Veröffentlichungen aus der Konstitutions- und Wehrpathologie

This small paper-covered monograph is a careful study of a rare congenital fetal malformation, the sireniformen fetus (sympodia, sirenomelia) in which there is a complete or partial fusion of the lower limbs. The term sireniformen, which Ballantyne says is less acceptable than sympodia, refers to a fabulous creature, the siren. The author reports twelve specimens which have been collected over a period of years. He has made a careful study of these monstrosities and has catalogued the various deformities. The whole pelvis is malformed in most of the fetuses. The sacral and coccygeal vertebrae may be defective or excessive in number and the tip of the spinal column may be directed backward, to one side or even upward, which may account for the occasional presence of a chordaform projection in the sacral region. The lower limb represents all degrees between complete fusion of the constituent bones, muscles, vessels and nerves