A TUMOUR ON THE EORKHKAD. 
411 
we may be allowed the term, were soft, of the size of a pea, conical, 
covered with a very delicate membrane, and consisting apparently 
of very small granular bodies. A number of white curled hairs 
of an inch in length arose from each of these tufts. The most re¬ 
markable fact connected with these tufts was their position. Some 
of them adhered closely to the membrane of the tumour, while others 
were hanging loose, being attached to the membrane only by a pe¬ 
duncle about the thickness of a sewing-needle, and nearly an inch 
in length. Two of these eminences, placed at the distance of two 
inches, were connected bv a fibrous filament of the same nature as 
the peduncle already described, but below which (viz. between the 
membrane of the tumour and the filament) a probe could easily be 
passed for half of its length, the remainder being firmly attached 
to the membrane. At the lower part of the tumour, and correspond¬ 
ing to the middle and right side of the sagittal suture, we ob¬ 
served a roundish opening of three-eighths of an inch in diameter, 
with smooth and rounded edges, covered by a continuation of the 
membrane of the sac. The opening was filled with coagulated 
blood. We discovered between the tables of the skull a cavity 
nearly an inch in depth, extending outwardly from the sagittal 
suture for an inch or more, while in its infero-superior diameter it 
occupied two inches. Searching cautiously the interior of the ca¬ 
vity, the probe at length passed into the interior of the cranium, 
close upon the longitudinal sinus, by a narrow slit-like opening, 
which was separated from another such opening by a small portion 
of the bone. 
“ An effusion of blood existed on both sides of the longitudinal 
sinus, but more extensive on the left, less having escaped by the 
perforations which were on the right. The structure of the brain 
was natural.” 
I presume, with the doctor, that the tumour was encysted and 
serous, having its origin in the diploe of the parietal bone. In the 
course of its growth it caused, by pressure, first absorption and 
perforation of the external table—a portion of the sac protruded, 
and pushed its way through the subcutaneous cellular tissue on the 
forehead and over the origin of the anterior aural muscles. Sub¬ 
sequently the internal table was perforated by the same process; 
possibly the longitudinal sinus also suffered: and as soon as the 
pressure was removed by the bursting of the sac, the sinus gave 
way, blood was poured out, and hence compression of the brain 
and suspension of the powers of life. 
