TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 95 



nation were oftener made, lie think| it probable that similar lesions 

 would be found, or might exist without being detected, from the exa- 

 mination not being sufficiently minute ; and hence this cause of death 

 may more frequently occur than is generally supposed. 



The next case detailed was one of Ileus, with enormous distension 

 of the caecum, which occupied the situation of the transverse colon. 

 The usual symptoms of Ileus were present — viz. obstinate constipation, 

 which had lasted for five days, stercoraceous vomiting, and singultus, 

 &c. The ilio-csecal valve was found to be much thickened and diseased, 

 and nearly as hard as cartilage ; notwithstanding, a strong membra- 

 nous band, the product of former inflammation, attached to the lateral 

 wall and to the mesocolon, extended across the ilium, so as to produce 

 strangulation ; yet the lower portion of this gut, with the caecum (which 

 had a black sphacelated appearance, and was much distended,) had 

 been forced upwards into the above position. 



The next, was a case of Intermittent Coma, from diseased brain ; and 

 remarkable for the alternations of coma, and excitement. The post 

 mortem examination showed the arachnoid membrane to be opaque, and 

 raised from the brain by a gelatinous deposit. A considerable effusion 

 of blood was found at the base of the brain, produced by the rupture 

 of a true aneurism of the anterior artery of the cerebellum, near its 

 origin from the basilar artery. The coats of the artery exhibited di- 

 stinct ossific deposits ; the cerebellum on the left side was wasted, soft 

 and pulpy, and looked like curdy pus. The aorta was extensively in- 

 vaded by osseous degeneration ; bony scales as large as sixpences being 

 separable, and its elasticity was consequently much impaired. 



Another case o^ Arachnites, which, besides the usual cerebral appear- 

 ances, exhibited an extensive deposition of little semicartilaginous 

 bodies, in the subserous tissue of the abdominal viscera ; — and other in- 

 stances of Coma were adduced in which depositions of a cartilaginous 

 or tubercular nature were found in different parts of the brain, abdo- 

 men, dc. 



In a case of Phthisis, the foramen ovale was found open, without 

 Cyanosis having been produced ; and the patient, a pensioner, had com- 

 pleted his due period of servitude, and had risen to the rank of sergeant, 

 without (until latterly) having suffered any particular inconveni- 

 ence from the communication between the two sides of the heart. 



The next case detailed was one of Phlegmonous Erysipelas, occupy- 

 ing the arm and thoracic muscles of the left side, and remarkable for its 

 extent and extreme rapidity; — for in three days, besides intense inflam- 

 mation (followed by effiision) of the pulmonary, costal and diaphrag- 

 matic pleurae, the vessels, nerves, and muscles of the neck, thorax and 

 shoulder, down to the elbow joint, were invaded by purulent infil- 

 tration. 



Two cases of severe abdominal disease were also detailed. The one 

 was a case of constant vomiting from Chronic Pancreatitis, which had 

 degenerated into scirrhus of that organ, and of the pylorus, together 

 with deep, and extensive ulceration of the duodenum. 



The last case was a most extraordinary instance of Peritonitis, and 



