AS TO THE HEKEDITT OF ACQUIKED CONDITIONS. 481 



child itself. It is, however, unlikely that this factor, save 

 perhaps in very rare cases, can produce any lasting effects. 

 Every obstetrician has seen large children with their feet 

 " tucked," to use the common phrase, but which have suffered 

 no permanent injury. The malformation, however, which does 

 require some consideration here is that of Talipes, which is at 

 times hereditary, and which is thought by some to be caused by 

 amniotic pressure. I shall, I tliink, give the best idea of opinion 

 on this subject by some extracts from a very careful monograph 

 on the question by Parker and Shattock *. With regard to 

 nerve causes which have been considered by some to be the moat 

 probable solution, they say : — " By those who advocate this 

 theory it is argued, that because talipes ensues after recognized 

 nerve-lesions, a nerve-lesion must therefore be the cause of those 

 forms of talipes which are congenital, since the two deformities 

 are so outwardly alike. This argument, they think, is strength- 

 ened by the fact that talipes is often associated with malforma- 

 tions of the nerve-centres (such as anencephalism, spina bifida, 

 &c.). In the first place, the supposed nerve-lesions have never 

 been demonstrated. Apart from the fact that in our own case 

 the nerve-centres and the nerve-trunks were perfectly normal, 

 there are clinical facts which tell against the nerve theory of 

 causation. The most important of these is that talipes is an 

 accidental, and not an essential, sequel of paralysis .... If further 

 evidence in this direction be needed it is to be found in the fact 

 that congenital malformation of the nerve-centres occurs without 

 the association of talipes, as is abundantly shown by the speci- 

 mens of anencephalus preserved in museums ; Mr. Pepper has 

 recorded t a case of so-called complete absence of brain and 

 cord associated with talipes calcaneus of both feet, among other 

 deformities. In this case we should have to assume a negative 

 action of the nerve-centres, a want of nerve-control, perhaps, if 

 we would invoke a nerve-cause at all ... . We think it Quite pos- 

 sible in a few cases that there may be a nerve-lesion apart from 

 such manifest conditions as spiua bifida, &c. Por very occa- 

 sionally at the time of birth (and the same may be found at 

 comparatively early ages in the foetus) the limb is more or less 

 atrophied, a condition which is especially observable when the 



* Trans. Path. Soc. vol. xxxv. p. 423. 

 t Med. Press aud Circ, May 8, 1878. 

 LINN. JOIJEN.— ZOOLOGY, VOL. XXIII. 34 



