amples of irregular outline and variation in size than were met with
in any other region of the body.

When the tracks penetrated the broad upper intercostal spaces, an
interesting feature, due to the tense and rigid nature of the muscles
closing the intervals, and their large admixture of fibrous tissue, was
sometimes noticed. The bullet, especially if passing obliquely, was apt
to cut a slit in the muscles far exceeding in size the opening in the
overlying integument, with the result of leaving a palpable subcutaneous
defect. Under these circumstances the yielding spot was often noticed to
rise and fall with the movements of respiration, external palpation met
with an absence of normal resistance, and there was impulse on coughing.

_Fractures of the ribs._--These injuries were produced in either
transverse or longitudinal coursing tracks, their special feature being
a sharp localisation of the lesion of the bone.

In tracks crossing the chest transversely the injury to the ribs might
consist in notching, perforation, or complete solution of continuity,
sometimes with fine comminution. In the incomplete injuries some
importance attached to the localisation of the lesion to the upper or
lower border of the rib, in so far as the intercostal artery was
concerned. Comminution at the wound of entry was, as a rule, not so
extensive as at the aperture of exit, and in any case was less apparent,
since the fragments were driven inward. The wider comminution at the
exit aperture depends on the lesser degree of support afforded by the
thoracic coverings to the convex outer surface of the rib, and on the
fact that the velocity of the bullet has been lowered by its passage
through the opposite rib and the chest cavity.

The splinters of comminuted ribs are small, and wide-reaching fissures
rare. These characters depend on the elastic nature of the resistance
offered by the curved rib to the passage of the bullet, which is
calculated to preserve the bone from the full force of impact, except at
the point actually impinged upon.

Fractures of the ribs, produced from within by bullets taking a
longitudinal course through the thorax, were still more special in
character. They were also more important, as giving rise to troublesome
symptoms.

In these, again, the degree of injury to the bones varied considerably.
In some cases the bones were merely grooved internally, without any
external deformity; in other cases a sort of green