299 
Egyptian mummies. 
That such are the facts, I appeal to the state of the bones of 
the ilium, and of the uterus with its appendages, for proof. 
The first exhibit that peculiar degree of thinning in the cen- 
tre of their osseous plates which has been noticed in women 
by Professor Chaussier and others, in the course of a great 
number of observations, as an indication of their having borne 
children, and of. their having passed the fortieth year. This 
thinning of the bones, in the particular part just mentioned, 
has never been observed under forty years of age, and be- 
comes gradually greater until fifty-five, when it has reached 
its maximum, however longer the woman may continue to 
live. In my mummy it will be seen, on looking at the pel- 
vis, or at Plate XX. that the thinning of the iliac bones 
seems to have reached its maximum ; and as there are no 
characters of decrepitude in the individual, it appears to 
me, that from fifty to fifty-five was about the number of years 
the individual had lived. The thinning of the bones in question 
has not been observed in women who have not borne chil- 
dren, nor am I aware that it has been noticed in the male sex, 
except in the shoulder blades of porters, long used to carry 
heavy weights on their back. In confirmation of this I have to 
state, that in more than one pelvis in my collection, with the 
history of which I am perfectly acquainted, I find the above 
law to hold good. The thinning of the central portions of 
the ilium in this mummy is so complete, that small frag- 
ments have come away in consequence of their being fre- 
quently touched by the numerous persons who saw the pelvis 
at my house, and were incredulous as to its real texture 
without touching it. 
With regard to the disease, the effects of which I detected, 
MDCccxxv. R r 
