i6>2 Mr. Brodie s Account of the Dissection 
The foetus measured thirteen inches from the summit of 
the cranium to the feet. The thorax and abdomen were sur- 
rounded by a large shapeless mass, which concealed the form 
of the whole upper part of the body. This mass proved to be 
the integuments covering the posterior part of the neck and 
thorax, distended with a watery fluid about three pints in 
quantity, contained in two cysts, lined by a smooth membrane. 
When the fluid was evacuated, and the cysts allowed to col- 
lapse, the foetus had nearly the natural form. Its extremities 
had nearly the usual appearance, except that on the right hand 
there was no thumb ; on the left hand there was no thumb 
also, and only a single finger. There were three toes on the 
right foot, and four toes on the left foot. The external nos- 
trils consisted only of two folds of skin, under each of which 
was the orifice of an internal nostril, but pervious only for 
about half an inch. There was a hare lip, and a cleft in the 
bony palate extending one third of an inch backwards. 
On dissection, the cranium was found somewhat compressed 
by the fluid contained in the cyst behind it. The brain itself 
was too putrid for accurate examination, but it was of nearly 
the natural size, and nothing unusual was observed in it. The 
membranes had the natural appearance, and the nerves ap- 
peared to go off from the brain and spinal marrow nearly as 
usual. 
In the thorax there was no heart, thymus gland, or pleura. 
The trachea was situated immediately behind the sternum. It 
had its natural appearance, and divided as usual into the two 
bronchia. The latter terminated in the lungs, which con- 
sisted of two rounded bodies, not more than one third of an 
inch in diameter, having a smooth external surface, and 
