Surgical Report on a Skeleton found in the Crypt of Canterbury Cathedral (1888)

258 SUBGICAL BBPOET ON A SKELETON EOUND IN I t was in firm articulation with both Parietals along its superior borders. There was no foramen magnum, nor any portion of the bone anterior to a line drawn from the posterior margin of the foramen magnum to the jugular processes. Of the two Parietals (the bones forming the upper halves of the sides, and the hinder portion of the crown, of the head), the left was the most perfect. It was in close union with its fellow, with the Prontal, as far as the coronal suture, and with the Occipital. The right Parietal was much smaller than the left on account of a piece missing, which was broken off just above the temporal ridge, and 1 to 1\ inches outside the sagittal suture. It measured according to the aperture in the skull 2£ inches by l£ to l i inches. The fracture across the crown of the skull has evidently been caused very recently, probably during the removal of the bones from the Crypt. This was the case in the fracture of the left Pemur, The Prontal bone (forehead) formed a continuous brow, extending from one external angular process to the other. The right half of the Prontal is almost perfect, but the left, 2 inches above the orbit, is broken into pieces. The right temporal bone, in which the ear is situated, consisted of its petrous, mastoid, and the greater part of its squamous portion, the latter with its zygomatic process, but only a piece of the squamous portion of the left Temporal was found. The bones of the body and limbs gave the idea of great strength. The rough places on the bones, where the muscles were inserted, especially on the arm and leg bones, were larger and rougher than is usually met with in skeletons. The Clavicles (collar bones) were thick and rough, and each measured 6i inches. The arm and leg bones also appeared thicker in their circumference, especially the Femurs (thighs) than are ordinarily seen. They measured in length as follows:—Bight Humerus (arm), 13£ inches; left, 13£. Bight Badius (forearm), 9H; left, 9£. Ulna (outer bone of forearm), 10J. Eemur (thigh), from notch between outer and inner condyles to upper border of neck, 17| inches; from bottom of internal condyle to top of great trochanter, I 8 | ; from same to top of head, 19£. Tibice (legs), 15|. Eibulce (outer bones of legs) were too much fractured for accurate measurements. Taking the length of the skeleton, on its right side, as it lay on the board, with the bones in an unbroken line, and in close order, from the plantar surface of the Os Galcis (heel) to the superior