CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGICAL PATHOLOGY. 133 
or backwards beyond the centre of the joint, and resting on the ex- 
ternal or internal edge of the os calcis : in such individuals there 
will be found either an excessive elongation of the round ligament, 
without rupture, or a misplacement in its attachment, commonly to 
the upper surface of the head, or cervix femoris, close to that of the 
capsular ligament. As illustrative of the pathology of both these 
varieties in the condition of the inter-articular ligament, elongation 
or misplacement of attachment, there are two excellent cases re- 
ported by Mr. Adams*. The first of these cases I should consider 
as one of simple elongation of the ligament, predisposing to, and 
actually being attended with, persistent dislocation. In examining 
the joint in this case, “ the capsular ligament was found remark- 
ably thick, and lined on its interior with a very red vascular mem- 
brane. The round ligament was fully three inches long , and much 
stronger than usual. It grew to the cotyloid cavity as usual, and 
had no other connexion with the acetabulum, which had no Haver- 
sian gland, and was not lined with cartilage. The cotyloid liga- 
ment was very flat and imperfect.” In the second case, the mal- 
formation existed to greater extent : “ the capsular ligament was 
attached, as usual, to the circumference of the acetabulum on the 
one part, and to the base of the neck of the femur on the other : it 
was strong, and, at the same time, elongated, so as to allow the 
head of the femur to rest on the dorsum of the ilium. When the 
capsule was cut into, the head of the femur was found to be some- 
what conical in its form, and much smaller than usual ; the cartila- 
ginous covering was thin, and did not form a perfect covering for 
the head of the bone. The inter-articular ligament was of unusual 
dimensions, being more than four inches long, and as thick as the 
tendo Achilles, near the os calcist : instead of being firm, round, and 
thick, it was soft, and could easily be spread out to the breadth of 
an inch. This substitute for the normal ligament was continuous 
with the cotyloid ligament, or arose from that part of it which com- 
pletes the notch of the acetabulum within. From this origin the 
ligament passed outwards and upwards to be attached to the head 
of the femur, presenting in its course an inverted arch. On its infe- 
rior surface it corresponded to the head of the femur, where it was 
hollowed out from before backwards, so as to accommodate itself to 
the head of the bone, and for which it formed a kind of cup, and 
followed all its movements. This broad ligament had no connex- 
ion by synovial folds or fibrous productions, with the bottom of the 
acetabulum. The cotyloid ligament was flattened out around the 
* Cyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology, vol. ii — article, hip -joint, abnor- 
mal anatomy of. 
t The individual from whom the description was taken was of adult age. 
