366 



MR. J. BLAND SUTTON ON DISEASES IN [•'^P'"- 19> 



was attributed to pressure on the cord from the overgrown inter- 

 vertebral di?ks. The post-mortem examination revealed a very curious 

 state of affairs. The skull presented unmistakable evidence of rickets ; 

 and on removing the skull-vault, a task of considerable difficulty, it 

 was found that the general overgrowth of bone had extended from 

 the vault of the skull and implicated the tentorium cerebelli. This 

 abnormally thick tentorium had compressed the medulla and cere- 

 bellum, producing general paralysis, which terminated fatally. ' 



i- R. 



A longitudinal section of the head of a Lion-cub (three niontlis), showing 



overgrowth of the tentorium cerebelli and dilatation of the k\teral Tentricle. 



T. Tentorium. V. Lateral ventricle. I. Infundibulura. P. Pituitary body. 



K. Fourth ventricle. N.S. Nasal septum (cartilaginous). 



There are good reasons for believing that the abnormal thickening 

 of the tentorium in Lions born in confinement is not uncommon if 

 sought for. Since detecting the first case a liion cub three months 

 old has come to hand. The specimen was fiozen, and the head 

 divided longitudinally, when a most interesting condition of the 

 brain was observed. It will be seen in the drawing (fig. 3) that, as in 

 the preceding case, the tentorium cerebelli is abnormally tliick, and 

 presents at its anterior edge a rounded margin. This overgrowth of 

 bone has pressed upon the vermiform process of the cerebellum, 

 thus occluding the anterior ])art of the fourth cerebral ventricle, and 

 jireventing a free flow of fluid from the remaining cavities. As a 

 consequence the lateral ventricles have become greatly dilated, and 

 the foramen of Monro, instead of being represented as a slit of the 

 dimensions of a crow-quill, is an oval aperture measuring at least an 

 inch in its major axis. The third ventricle is likewise dilated ; and 

 the infundibulum, instead of being a narrow tube ending in the 

 yiituitary body, is widely dilated and forms part of the general cavity 

 of tlie ventricle, to which it is attached. 



The bones of the skull- vault are thicker than is usual in Lions of 

 this age ; and the skeleton generally presents the appearances 

 characteristic of rickets. 



