other bones, are characterized by their unusual thickness, and the great development of all the elevations and depressions for the attachment of muscles. In the Anatomical Museum at Bonn, under the designation of "Giant's-bones," are some recent thigh-bones, with which in thickness the foregoing pretty nearly correspond, although they are shorter.
|
|
Giant's bones.
|
|
Fossil bones.
|
|
|
mm.
|
|
mm.
|
Length, ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
|
542
|
=
|
21⋅4"
|
.
|
438
|
=
|
17⋅4".
|
Diameter of head of femur, ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
|
54
|
=
|
2⋅14"
|
.
|
53
|
=
|
2⋅0".
|
„of lower articular end,
from one condyle to the other, ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
|
89
|
=
|
3⋅5"
|
.
|
87
|
=
|
3⋅4".
|
„of femur in the middle, ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
|
33
|
=
|
1⋅2"
|
.
|
30
|
=
|
1⋅1".
|
2. A perfect right humerus, whose size shows that it belongs to the thigh-bones.
|
|
mm.
|
Length, ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
|
312
|
=
|
12⋅3".
|
Thickness in the middle, ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
|
26
|
=
|
1⋅0".
|
Diameter of head, ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
|
49
|
=
|
1⋅9".
|
Also a perfect right radius of corresponding dimensions, and the upper-third of a right ulna corresponding to the humerus and radius.
3. A left humerus, of which the upper-third is wanting, and which is so much slenderer than the right as apparently to belong to a distinct individual; a left ulna, which, though complete, is pathologically deformed, the coronoid process being so much enlarged by bony growth, that flexure of the elbow beyond a right angle must have been impossible; the anterior fossa of the humerus for the reception of the coronoid process being also filled up with a similar bony growth. At the same time, the olecranon is curved strongly downwards. As the bone presents no sign of rachitic degeneration, it may be supposed that an injury sustained during life was the cause of the anchylosis. When the left ulna is compared with the right radius, it might at first sight be concluded that the bones respectively belonged to different individuals, the ulna being more than half an inch too short for articulation with a corresponding radius. But it is clear that this shortening, as well as the attenuation of the left humerus, are both consequent upon the pathological condition above described.
4. A left ilium, almost perfect, and belonging to the femur; a fragment of the right scapula; the anterior extremity of a rib of the right side; and the same part of a rib of the left side; the hinder part of a rib of the right side; and, lastly, two short hinder portions and one middle portion of ribs, which, from their unusually rounded shape, and abrupt curvature, more resemble the ribs of a carnivorous animal than those of a man. Dr. H. v. Meyer, however, to whose judgment I defer, will not venture to declare them to be ribs of any animal; and it only remains to suppose that this abnormal condition has arisen from an unusually powerful development of the thoracic muscles.
