she cannot avoid sitting on it. A neck-swing, and lying
down in the day, should be occasionally used to prevent or remove any
curvature of the spine. The rest as in Species 13 and 15 of this genus.

18. _Spina protuberans._ Protuberant spine. One of the bones of the spine
swells, and rises above the rest. This is not an uncommon disease, and
belongs to the innutrition of the bones, as the bone must become soft
before it swells; which softness is owing to defect of the secretion of
phosphorated calcareous earth. The swelling of the bone compresses a part
of the brain, called the spinal marrow, within the cavity of the
back-bones; and in consequence the lower limbs become paralytic, attended
sometimes with difficulty of emptying the bladder and rectum.

M. M. Issues put on each side of the prominent bone are of great effect, I
suppose, by their stimulus; which excites into action more of the sensorial
powers of irritation and sensation, and thus gives greater activity to the
vascular system in their vicinity. The methods recommended in distortion of
the spine are also to be attended to.

19. _Spina bifida._ Divided spine, called also Hydrorachitis, as well as
the Hydrocephalus externus, are probably owing in part to a defect of
ossification of the spine and cranium; and that the collection of fluid
beneath them may originate from the general debility of the system; which
affects both the secerning, and absorbent vessels.

A curious circumstance, which is affirmed to attend the spina bifida, is,
that on compressing the tumor with the hand gently, the whole brain becomes
affected, and the patient falls asleep. I suppose the same must happen on
compressing the hydrocephalus externus? See Sect. XVIII. 20.

20. _Ossis palati defectus._ A defect of the bone of the palate, which
frequently accompanies a division of the upper lip, occurs before nativity;
and is owing to the deficient action of the secerning system, from whence
the extremities are not completed. From a similar cause I have seen the
point of the tongue deficient, and one joint of the two least fingers, and
of the two least toes, in the same infant; who was otherwise a fine girl.
See Sect. XXXIX. 4. 4.

The operation for the hare-lip is described by many surgical writers; but
there is a person in London, who makes very ingenious artificial palates;
which prevents that defect of speech, which attends this malformation. This
factitious palate consists of a thin p