134 and 135) a Swede of forty with congenital absence of osseous structure in the middle line of the sternum, leaving a fissure 5 3/8 X 1 3/16 X 2 inches, the longest diameter being vertical.

Madden also mentions several analogous instances on record.
Groux's case was in a person of forty-five, and the fissure had the vertical length of four inches.

Hodgen of St.Louis reports a case in which there was exstrophy of the heart through the fissure.

Slocum reports the occurrence of a sternal fissure 3 X 1 1/2 inches in an Irishman of twenty-five.

Madden also cites the case of Abbott in an adult negress and a mother.