278 
Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
normal size. In the description of several specimens of a similar 
nature to ours, hydrocephalus has been assumed to exist from the 
appearance of the vault of the dried skull in which the fontanelles 
were increased in size. As already pointed out, we believe this con- 
dition of the vault is due to the marked diminution in the dimen- 
sions of the base of the skull, causing the brain to be displaced 
upwards, and in this way leading to the expansion of the vault. 
The pituitary body was examined microscopically and found 
normal. 
Vertebral Column. — The spine does not differ in length from 
that of a normal foetus (24 cm .) ; it presents an abnormal curve 
forwards in its thoracic segment and an unusual degree of lordosis 
in the lumbo-sacral region • both were found to depend on altera- 
tions in the thorax and pelvis respectively, as will be described. 
A mesial sagittal section of the spine showed (1) that the ossify- 
ing nucleus in the centre of each body was only one-half of the 
normal size, and (2) that the antero-posterior diameter of each body 
was *3 cm. less than the average, while the vertical diameter as 
already mentioned is quite normal. This is explained by the fact 
that the vertebral bodies grow in the antero-posterior diameter 
during foetal life by progressive ossification, while increase in their 
vertical diameter is dependent upon cartilaginous growth. There 
was no deficiency in the number of the osseous nuclei throughout 
the spine. The amount of central soft substance in the inter- 
vertebral discs was excessive. 
The fourth to the seventh dorsal vertebrae inclusive were 
examined microscopically ; the appearances which they present will 
be discussed with those found in the other bones. 
Thorax. — The thorax, after removal of the soft parts, was found 
remarkably small and flattened, and on either side presented a 
furrow or depression along the line of junction of the ribs with their 
cartilages. 
The diminution in the capacity of the thorax is indicated by the 
following comparative measurements— 
Greatest antero-poste'rior diameter, 3 ‘6 cm. in the specimen, 5*3 in 
the normal foetus. 
Greatest transverse diameter, 4 ‘4 cm. in the specimen, 8 in the 
normal foetus. 
