1893. Lateroversion of the Ophidian Heart. 861 
Aside from the very peculiar position of the ventricle, one of 
the most striking features was the unusual engorgement of the 
vessels of the left side with blood, in the immediate proximity 
of the heart. The left auricle also presented this feature while 
the right was comparatively empty. 
A superficial examination of the conditions seemed to show 
that there had been a complete ante-version of the whole 
heart, the ventral surface becoming dorsal and the dorsal ven- 
tral. On carefully removing the dense connective tissue 
covering the surface of the ventricle, this conclusion was 
shown to be erroneous from the fact that the aortic arches 
were found to arise from this apparent, and at the same time 
real ventral aspect. Thisas well as some theoretical reasons 
would demonstrate quite effectively that true ante-version 
could not have occurred. 
What appears to be the most logical inference, and dissection 
seems to confirm it, is that rotation 1nust have taken place, the 
fixed point being at about the place of divergence of the two 
aortic arches; and since the apex of the ventricle points in a 
diametrically opposite direction to that found in the normal 
condition, it must therefore have passed from right to left and 
through an arc of 180°—provided the heart was ever normal. 
The apparent left side of the ventricle would then be the true 
morphological right side and vice versa. 
The auricles would naturally tend to follow the ventricle in 
this rotation, but there is no very marked displacement of 
their relations to each other. This does not hold true with 
regard to the ventricle in its new location, for the apparent 
right, but really the morphologically left side is in a line with 
the right auricle and the morphological right side is in a line 
with the left auricle. 
An effectual restraint would be offered against this migra- 
tory tendency of the auricles, in the case of the right auricle 
by the pulmonary vein which would prevent its passing the 
mid-line. And similarly for the left auricle by the left aortic 
arch, which would prevent any movement of the auricle in a 
cephalic direction. The usual disproportion of size between the 
two auricles is not evident, though this may be accounted for by 
