been made for the extraction of the ball. The internal spine
seemed as if it had been broken, pushed aside, and again
united, for the bone was rough, spiculated, and prominent in this
part. The dura mater, through which there was an opening
corresponding with that in the bone, was morbidly adherent to
its margin. The pia mater was also pierced and closely united
to the dura mater in the vicinity of the sinus, which led to an
abscess in the left hemisphere of the cerebrum, containing
something more than an ounce of pus, and a large ragged portion
of a bullet. There were several pieces of bone within the
substance of the brain, at different distances from its surface,
and some had passed altogether through it and lay beneath
the hemisphere. The ventricles contained upwards of a pint of
fluid. Th&remainder of the brain was remarkably firm and free
from all appearance of inflammation.—Professor Kirby.
D. a. 140. Large abscess in the left cerebral hemisphere,
the result of a punctured wound. Case:—A boy, aged a year
and half, was violently struck by the spur of a cock on the
left parietal bone; little notice was taken of the injury at the
time of its infliction, nor did any unpleasant consequence
follow until the expiration of two months, when the child was
suddenly seized with convulsions which lasted for a considerable
time. The following symptoms now showed themselves
:—paralysis of the right side ; dilatation of right pupil;
frequent fits of convulsions, always relieved by a discharge of
pus from the wound, which had remained open throughout;
obstinate constipation of the bowels. By degrees the muscles
of the right side became perfectly rigid,—the corresponding
pupil still remaining dilated : a fortnight before the fatal termination
the right pupil resumed its natural appearance, and
the left became dilated in a very remarkable degree. The
patient survived the accident for nearly five months.
On dissection, a perforation was discovered in the left
parietal bone, in the site of the injury; the corresponding
part of the brain also presented a puncture extending several
lines into its substance, and communicating with an abscess
which contained a quantity of well formed pus. The surrounding,
cerebral substance was but little altered ; if anything, it was
rather firmer than natural. The cavity, as seen in the preparation,
is of considerable size ; it is capable of containing
several ounces of fluid ; a distinct and thick membrane, of a
yellowish white color, lines it throughout.—A .J. Walsh, Esq.
D. a. 161. Separation of the sixth from the seventh cervical
vertebra. Case—a man who, in a fit of drunkenness, attempted
to carry his companion on his back, when both fell
over a precipice. Immediate and complete paralysis of both
upper and lower extremities ensued. He lived but two days
after the accident, and all the while retained perfect possession
of his intellects. The oblique processes are partly fractured,
partly dislocated,—the upper ones being thrown forwards.
That on the right advanced more than that on the
left side, and the head was proportionably twisted sideways.
The spinous process of the sixth vertebra is considerably in
advance of that of the seventh ; and when the head was allowed
to fall forwards, about a quarter of an inch of the
spinal cord could be seen between them. In front, the
sixth vertebra projects beyond the seventh. The intervertebral
substance, and the anterior common ligament are both
'completely lacerated. There was considerable extravasation of
Wood among the muscles in the immediate seat of the injury,
sind for some way up and down. Blood was also effused into
•the neurilema of the neighbouring nerves, and into the vertebral
foramina : but nothing such existed in the spinal canal.
A slight degree of extension was found sufficient to replace
the deranged bones: but the deformity recurred with equal
readiness on its removal.—Mercer's Hospital.
D. a. 162. Dislocation of the sixth cervical vertebra from
the seventh, with fracture of the oblique processes of the
former. A strong, healthy man, in a state of intoxication