Mr. Standert's Description, &c. s 3$ 
The arterial system had been injected with wax, and, in 
removing the heart from the thorax, this pulmonary branch of 
the aorta was unfortunately cut away. 
The pulmonary veins were four in number ; but neither the 
area of these veins, nor that of the vessel which acted as th« 
pulmonary artery, exceeded half the common dimensions. 
This child, when alive, came under the observation of Dr. 
Combe, who did not perceive that its respiration, temperature, 
or muscular action, were materially affected. In the records 
of malformation of the heart, the present case is extraordinary, 
resembling in organization the amphibious animals, rather than 
the mammalia. That an infant should have existed so long, 
under such circumstances, carrying on all the vital functions, 
appears a physiological fact of some importance, especially as 
the dependence of life on respiration, and the changes pro- 
duced in the vascular system, are so imperfectly understood. 
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING. ( Plate VI.) 
Fig. 1. A view of the left side of the heart, the common 
ventricle being opened by a simple incision, showing the valves 
of the ostium. 
. a , The aorta. 
b, The common trunk of the two branches of the right pul- 
monary veins. 
c , The vena cava superior. 
d, e, The two trunks of the left pulmonary veins. 
Fig. 2. A view of the right side of the heart, exhibiting the 
common cavity of the auricle, a portion of its parietes being cut 
away, with the vena cava inferior. 
