INTRA-UTERINE RACIIITIS.
The description given by Depaul is so complete, that we can do no bet ter than borrow from him.
"Recent State.—The size of the head strikes one at once, and contrasts sharply with the slight development of the trunk and extremities; but this disposition is rather relative than real, and the cavities and organs which it contains are in the normal state. The vertebral column does not present an unusual curve. It only seems that the cervical region is a little short; the head appears as if placed on the upwr part of the tho rax. The chest has a very pronounced conical form, at the top narrow, at the bottom very wide. The lower border of the cartilages and the xyphoid appendix are as if turned outwards, and show themselves under the skin. The thorax is flattened from before backwards. The four ex tremities are remarkable for their little length and their volume. The upper are held in a nearly vertical situation. In contrast, the clavicles are very long. The lower limbs appear made up of two kinds of enlarge ments, separated by a furrow, which is found above the knee. The upper one is considerably enlarged, and presents a rounded surface which is directed forward and a little outward. Movements of the articulations are easy, and palpation proves the tissues sufficiently firm. Beneath the skin, which is normal, exists a bed of fatty cellular tissue of the usual thickness. The muscles, normal, are relaxed; the aponeuroses are per fectly adapted to the conformation of the limbs, and do not hamper them in any direction. There is no anomaly in the nerves, nor in the vessels.
"Lesions of the Skekton.—Cranium.—The fontanelles are wide, but not of the usual shape; sometimes normal, as also the sutures. Ossification of the bone is regular and complete.
"Face.—In proportion to the cranium, is normal. Maxillary bones well developed and regular, containing the teeth-germs. Forehead, normally prominent.
"Thorax.—The capacity is not considerable, very wide at the base, when the sides and the cartilages are strongly thrown outwards. The ribs are regularly curved; sufficiently slender at their vertebral extremities, they commence to increase toward the anterior part, and terminate by consid erable enlargement. This is not marked except in the first three and last
tvio. At the centre of each of these extremities, which is hollowed out, starts the cartilage, which is slender and filamentous. Certain of the intercostal spaces are wanting. Besides, the ends of certain ribs are sharply and abnormally curved upwards.
"Upper Extrentities.—The clavicles are very long, considering the di mensions of the thorax. Their curves are not exaggerated. The result is that the scapula: are thrown backwards, and tend to overlap at the spinal border. The volume is not abnormal either in the shafts or the extremities. The scapulfe are but little altered in form, and present a curve backwards, which increases the depth of the intra-spinous fossit to such an extent that it effaces the subscapular fossEe, which are replaced by a convexity. The ossification is normal.
"llumerus.—Represents, on each side, the arc of a circle, strongly curved on its anterior plane; the convexity is backward, on its posterior plane. The osseous surface, which belongs to the concavity, is flat and almost excavated; that of the projecting part is rounded in its whole ex tent. Besides this general curve, another is seen toward the lower third, the concavity directed outwards, the convexity inwards. The two ends are noticeably enlarged. The upper end has a rounded form, the lower is more extended transversely than from before backward; the epiphyses, entirely cartilaginous, are reduced by dessication to a very small size.
"Radius and Ulna.—Of equal length, but whereas the radius exceeds the ulna below, this exceeds the other above, and in the same proportion. The intra-osseous space is narrow and elliptical, the extremities are of considerable volume. A double inflection exists, the first has the concav ity anteriorly, and the convexity posteriorly; the second, the concavity internal to the radius and external to the ulna.