New-York tribune., 1874-01-28
AUTOPSY OF AGASSIZ.

CAUSES OF THE DEATH or THE GREAT NATURALIST
DISEASE AND DISTRACTIONS OF THE ARTERIES
or THE BRAIN - PROBABLE ORIGIN OF TIE DIS
EASE IN THE arteries OF THE HEART.
fpaoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TRGBUSE.l
Boston, Jan. 26 DIR. Morrill, Wyman of Cam
bridge has concluded his work the autopsy Of
Prof. Agassz. and makes the following report:
This autopsy, made in the interests of science is
in accordance with the wishes of the great natur-
alst, expressed several years ago.
CAMBRIDGE, Dec. 10. 1S73.-Autopsy by Drs. r. II.
Fitz and J. j. Putnam; present, Drs. J. b. s. Jack
son, J. Wyman, C. Ellis, NJ Wyman, 8. e. Webber
Frame large Fat tissue abundant. Uranium,
brachycephalc falling off abruptly from the middle
of the sagittal suture. Greatest anterO-posterior
diameter 197 midi met; greatest lateral diameter,
163 mill met; these measurements made before the
removal of the skin. Depth of frontal bone, meas
ured externally at the median line 81 inches=135 III.
M; length of sagttal suture, inches=12S IN. m.
The walls of the skull were thick and heavy; the
dura mater exceedingly adherent to the bone and
remarkably thick. The pia mater moderately trans
parent. Along the arachnoid veins white lines
indicating chronic thckening; the veins themselves
rather more injected than usual The cerebral sulci
were deep and wide. On each side of the median
line, near the anterior ascending convoution on the
the left and the posterior ascending cOnvolutOn
IL. -
q prune-stone r a little more. The brain tissue
around was diminished without evidence of
disease. The arteries at the base of the brain
showed evidence of extensive chronic disease Of
their lining membrane, with narrowing Of the
calber Of the carotids. The basilar artery
was apparently continuation Of the left vertebral
alone, the right vertebral being represented by an
exceedingly small vessel which united the basar
with the inferior cerebrellar the latter being merely
the proOngatiOn of the exceedingly small right ver-
tebral. The left vertebral was larger than usual,
larger even than the basilar. In these unusually
arranged arteries were very important changes.
Commencing at an inch below the anterior edge Of
the Pons Varoli and extending downward, the walls
of the left vertebral artery stiff, in part calc
fed and its Innings loose. AT half an inch from the
point just mentioned. Immediately over the left
olivary body was reddish-yellow, Opaque, friable
plug thrombus completely obstructing the vessel;
still lower was another more recent, but probably
ants-mortem, plug. The first was one quarter Of an
inch long, the second four inches long. A third
plug an inch long, was above the first and touch
ingit. Opposite the middle Of the pons there was
athermatous degeneration of the basilar artery
The walls Of the internal carotids also in part
calcihed. The posteror part of the right cerebrear
lobe the side on which the vertebral artery was ex
ceedngly smalD was softer than usual. the cor
responding foliations swollen and indistinctly de-
fined indicating disease of this part, probably con-
sequences of the changes in the arteries.
The weight of the entire brain was 53.4 avoirdu-
pos ounces==1 1876 grammes; allowing dimiDution
in the weight of the brain from the age Of $50
years. at the rate of one avordupois for each
10 years elapsed the greatest weight of the brain
may be estimated at sos avoirdupois ounces.
Weight Of right anterior lobe (separated with the
fissure of Rolando for guide 23i grammes; weight
of left anterior lobe 2SS grammes. Heart large,
cuar fiber firm and of good color. The attached por
ton of the aortic valves rigid the mtral opening
large In the left ventricle at the lower third firm
organized clot of the size of peach stone attached
TO the wall at the anterior portion near the septum
around this clot more recent one had formed, its
center softened and granular. From this probably,
some small portions had been carried by the blood
TO the arteries in the base of the brain, doing their
part in obstructing them and causing the fatal
changes above described. The lining membrane Vt
the heart where the cot was attached, was much
thickened and the muscular layer at the same part
very thn tho apex not visible to the naked eye
Tho lungs were adhorent 10 the ribs on both sides
of the chest, the evidence of old inbaumations.
Tho othor oIgAas wero healthy.