( 10 ! ) 
that Portion of the V crtebre , which fiiould make an 
acute Angle, from whence their S final Process natu- 
rally arife, in order to form the *S pccus or Pafiage for 
the Marrow, inficad of that, gapes and lies almofi in 
a firait Line on each fide; whereby the Medulla is de- 
frauded of its ufual Guard from external Injuries* 
This Defed begins at the third Vertebra of the Loins, 
and is continued to the end of the Os Sacrum : which 
lad is very extraordinary, it fcarcely ever happening to 
this Bone; the reafon of which I take to be the more 
than ordinary Ccmpa&nefs of its Vertebral , whereby it 
is lefs liable to be injur’d by any Impreflion. For we 
obferve, that in Adults they grow fo clofe together, 
as to unite and form one large and folid Bone. 
As the Cafe before us is a Vit ium C onformationis ow- 
ing to the Mother’s Imagination, fo the Same fome- 
times is occafiond by Matter lodging upon the Spine, 
and eroding the Vertebra by its Acrimony.- but then 
you find a car tom Bone , whereas in thefe preternatural 
Cafes, there remain no fuch Footfieps. This was ob- 
ferv’d in the Body of the late Lord Peterborough, as 
related by Mr. Cowpcr .* Upon the opening of which. 
He found a large Tumour, from whence flow’d a 
brownifh colour’d Mattery and under it, the upper 
and fore part of the ninth, and the lower part of the 
eighth V ertebre of the Thorax were confirmed and gone, 
the Medulla Spinalis being cover’d with its Membranes 
only. This gave rife to thofe Symptoms in that mor- 
bid Cafe, fo nearly refembling the above recited in this 
preternatural One. 
It is manifeft from what has been faid, that thefe 
Cafes are incurable, and muft in a little time kili the 
Patient. But it is almofi immediate Death to open the 
Tumour ; which every Surgeon will naturally do, that 
has not feen or read concerning it : the Fluid feeming 
