Curvature Of The Vertebral Column backward presents itself either as an arching of its dorsal portion, a morbid excess of the natural curve in that region (excurvation of Bampfield), or in the form of the hump, - kyphosis, gibbus (angular curvature, angular projection of Bampfield). The former is a common occurrence in old age, or in consequence of mollities ossium; the latter, which is more the subject at present under consideration, is produced almost always by inflammation and caries, but sometimes by fracture of the bodies of the vertebrae, or by inflammation and suppuration of the intervertebral bodies. With occasional exceptions we may say, with Meckel, that this curvature is more important in proportion as there are fewer vertebrae affected, though the greatest curvatures are those in which whole vertebrae on the bent side are destroyed in considerable numbers, and those which remain are united to one another.

The most common situation of the disease is the lower dorsal and upper lumbar regions, though it does occur also in the upper dorsal, and even in the cervical and the lowest part of the spine.

Not unfrequently the lateral halves of the diseased vertebrae are destroyed unequally: the upper part of the column will then incline to one side.