ovale, which still continued open; yet this 

 child lived for 2 months. 



In the following case of monstrous formation of the heart, there is this very 

 great singularity, that nature seems to have substituted, very exactly, the circula- 

 tion which takes place in some amphibious animals, for that which is natural to 

 the human species. The infant had arrived at its full time, and lived 7 days after 

 its birth. Instead of the usual integuments, muscles, &c» a membranous bag 

 appeared to protrude oA the upper and fore part of the abdomen, extending from 

 the last bone of the sternum some way below the middle of the belly, and out- 

 wards, so as to be nearly circular: the navel-string seemed to enter this membrane 

 near its middle, and to wind superficially, for some little way, towards the left side; 

 it then dipped into the abdomen, at the place where this membrane joined the 

 usual coverings. Within this bag, the appearance of which was very nearly similar 

 to that of the chorion and amnios which envelope the foetus at birth, but thicker 

 in consistence, a tumour was perceived, possessing considerable motion, from the 

 nature of which, no doubt was entertained that it was the heart. 



During the short period of the child's life, it was seen and examined by a 

 number of professional men. On its death, the tumour was carefully opened by 

 Mr. Morell, in the presence of Dr. Poignand; when the heart, as was previously 

 suspected, appeared to be situated in the epigastric region of the abdomen, and to 

 be imbedded, as it were, in a cavity formed on the superior surface of the liver. 

 In this state, the child was sent to Dr. Baillie, by whose desire I injected the heart, 

 and laid its principal vessels bare, so as to bring their uncommon distribution and 

 course into view: a preparation of them still remains in Dr, Baillie's possession. 

 A considerable part of the tendinous portion of the diaphragm appeared to be 

 wanting, as well as the lower part of the pericardium, which is usually affixed to 

 it. The thorax being laid open on each side of the sternum, the 2 pleurae were 

 seen passing from that bone to the spine, and covering the lungs as usual. The 

 lungs appeared perfectly natural in colour, and nearly so in shape; but were larger 

 and fuller than usual, in consequence of more room being afforded for them in the 

 thorax, from the peculiar situation of the heart. In the space corresponding to 



