_The cranial cavity._—For the examination of this part _Dr. Hutchinson_ has given us some very minute and valuable instructions, of which we shall avail ourselves. The cranial cavity, he observes, should be exposed, by making, in the first instance, an incision through the integuments of the skull, penetrating to the bone, from the root of the nose to the spinous process of the second or third cervical vertebra; another incision of the same kind should extend from one ear to the other, passing transversely over the summit of the head. Each of the four triangular portions of integuments thus formed, should then be detached from the cranium, beginning at their apex and terminating at their base. The temporal and occipital muscles should then be separated in a similar manner. After examining the state of the cranium, the bones may be removed by dividing the membranous connection between the parietal, frontal, temporal, and occipital bones, with scissars. This, however, should be done without lesion of the vessels of the brain, or of the venous sinuses; in order to avoid the lateral sinus which always contains fluid blood, and which is situated very near the mastoidean angle of the parietal bone, _Dr. Hutchinson_ directs the anatomist, when the point just indicated is approached, to deviate a little from the membrane, and to cut the parietal bone itself near its margin. In the first place, the view of the brain will afford presumptive evidence of its age; previous to the termination of the sixth month it will appear as a soft mass, equally white throughout its whole extent; in the eighth month the cerebral substance will have acquired more consistence, its interior will present a reddish colour, although its surface still remains white. The _pia mater_, which in the earlier stages seemed only to be over its surface, will now be found adherent to it; and some of those grooves and undulations become apparent, which afterwards constitute the circumvolutions. In pursuing the dissection of the brain, the practitioner must be careful in noting every morbid appearance, such as congestions, extravasations, &c., for the cause of death may have arisen from the injured structure of these parts. C. _The character of the spot in which the body was found_ will often afford presumptive evidence of considerable weight, but in availing ourselves of its indications, we must cautiously avoid the fallacies to which it may give origin; to some of which we shall have occasion to refer at a future period of the investigation. We next proceed to the consideration of the several problems involved in the second division of our inquiry, viz. II. _Whether, supposing the child to have been born alive, its death was the result of natural causes, of wilful violence, or of negligence and abandonment?_