112 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [pEc. 11, 
of the same sex, and about of the same age and size, which 
these authors have described in their memoir on “The Anatomy 
of the Indian Elephant.’’* 
Such comparison of results obtained by the examination of 
similar individuals is all the more desirable, as the published ac- 
counts reveal much discrepancy in reference to a number of 
structures. More especially does this apply to the gross ana- 
tomy of the urinary organs. I beg, therefore, to present to the 
Section this evening the results of our observations on the kid- 
neys of our specimen, and to demonstrate the preparations con- 
sisting of a corrosion of the right ureter and renal artery, and of 
the alcoholic preparation of the left kidney. 
The kidneys of the Indian elephant occupy a marked retro-peri- 
toneal position opposite the thirteenth to the sixteenth rib, bear- 
ing vertebree. After removal of the other abdominal contents, 
the surface of the posterior abdominal wall at the site of the 
kidneys is entirely smooth, and even slightly concave forwards, 
in conformity with the curve of the surrounding abdominal 
parietes on each side of the vertebral prominence. 
The firm, thick and dense peritoneum stretches across the 
anterior surface of the organs, separated from them by a quan- 
tity of exceedingly firm and tough sub-peritoneal connective 
tissue, in which they lie imbedded, and which forms a promi- 
nent and characteristic feature of all the serous cavities of this 
species. 
The kidneys are placed nearly parallel with the vertebral 
column. The abdominal surfaces are turned slightly outwards, 
and the long axes converge somewhat at their anterior or ce- 
phalic extremities. 
The two kidneys were of nearly equal size, and presented a 
similar number and arrangement of lobes. The left kidney 
weighed 1066 gms., and measured 23.2 cm. in the greatest 
cephalo-caudal or antero-posterior,s 14 cm. in the greatest 
transverse, and of 7.3 cm. in the greatest dorso-ventral or ver- 
ticaldiameter. The caudal pole of the organ is somewhat greater 
in transverse and dorso-ventral measurement than the cephalic 
extremity. The hilus is at the centre of the vertebral border, oc- 
cupying the medial one-quarter of the central third of the ven- 
tral surface of the kidney. 
The main renal vein is placed dorsally, together with some 
smaller arterial branches. The main artery is situated ven- 
*L. C. Miall and F. Greenwood, ‘‘ Anatomy of the Indian Elephant.’”’ Studies 
in Comparative Anatomy, No. II., London, 1878. 
+ Measurements and directions refer to the site of the organs in the normal 
quadruped position. 
