238 VASCULAR SYSTEM AND VASCULAR GLANDS. 



pp. 71, 72, he gives an account of the position and histology 

 of what is probably my interrcnal body\ 



The position and relations of the interrenal body vary some- 

 what according to Leydig in different cases. He makes the fol- 

 lowing statement about its histology. " Fat molecules form the 

 chief mass of the body, which causes its white, or ochre-yellow 

 colour, and one finds freely embedded in them clear vesicular 

 nuclei." He then proceeds to state that this structure is totally 

 dissimilar to that of the Mammalian suprarenal body, and gives 

 it as his opinion that it is not the same body as this. In his 

 later researches^ he abandons this opinion, and adopts the 

 view that the interrenal body is part of the same system as 

 the suprarenal bodies to be subsequently spoken of. Leydig 

 describes the suprarenal bodies as paired bodies segmentally 

 arranged along the ventral side of the spinal column situated 

 on the successive arterise axillares, and in close connection 

 with one or more sympathetic ganglia. He finds them formed 

 of lobes, consisting of closed vesicles full of nuclei and cells. 

 Numerous nerve-fibres are also described as present. With 

 reference to the real meaning of these bodies he expresses a 

 distinct view. He says^, "As the pituitary body is an integral 

 part of the brain, so are the suprarenal bodies part of the 

 sympathetic system." He re-affirms with still greater emphasis 

 the same view in his Fische u. Reptilien. Though these views 

 liave not obtained much acceptance, and the accuracy of the 

 histological data on which they are grounded has been ques- 

 tioned, yet I hope to shew in the sequel not only that Leydig's 

 statements are in the main true, but that development proves 

 his conclusions to have been well founded. 



Stannius alludes^ to both these bodies, and though he does 



1 I do not feel sure that Leydig's unpaired suprarenal body is really my 

 interrenal body, or at any rate it alone. The point could no doubt easily be 

 settled with fresh specimens, but these I unfortunately cannot at present obtain. 

 i\ry doubts rest partly on the fact that, in addition to my interrenal body, other 

 peculiar masses of tissue (which may be called lymphoid in lieu of a better 

 name) are certainly present around some of the larger vessels of the kidneys 

 which are not identical in structure and development Avith ray interrenal body, 

 and partly that Stannius' statements (to be alluded to directly) rather indicate 

 the existence of a second unpaired body in connection with the kidneys, 

 though I do not fully understand his descriptions. 



2 Fische u. BejMlien, p. 14. 

 ■^ Jiochcn u. Haic, p. 18. 



^ Verglcichende Anatomic, ii. Auflage. 



