MONSTROSITIES. 
434 
general manner to comparative anatomy, our present object is to 
direct the attention of our brethren in the profession to one branch 
of it, namely, the subject of Monstrosities, many cases of which 
are met with in the course of our practice, especially in the 
country, and by those who are more particularly engaged amongst 
cattle. The subject is one which has been but little investigated 
in this country, at least by veterinarians; yet we are certain 
that it has only to be suggested, in order to produce many 
an account of curious cases. We have been led to these consi¬ 
derations by lately meeting with a very singular case. 
A mare, the property of Mr. Johnston Hillhouse, near Kirk- 
newton, dropped a foal in the beginning of April, in the head 
of which there were several remarkable peculiarities. It had only 
one eye, which was in the centre of the forehead; there were 
neither nasal cavities nor nostrils : it was alive when foaled, but 
the superstitious notions of the farm servants induced them to 
destroy it; and having cut off the head, they sent it to town to 
their master. The eye externally appeared rather small; the 
cornea somewhat flat. The eyelids being closely attached to the 
periosteum were unable to close upon the eye, and had the ap¬ 
pearance of being the outer angles of the eyelids brought together 
so as to form one—they, however, were not united so as to form 
complete eyelids; but they had made two angles, the one above 
and the other below the eye, running vertically in the centre of 
the forehead, so that there were four comers or angles formed by 
the eyelids. The lachrymal duct descended from the inferior 
angle between the superior maxillary bones, and terminated in 
the palate, having taken a somewhat curved direction between 
these bones, which were formed almost entirely of alveolar pro¬ 
cesses, and, when filled with the teeth, seemed a solid mass of 
bone. The termination of this duct was at the inferior extremity 
of the maxillary bones, and the duct was formed in a groove 
which was seen on separating the maxillary bones, together with 
another about an inch and a half posterior to it. The ears stood 
in the natural position, and, as far as they were examined, were 
completely formed. On dissecting the skin from the forehead, 
it was found that the whole of the portions of the frontal bones 
