No. 876.

LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1840. [1839-40.

LECTURES BY M. DE BLAINVILLE ON

COMPARATIVE OSTEOLOGY.

THE

COMPARATIVE OSTEOGRAPHY

OF THE

SKELETON AND DENTAR SYSTEM

IN THE FIVE CLASSES OF

VERTEBRAL ANIMALS,RECENT AND FOSSIL.

BY M.H. M. DUCROTAY DE BLAINVILLE,Member of the Institute of France.

WITH GRAPHIC DELINEATIONS BY M. WERNER ;

EDITED (FROM THE FRENCH) AND

ADDITIONALLY ILLUSTRATED

WITH NUMEROUS NOTES, OBSERVATIONS,AND DRAWINGS,

BY ROBERT KNOX, M.D.,Edinburgh; Corresponding Member of the

French Academy of Medicine, &c. &c.

OSTEOGRAPHY OF THE PRIMATES.

(Continued.)JI..fahis (Lemurs, Lemuridce, Swain).

THE Makis (extending this term prettynearly as Buffon and Audebert did, to allthose Primates which Linnaeus and Shrebercorrectly comprised within their great genusLemur,) constitute the lowest group whichZoologists agree to consider as belonging tothe.first order of Mammals, or P1’Ímates, andas forming the passage or connecting link tothe second order, which we shall name Secun- idates, or Carnivora (Carnassiers). In factall, with perhaps a single exception, havingreference to the last genus, have still the-great toe opposable, and, consequently, thefeet are so modified as to perform the func-tions of hands; and although the dentarsystem be always more or less anomalous,still the number of the incisors perhaps neverexceeds four ; the mammae are either two orsix, and of these, two are alwavs nectoral:

the exciting organ of generation is free.At the same time we must admit that theseanimals, as forming a transition from onegreat group to another, present no other dis-tinguishing characters which they may pos-sess in common, than in having the snoutextremely small, and the muzzle at the ex-tremity of the jaws, and, with the exceptionof the Galeopitheci (Galeopilhecus, Pallas.Lemur volans, Linn.) (in which it is the fifth.finger or toe which is longest), the fourth orring finger is longer than the others, anctnever the middle one. Lastly, the nail of theindicator, or second, is long, straight, andpointed, which Zoologists technically deno-minate Subule (terminating insensibly in apoint), with the exception, however, of theL. Volans.

Notwithstanding this,the group is perfectlynatural, as we shall immediately demonstrateby the scientific examination of the hard

parts which enter into the organisation ofthe various species which compose the group?although, in this respect, we may have toprove many more variations and signs ofdegradation than in the preceding groups ofSimiae and Cebidae, the more so that certainspecies have certain anomalies answering afinal purpose.

Of the Bones of the Skeleton generally.The Makis being still (like the American

and African Monkeys) animals which livealmost exclusively in trees, and on the fruitsand insects which they are able to procureamongst the branches, their height never ex-ceeds a moderate stature ; they are often,indeed, extremely small, and the assemblageof bones which compose their skeleton indi-cates movements of prehension and leaping,in the performance of which movements thelimbs are much more concerned than thetrunk, which has the caudal extremity, oftenin a rudimentary condition.The bones of these animals appear to me

to partake more of the nature of those ofBirds, being, as I have always thought,lighter, more excavated, and less close in thecompact tissue than in the Simiadae andCebidae.

This seeming resemblance to Birds does:not extend, however, to the epiphyses of

386

bones disappearing so early as in Birds;and the cranial sutures are not obliterated atan earlier period than in other Mammals.The number of bones entering into the

composition of the skeleton in the Makis

(Lemurs), as well as in their general arrange-ment, presents nothing which is very pecu-liar, except, perhaps, in the rather frequentabsence of the tail, and we will now proceedto the description of the skeleton of the Makicommune (Lemur Catta, Linn.)* which wehave selected as a type of comparison, beingthat species, at once the most readily pro-cured, and presenting, unquestionably, thefewest anomalies in its organisation.The vertebral column, considered as a whole,

that is, the head included, bears the strongestpossible resemblance to that of the commonquadrupeds, by the attenuated form of itstwo extremities, and the curvatures beingstill less marked than in the other Primates,with the exception of those curvatures on theabdominal or inferior aspect, which, indeed,occupy the whole length of the column.The total number of portions of the verte-

bral column is pretty considerable, sincethey amount to fifty-nine, viz., four cephalic,seven cervical, thirteen dorsal, six lum barthree sacral, and twenty-six coccygeal.t

* By a slight inattention to the syno-nymes, in all probability, and not to anymore important cause, it would at first sightappear that M. De Blainville had neglectedgiving the figure of this type. In the text adistinct reference is made to the Lemur Cattaor common Maki, as being the Type fromwhich he proposes describing the group, butin the figures illustrating this volume there isnot apparently one of this Lemur Catta orcommon Maki, unless we suppose M. DeBlainville to consider the Maki Vari of Plateiii., and which is also called (L. Macoco)on the plate as being identical with theLemur Catta. We shall leave this matter asit is, to be cleared up by the author himself,merely remarking, that M. Desmarest andmost Naturalists draw a distinction betweenthe Maki Vari, or Ruffed Lemur and MakiMacoco (Lemur Catta or Ringtailed Lemur).I venture to think that this slight discrepancywill be explained shortly by M. De Blainvillehimself.-R. Knox.

t A Skeleton of a Lemur (female) prepar-ed with the greatest care as a natural ske-leton, and which we consider as the MakiMacoco, or Ringtailed Lemur, is now on thetable before me. The teeth are so muchworn down as to render it impossible to givea formula of them. The cranial sutures areall completely obliterated, although the sym-physis of the lower jaw is still present. Thegreat toe is much more developed than thethumb.

The cephalic portion or head, altogetherin the same direction with the rest of thevertebral column, is of a conical form,slightly elongated, not only on account of theelongation of the jaws, but also that thecephalic vertebrae themselves are less heapedtogether, and more spread out. The occipitalvertebra (fourth cephalic) has, in truth, itsbasilar bone large, and flat, and the archslightly elevated, scarcely projecting behindthe large and nearly vertical occipital fora-men ; it is surmounted by a delicate occi.pital crest, oblique, dividing into three ridges,of which one is median, and resembles aportion of a vertical cylinder, and lodges thevermiform appendage of the cerebellum.The posterior sphenoidal vertebra (third

cephalic) has its body still larger than thatjust described, dilated right and left intostretched and excavated wings, to form thepterygoid processes, and, then ascending,reaches extensively a thin parietal bone, wellspread out, though slightly elevated, andconstituting the greatest portion of the cere.bral vault.The spheno-frontal vertebra (anterior sphe.

noid, second cephalic) has evidently lost itsimportance in reference to the cranial vault;its body has pretty nearly the form of theposterior sphenoid, just described, althoughmuch smaller, only it is more keel-shaped inits median line ; with regard to its frontalarch, it is much more inter-orbitar, and itsproper frontal portion, slightly extended,much depressed, forms an orbitar circle, ascomplete as in the Simiae or Cebidae, but

We have thus three vertebrae more thanthat of M. De Blainville’s specimen; but itwill be observed that these additional verte.brae are coccygeal, and, therefore, in all pro’bability, lost in M. De Blainville’s speci-men. This is a very common occurrence,and, indeed, will invariably happen whenan attempt is made to stuff the skin, and atthe same time preserve the skeleton.—R.Knox.

387

Fig. 47.

Maki Vari (L. Macoco, Linn.) Desm. Ruffed Lemur, Shaw.From Madagascar. ""-=" °’Skeleton entire viewed in profile, after a skeleton of a specimen purchased from the

Isle of France by MM. Lesson and Garnot, repaired and arranged (set up) under M. DeBlainville’s personal inspection for this work.

much narrower, so that the orbitar cavitycommunicates freely with the temporal fossa.The vomer, which constitutes the body of

the nasal vertebra (firsl cephalic), is also

sufficiently developed posteriorly ; but thenits ridge, continuing that of the anterior

sphenoid (third cephalic), is prolonged in theform of a very narrow plate inferiorly, with-out forming the crista galli superiorly. Thelateral portions of this part of the ethmoidbone are simple, being not in the least de-gree visible in the orbits.In respect to the nasal bones, they differ

considerably from those of the Simiæ andCebidæ, being, in fact, much more elongated,slightly excavated on their external margin,and terminating anteriorly by a deeply-cutmargin; they terminate a little posterior tothe line of the intermaxillary bones.The jaws follow, and even exceed a little,

this elongation of the anterior cephalic ver-tebra, and thus the length of the palate ex-ceeds by rather more than half that of thebasilar line.The internal pterygoid or posterior pala-

tine root of the upper jaw, is in the form ofa large scale, applied to, and intimately con-nected with, the external pterygoid process ;it reaches as far as the anterior sphenoid;and its hook-like process is scythe-shaped,and very much developed.The lacrymal bone (lacrymal root of the

upper jaw) is also large, triangular, and, in agreat measure, external to the orbit, and it isin this portion that we find the oblique andcompressed nasal canal.The malar bone (or zygomatic root of the

upper jaw) has, on the other hand, lost itsimportance, although it has still its threedivisions or branches; but all these are muchmore slender than in the other Primates;

the inferior, or maxillary branch, still con-stitutes a considerable part of the orbitarcircle, and it is perforated externally by alarge malar foramen, as in most of the Cebi-dæ; the superior or frontal branch articulateswith the external orbitar process, but itsnarrowness prevents it from joining the sphe-noidal wing, and, consequently, from closingin the orbit ; the temporal branch is onlyremarkable for its great delicacy.The anterior palatine (palate bones, human

anatomy) has its ascending branch slightlyelevated, but large, and its palatine, or hori-zontal branch, bordered with regard to itsfree margin, regularly semicircular, and ad-vancing by its greatest curve mesially, asfar as the line of the principal molar tooth.The maxillary bone is long, slender ante-

riorly, with its ascending branch but slightlyelevated, which forms no part of the orbitarcircle, and which is perforated with onlythree small sub-orbitar foramina; its inferiormargin is excavated with large and deeply-cut alveolar cavities.The inter-maxillary bone is still more deli-

cate than in the preceding Primates, parti-cularly its horizontal or palatine portion,dividing, nevertheless, to form, as usual, around and considerable incisive foramen ;the ascending branch ascends as far as thenasal bones, and, consequently, with thenasal bones, surrounds entirely the nasalaperture.The lower jaw, the description of which

we commenced with that of the rocky bone(petrous portion of the temporal), is small,and much concealed by the surroundingbones; we may say the same of the mastoidprocess, which scarcely forms a projection.The ossicula auditûs are also, generally, ex-

tremely small, resembling strongly, however,

388

those of the other Primates; the stapes is,nevertheless, more prolonged; its branchesare more delicate, more elevated’; the orbicularbone is narrower than the branch of the incus,with which it articulates. The incus has itstwo branches nearly equal, its head verylarge, rounder than that of the malleus,whose handle is, on the contrary, proportion-ally longer, and terminated by a small spa-tula-shaped dilatation.The tympanum or bulla which contains

these ossicula is, on the contrary, large,swollen, semi-globular, articulating, by anexternal anterior process, with the posteriormargin of the external pterygoid process,and the external auditory opening is large,superficial, without a distinct tympaniccircle.The squamous portion of the temporal

bone is, perhaps, still less extended than inthe Simiae and Cebidae ; it presents, how-ever, that venous cranial opening behind thecondyloid process, which exists in so manyof the American Monkeys; but the zygo-matic process is still weaker than in theSanaiou.The mandibular portion of the jaw is long,

narrow, and much depressed in its ascend-

ing process, which is nearly as broad as it iselevated; its coronoid process is much moreelevated, more arched, than in any species ofthe Cebidæ; and we may make the sameremark with regard to the angular process,which is well-developed, and of a crotchetshape; the horizontal (dentar portion) verynarrow, has its margins nearly parallel, theone convex, the other concave; the s mphysisoblique, slightly extended, and the anterioropening of the inferior dentar canal small,situated midway between the second andthird molar teeth.The cavities, compartments, fossa:, orifices,

and foramina, which the cephalic vertebraeand their appendages form, or contribute toform, differ very distinctly from those whichwe have seen in the two preceding familiesof Primates. Thus, the facid angle is notmore than fifteen degrees; the area of thenasal cavity is scarcely equal to that of thecerebral cavity; the transverse diameter ofthe cerebral cavity is to that of the foramenmagnum (vertebral opening) nearly in theproportion of three to one.The cerebral cavity presents still consider-able development ; its general contour is oval,shortened, and depressed; the digital im-pressions on the vault and sides stronglymarked; the fossa: in the base, on the con-trary, perhaps less precisely circumscribedthan in the other Primates.The basilar fossa is, nevertheless, large,

excavated, and well defined ; the pituitaryfossa is not so well marked, on account ofthe total absence of the clinoid processes;the ethmoidal fossa is much larger than inthe Simiae or Sapajous; its cribriform plateis large, and perforated with a great number

of openings, divided into three groups oneach side by two oblique ridges, the anteriormuch larger than the posterior, which is thesmallest.The lateral fossse in the cranial cavity

are, on the contrary, proportionally smallerthan the median; the cerebellar or poste-rior is more defined, particularly towards themedian line, and in the cavity connectedwith the rocky bone, which is hemispherical,and deep.The temporal fossa is not deeply sunk,

and, like the orbit, is very much advancedupon the face ; the vault of the orbit makesa very slight supra-orbitar angle, being be.sides very flat.The foramina for the passage outwards of

the nerves, are generally very small; this isthe case with the condyloid foramina, theposterior lacerated foramina, divided intotwo by a projection, with the basilar (?),withthe foramen rotundum, the foramen ovale,the former far removed from and the latter

very near the spheno-maxillary fissure,which fissure resembles an oval foramen;the foramina optica partake of the generalcharacter of the others.

In respect to the foramen magnum, wehave already alluded to its great propor-tional size, the oblique position of its plane,and its almost terminal position; the con-dyles, also, are widely separated, and theoccipital crest scarcely projects beyond them.The cavities for the organs of sense have

been already pretty nearly described in ouraccount of the portions which form them.The auditory cavity, as a whole, is small,

and does not extend into the surroundingbones.The ocular cavity (orbit) is large, funnel-

shaped, oblique ; its axis much more diverg-ing than in the Simiæ and Cebidas. Wehave already remarked, that the orbit is onlycomplete in respect to its outline, which isdeeply cut at its nasal origin, that the upperopening of the lacrymal duct is facial. Thesub-orbitar canal terminates by one oval,compressed foramen ; but there is a largemalar foramen very low down, the same

with the sphcno-palatine, confounded withthe posterior palatine.

The olfactory cavity is very much elon-gated, communicating superiorly with thecranium by an extensive cribriform plate,and terminating posteriorly by a large pala-tine opening like the mouth of a furnace,and opening anteriorly in a slightly obliqueplane by an oval orifice placed vertically.The olfactory cavity has no extension in

the bones of the head ; in other words, thereare no traces of frontal or sphenoidal sinuses.The superior ethmoidal turbinated bones

are very small, the middle turbinated arevery much elongated, and the inferior

(true turbinated, maxillary turbinated) are

still longer, inversely bent, coming off at a

389

right angle from the lamina by which theyare attached to the maxillary bone.The gustatory cavity or mouth formed like

the nasal, since the palatine vault is commonto them, is, in other respects, large, suffi-ciently excavated, semicircular posteriorly,and circular anteriorly, with the incisiveforamina well marked, semicircular, and

large.The cervical region, longer than in the

Simiæ or Cebidæ, nearly equals one half thelength of the thoracic region ; the transverseprocesses of the atlas are already expanded,the spinous process of the axis is large, al-though not much elevated, presenting, inother respects, a strong resemblance to thethird, fourth, or fifth vertebra, by the size ofthe arch, the carinated imbrication of thebody, and the slightly serrated imbricationof the transverse processes. The sixth ver-tebra has the internal lobe of the transverse

process styliform ; and the seventh vertebra,whose transverse process is long and rib-

shaped, has, on the other hand, its spinousprocess weak, slender, and spine-shaped,scarcely exceeding in height that of the fourpreceding vertebrae, whose spinous processesresemble that of the seventh in every respect.

The thoracic region of the spine has thir-teen vertebræ,* generally narrow and short,their spinous processes are but slightlyraised, narrow, equal in length, the first ninepointing towards the tail, the tenth nearlyvertical, and the three last, pointing towardsthe head, resembling very much those of thelumbar vertebrae.The lumbar region has six vertebrae, in-

creasing gradually as far as the fourth, andthen decreasing;! the spinous processes pointall towards the head, arenarrow, and slightlyarched ; the transverse processes increase inlength from the first to the last, which is

entirely inter-iliac ; the anterior articular

processes slope considerably, but the styloiddivisions of the posterior articular processesare of medium dimensions.The sacral region has only one vertebra

articulating distinctly with the ilium, anda second united to the first ; but I think thata third vertebra may be included as sacral,although not united, owing to the size and

’ Daubenton only reckons twelve in theMacoco (L. Calta, Linn.). A carefully-pre-pared skeleton in our own museum, ()Id Sur-geons’ Hall, has thirteen.—R. Knax.

t In our skeleton of the Lemur, to whichwe have already alluded in Note p. 386, thelumbar vertebrae increase gradually to the

last, which is, unquestionably, the largest,Dot only in respect to its body, but all its

processes. The sacral vertebra*, which, itwill be observed, M. De Blainville found tobe broader than the last lumbar, are in oursnarrower; circumstances which, no doubt,indicate slight specific differences in the ani-mals.—R. Knox.

form of the transverse processes. Thesethree sacral vertebrae differ but slightly fromthe last lumbar, except in the vertical posi-tion of their spinous processes, and greaterbreadth of the transverse processes.The caudal region, consisting of long and

very slender vertebrae, commences by threeor four vertebra", which are complete, short,their spinous processes not developed, theirtransverse processes na’row, and moderatelyinclined downwards and backwards. Thesucceeding vertebrae increase in length as

far as the fifth or sixth, then gradually de-crease, becoming very narrow. The V shapedbones, which exist only between three orfour of the first coccygeal vertebrae, are butslightly developed.The cephalic sternebra (hyoid apparatus)

would in itself indicate the descent to-wards the Carnassiers ; in fact, its body,narrow transversely, and slightly arched,becomes slightly enlarged at each extremity,supports a pretty long anterior or styloidhorn, formed of three pieces, decreasingslightly in size, the two first equal, the thirdlonger, more delicate, terminating, assuredly,in a point.The thoracic sternebra (steriium) partakes

also of the character of that of the Carnassiers,since it is narrow, particularly anteriorly; itis composed of seven bones, the first slightlyenlarged only in its anterior half, for thearticulation of the clavicles and first pair ofribs, and compressed in its other half, likethe succeeding sternebrae, the posterior ofwhich becomes, nevertheless, larger and

flatter; the terminating steruebra, or xiphoidprocess, is long and narrow, but still equallyflattened out at each extremity.The ribs (thirteen pairs in all, of which

there are eight pair sternal and five

asternal,) are all very much arched, delicate,and even slightly compressed at their verte-bral extremities ; the fast becoming suddenlymuch more slender than the others. Thesternal appendages are also long, and narrowat their sternal extremities, becoming en-

larged and flattened towards their costal ex-tremities.The thorax, thus constituted, is still suffi-

ciently extended laterally, and of mediumlength.

i he disproportion of the limbs is wellmarked in fav.,ur of the posterior or pelvian.The scapula, perhaps a little smaller pro-

portionally than in the Cebidæ, is certainlynarrower, and the fossae are, consequently,smaller; the spine is a little le-s elevated,and its acromion process is more vertical.The coracoid process still retains a gooddeal the form of that of the Primates, but ithas no trace of that bifurcation at its base,as seen in the Guenons, and especially inthe Sapajous. ,

The clavicle is smaller than in the Sapa-jou-; ; and, in truth, it scarcely equals inlength two-thirds of the scapula, whilst

390

the Sajou it equals four-fifths of the scapula;it is, also, considerably more straight, andformed as it were of a single curve.The humerus equals only the first ten

dorsal vertebrae, in length ; it is, in the meantime, more delicate, and longer than in thecommon Sapajous. The deltoidean crestand impression scarcely extend beyond theupper third of the bone ; there is an obliqueshort osseous canal in the internal condyle,and the crests (ridges for the attachment ofthe intermuscular septa), even the externalone, are not prominent.The radius and ulna are also delicate,

arched in opposite directions, with a verysharp internal concave edge; in other re-

spects resembling those of the Sajous.The carpus seems, proportionally, slightly

more extended, and although it is composedof the same number of bones as in the Simiae,their proportions indicate a tendency to-wards the Carnivora. Thus, the scaphoidis very much elongated, occupying nearlythe entire articular surface of the radius;the semilunar bone is, on the contrary, ex-tremely small, the os triquetrum (cuneilbrm)being again much larger, and sub-cubical.The pisiform bone resembles that of theother Primates.The intermediate (ninth) bone is small, and

has here the appearance of being merely apart of the scaphoid.The trapezium, having a triangular form,

is scarcely larger than the trapezoides,which is still, however, the smallest of thefour bones forming the second row of the

carpus. The os magnum and unciform areextremely like those of the Cebidae, withthis difference, that the magnum articulatessolely with the intermediate (ninth bone) notextending so far as to touch the semilunar.The hand as a whole, including the

carpus, equals nearly the radius in length,and is thus a little longer in proportion thanthat of the Sajous.The proximal phalanges of the thumb

and index finger, are, perhaps, proportionallylonger in relation to the metacarpal bones:the phalanges, generally, are more archedand longer, especially the middle phalanges,which are, besides, canaliculated inferiorly;the distal phalanges shorter, are each moreextended out at their extremities than in the

Sajous; and, lastly (a state peculiar to theseanimals), their distal or nail phalanges arethe parts of the ring fingers which are moreespecially the largest.The posterior limbs (pelvic extremities)

are, upon the whole, more delicate, andlonger than in the other Primates.The pelvis, generally speaking, is weaker

and narrower ; its pelvic articulation is less,with its anterior margin more oblique thanin the other Primates ; the length of the os

innominatum scarcely equals that of the firstten dorsal vertebrae. The iliac fossa: are

very narrow; the anterior extremity (crest)

of the ilium extends greatly beyond thesacro-iliac articulation, which, as we havealready remarked, is confined to one verte-bra, the ilio-pectineal spine (ilio-pubic spine)is large and well-marked, and the ischiatictuberosity is still more delicate than in theCebidas.

Thus, the degradation is manifest, indi.cating a tendency to a mode of progression,more approaching that of the quadrupeds(more terrestrial?). The remaining parts ofthe limbs continue in this direction, i.e., likethat of the quadrupeds.The femur is long, rather delicate, en.

larged superiorly into a powerful externaltrochanter (trochanter major), thick, risingconsiderably above the head of the bone, andprolonged externally, so as to form a sort ofthird trochanter. The shaft of the bone isnearly straight.The bones of the leg resemble very much

the Guenons ; the two bones which formthis region, are in the Lemurs, still moredelicate and nearly straight; the malleoliwhich they form, are equally prominent ex-ternally and internally, by the increase insize of the extremities of the bones; neverthe.less, the articular mortise is less deep, andespecially more open.The foot, as a whole, presents nearly the

same proportion in respect to the leg, as in theGuenons ; it is, however, generally speaking,narrower, and the tarsal region is propor-tionally a little longer. The head of theastragalus is still more oblique than in theCebidae, and its pulley is a little flatter;the os calcis is longer, narrower, especiallyin its articular part. The other bones of thetarsus present no important particulars, ifit be not the remarkable smallness of thesecond cuneiform, and great length and nar-rowness of the third cuneiform.

In respect to the toes, the first is certainlythe largest, more so than in the other Pri.mates; and this is the more remarkable,inasmuch as the other toes in the Makis aremore delicate; the three bones (metatarsaland two phalanges) of the great toe are

stronger, larger, especially the distal pha-lanx, than in any of the Simiae or Sapajous.The four remaining toes resemble those of

the Cebidac, particularly in respect to the

metacarpal (metatarsal) bones, as well in

respect to their length as proportional bulk;but this is not quite the case with thephalanges, it is (even more than in the hand)the fourth toe which is the longest, not onlyas a whole, but in each of its parts; but,moreover, the distal phalanges of the third,fourth, and fifth toes, are slightly dilated attheir extremities, and that of the second toeis even nearly pointed, or claw-shaped.

All the skeletons of the true Makis orLemurs, as modern Zoologists have definedthem, that I have seen, present very slightdifferences in their comparative anatomy,

391

and even these are not easily shown, except-ing by the skill of the artist.

I find, in the mean time, what seems de-serving of notice, that the Maki Nain (dwarj,L. Alurinus, Penn. Galago de Aladagasear,Desm.) has an additional lumbar vertebra(seven instead of six), as in our typicalskeleton, but that which seems of more im-portance is, that the tarsus is more elevatedthan in the other species, in consequence ofthe greater length of the calcaneum andscaphoid, which actually resembles a smallcoccygeal vertebra. The cuboid is evidentlymore elongated, so that this species ought tocommence or stand at the top of the Makis,and thus be placed in immediate juxta-posi-tion with the Galagos (Lemur Vulant, L.,)which have, in fact, like it and the Tarsier

(L. Spectrum, Geoff.) three pairs of mammæ.We may make nearly the same remarks

with regard to the Maki de Milius ; it hasalso the seven lumbar vertebrae, increasingfrom the first to the last, and the tarsal regionis also longer than in the other Makis ; butin the L. Milii, it is the astragalus, and notthe scaphoid alone, which follows the well-marked elongation of the calcaneum, andwhich gives to each bone of the tarsus oithis little animal something quite peculiar(specific).

LECTURESON THE

FUNCTION AND DISEASES OF THE WOMBDelivered at his Class Room,

Bartholomew-Close, St. Bartholomew’sHospital.

BY CHARLES WALLER, M.D.

LECTURE XII.Hydatids of the uterus: descriptiori of; some-

times many, at others single; size various;colour generally white ; opinions respectingtheir formation ; seldona occur in unmarriedpersons ; generally combined with utero-

gestation symptoms; ; how lo be distin-guished from advancing pregnancy ; mecha-nical effects; diagnosis; after a time theuterus begins to act ; practitioner often notcalled until this period.-Treatment: theirgrowth cannot be prevented; nothing re-quired in early stage.-Treatment whenhœemorrhage supervenes: endeavour to ex-cite uterine action; application of cold;ergot of rye not in all cases to be dependedupon ; discretion required respecting stimu-lants ; plug ; external pressure; introduc-tion of the hand ; after treatment,—Singlehydatid of the uterus ; hydrometra of theancients ; symptoms neither dangerous noralarming; illustrative case ; little or no

treatment required.-Concluding remarks.HYDATIDS OF THE UTERUS.

THE disease called hydatids is not a

peculiar production of the uterus, as it is

often found in other parts of the body;neither is it confined to the human subjectalone, some animals, the sheep especially,are frequently affected by it.

Hydatids, according to the Linnean sys·tem, constitute a tribe of the genus te-

nia, and belong to the class and order ofintestinal worms. They are characterisedby being furnished with a vesicle, whichis sometimes attached to them posteriorly,or in which some of them are altogetherenclosed. They occasionally exist singlyin the uterus, but more generally hang to-gether in clusters, each little vesicle beingattached to its fellow by a very delicatefilamentous thread, the whole presenting anappearance very similar to a bunch ofgrapes; they are connected with the liningmembrane of the womb bv a thickish sub-stance, resembling fibrine; having, never-theless, a bloody appearance when first

expelled from the uterus. The size of thesevesicular bodies varies, some are verysmall, whilst others are as large as the eggof a thrush; when macerated and perfectlyfreed from blood, they are generally colour,less. Dr. Baillie, however, states that he

has, in many cases, seen hydatids of the liverof a pale amber culour.

Various opinions have been entertainedwith regard to the formation of uterinehydatids. As they so commonly exist inconnection with a dead ovum, some haveattributed their origin to this circumstance,whilst others believed that the death of theovum has been the effect of the previousexistence of hydatids in the cavity of thewomb ; that, in truth, these animalculaswere’ the actual devourers of the foetus.Dr. Blundell, late of Guy’s Hospital, haspreparations showing this work of destruc-tion in progress. I have never seen a case ofuterine hydatids in an unmarried female,and am not aware that it has been observedby others ; still it would be wrong to assertthat these bodies cannot possibly formwithout sexual intercourse ; and, therefore,if called to an unmarried woman, fromwhose uterus hydatids were growing, Ishould not feel justified in expressing anopinion which might prove injurious to herreputation. Wherever there exists a rea-sonable doubt, it is but an act of common

justice to give the patient the benefit ofsuch doubt.

I have stated to you that married womenare very generally the subjects of thisdisease, and not only married, but in a stateof pregnancy; the symptoms, therefore, atfirst are those which are attendant uponthat condition, but after the death of theovum the signs of pregnancy disappear.The uterus, instead of diminishing, in-creases in size, in consequence of the en-largement of the hydatids within its cavity;and, therefore, it often happens that themedical man, as well as the patient, is de-