OJification of the Thoracic Duel. 327 
ance, traced it upwards in the courfe of the fpine, and of 
the large blood veflels, to its termination fomewhat above 
the kidneys. 
Upon laying bare the fternum and ribs, to infpe< 5 t the 
cavity of the thorax, the cartilages prefented themfelves 
in the whiteft ftate I ever faw, approaching nearly to the 
colour of writing paper, ftill retaining. their natural firm- 
nefs and texture. 
The lungs were in a full ftate of diftenlion, and ftud- 
ded in many parts with the fame kind of cartilaginous 
fubftance which appeared fo plentifully in. the lower 
cavity.. 
Sufpecfting that the arterial fyftem might* in fome 
meafure, be affected by this prevailing difeafe, I fepa- 
rated the heart from the lungs, for the purpofe of exa- 
mining its larger fyftem of veflels, and, dividing the aorta, 
juft below its curvature, found, upon examination, the 
heart very flaccid, empty, and of a much fmaller flze 
than ufual in adults of the. age of this patient, but found ; 
in every refpeft. 
The femi-lunar: and mitral valves were not at all dif- 
eafed, nor was there the fmalleft deviation in any part of 
the aorta from the moft healthy ftate, though it. was in- 
tirely furrounded by this Angular fubftance from the 
pafling 
