304 
DE. CLELAJ^D ON THE EELATIONS 
sidered as at least commencing from what had originally been a lateral lamina. On 
the one hand, in the normal condition, the mesial processes of the intermaxillaries are 
obwously present ; and in the cleft-palate condition, on the other hand, there can be no 
doubt that the lateral plates are represented as well as the mesial processes, since the 
incisor teeth are developed on the mesial bone. Thus it is certain that, according as 
the palate is completely closed or remains cleft, the whole intermaxillary — both mesial 
and lateral portion — comes from one or other of two parts which at an early period are 
always quite distinct. This is a fact of great importance. 
Morphological Conclusions respecting the Vomer, Ethmoid, and Intermacdllaries 
in Mammals. 
I had desired that this paper should be as strictly observational and as little theore- 
tical or controversial in its character as might be ; hut I find it is impossible, now that 
I have arrived at this point, to refrain from indicating in what direction the observa- 
tions just made appear to tend. I am conscious that by entering on this theme I render 
myself liable to the charge of presumption, in asking to be heard upon matters which 
have been discussed by the greatest authorities. My excuse is, that it is the observa- 
tional part of my subject which compels me into the theoretical : and in venturing an 
opinion upon certain segments of the skull, I shall endeavour to limit myself as much 
as possible to what seem to me to be deductions to which the facts discussed inevitably 
lead ; facts, some of them at least, not hitherto known, or not pre\aously collated, and 
therefore not till now at the disposal of the theorist ; but a knowledge of which, I can- 
not help thinking, is indispensable to the just conception of the segments to which they 
relate. 
I gladly embrace this opportunity of acknowledging my obligations to Professor 
Goodsie for the use of books and specimens placed at my disposal, and for valuable 
information bearing upon topics treated of in this paper; and if, for the reason just 
mentioned, I have taken it upon me to adopt conclusions difiering from his in certam 
details (although not more than from those of others), I do not forget that to him 
entirely I owe my morphological training ; nor am I the less sensible of the advantage 
which I have enjoyed in being frequently indoctrinated by hirii in those great principles 
of Morphology which he illustrated in his communications to the British Association in 
1856 * *. 
1. The first proposition which I shall make is, that the whole septum of the nose is 
continued forwards from the line of centra formed by the basilar process of the occipital 
and the bodies of the postsphenoid and presphenoid f. This statement can he best veri- 
fied in some animal in which the body of the presphenoid is more developed than in 
Eotjsseati, stowing that the intermaxillaries are at no period normally separate from the maxillaries ; and 
by M. Laechee, showing that in cleft palate they are distinct. 
* Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, Jan. 1857, pp. 118-181. 
t The embryological aspect of this proposition is considered below at page 315. 
