PART II.] 



Description of Specimens of the Dark Variety. 



361 



to pass through the tissues from the inter-digital space between the second and 

 third toe, in a line towards the middle of the tibia and through the centre of 

 the ankle joint. The scalpel passed readily through all the tissues, except the 

 tibia and the portion of the astragalus articulating with it. The foot is enlarged in 

 all directions ; the toes are turned upwards in the same manner as may be observed 

 in the Specimen in Plate I, delineating the pale variety ; and there are several 

 openings on the surface which may generally be found to be continuous with a cavity 

 in the tissue below. Some of the orifices are plugged, more or less completely, by 

 irregular little aggregations of black substance which can be picked out. On examining 

 the section, the outlines of the tarsal bones cannot be made out ; but as the figure 

 shows, the bones occupy an irregular space, perforated by numerous excavations 

 in all directions. The middle portion of the metatarsal bone, exposed by the section. 



Fig. 9.— A section through an affected foot showing numerous cavities with dark masses in situ. 

 Isolated areas in the subcutaneous fat of the sole are also distinguishable. 



is found to be broken down, and the arch of the foot completely given way, so that 

 the natural direction of the longer bones of the foot and the toes has become altered. 

 Between the first phalanx of the second toe and its corresponding metatarsal bone, a 

 new articulating surface has been formed on the dorsal surface of the latter. 



The cavities were in some cases isolated, but in others they communicated by 

 means of one or more channels with adjoining cavities, the cavities and channels 

 being everywhere lined by a more or less dense, smooth membrane of tough, fibrous 

 tissue. The cavities are of very unequal size ; they vary from being just large 

 enough to contain a pellet of small shot to being sufficiently capacious to hold a 

 bullet with ease. They almost invariably contain irregular lumps of a dark granular 

 substance, which, more or less completely, fills the cavities and the channels con- 

 tinuous with them. Frequently, however, the dark material occupies but a very 

 small portion of the cavity, even though the cavity be completely isolated. The fatty 

 padding of the sole of the foot appeared to be normal, but in two or three places 



