A20 Progress of Foreign Science. 



ing it would undergo no more alteration in its specific character, 

 than if it passed through an apparatus of simple capillary vessels. 

 Every aliquot portion of this fluid would therefore induce, in the cir- 

 culating mass, a change at first entirely inappreciable ; but at the 

 end of a certain period, a multitude of impressions of a like kind 

 having ensued, it might be presumed, with some reason, that the 

 blood would resemble, in whole, or in part, the fraction which flows 

 in the ordinary state to the secretory organ. It might then be easily 

 submitted to analysis, and its composition be compared with that 

 of the same liquid in its regular condition. 



At the first view, it seems difficult to neutralize the action of a 

 secretory organ; and whatever measures be adopted for the pur- 

 pose, they will always be open to criticism. The removal of the 

 organ puts an end to all these objections, and fulfils perfectly the 

 above conditions. M. Richerand examined the effects produced 

 by the ligature of the ureters, and he found that the secretion of 

 urine continued; that these canals became gorged, as well as the 

 kidneys, and that a general affection, to which he gave the name 

 of urinary fever, soon supervened, the necessary consequence of 

 ■which was death, at the end of a few days. But this operation 

 leaves us in doubt, whether the urine was formed, and then re-ab- 

 sorbed, or if the kidney discharged its functions in only a partial 

 manner. He next proceeded to the removal of the kidneys, which 

 afforded him some singular results. If only one be removed, the 

 animal is not affected; but whenever both these organs come to 

 fail at the same time, it sinks under a pathological influence, 

 which terminates in a fatal manner after a few days. The gall- 

 bladder is found, on dissection, to be gorged ; and this secretion 

 seems to M. Richerand to replace, in these circumstances, the 

 action of the kidneys. In repeating experiments of this kind, 

 MM. Prevost and Dumas operated chiefly on dogs and cats, as 

 rabbits supported the operation very ill ; which in other respects 

 presents no real difficulty. A lean animal is selected, and an 

 incision is made through the integuments of the abdomen, which 

 commencing at the inner third (tiers internes) of the last rib, and 

 some lines below it, extends more or less, according to the size of 

 the animal, along the internal edge of the quadratus lumborum 

 muscle. The index of the left hand is introduced into the wound, 

 taking care not to pierce through the peritoneum. The kidney is 

 gently detached from its adhesions, and extracted by means either 

 of a hook, or polypus forceps. It is now separated from the 

 body, having previously fixed a ligature round its vessels. A few 

 stitches of a suture restore the divided muscles into contact, and 

 prevent all danger of hernia. The skin is stitched in the same 

 way. 



When we wish to observe the physiological phenomena which 

 follow the removal of the kidneys, it is better to cut out first the 



