Calculus found in a Tumour hi the left Hypochondria. 151 



wrapped, had no more effect than distilled water on paper co- 

 loured by curcuma. How could M. Sementini bring himself to 

 publish this observation before having repeated the experiment, 

 and taken all means of ascertaining the purity of the substances 

 which he employed, or rather to reproduce the accidental com- 

 position which had produced the phienomenon ? 



"If it be true, as the iUustrious Bergman observes, that Na- 

 ture never conducts more securely to discoveries than when she 

 presents us with facts which are in complete opposition to our 

 opinions, it is not by precipitate judgements founded upon slight 

 observations that truths are demonstrated." 



DESCRIPTION OF A CALCULUS FOUND IN A TUMOUR IN THE 

 J,EFT HYPOCHONDRIA. 



M. Penada, an Italian surgeon, has published in the Memoirs 

 of the Italian Society of Sciences the following : — " The calculus 

 existed in a female fifty years of age, and came out through an 

 nicer which was formed in tlie tiunour. It was j)recisely of the 

 shape of a hen's egg: the colour was dark gray, and its surface 

 granulated and sluigreened. On removing the external coating, 

 the calcuhis presented a lamcllated structure and a bright yellow 

 colour: its consistency was compact, but not very hard ; and it 

 weighed in all one ounce two drachms. When thrown into wa- 

 ter before opening it, it floated for a few seconds, and then fell 

 to the bottom of the liquid, giving out some air bubbles. 



" It was cut into two parts parallel to its axis : interiorly it 

 presented from ten to twelve concentric layers, which decreased 

 gradually in thickness, analogous to walnut-tree wood. These 

 layers were se])arJited by a black streak around a circle of a deep 

 yellow, wliich diminished in breadth as it approached the centre, 

 and the sm-face of which uas as brilliant as marble or highly 

 polished wood. In the centre of these ellipses a perfectly sphe- 

 rical l)ody was remarked, of a fine white, formed of a substance 

 less compact than the rest of the calculus; of a crystalline scaly 

 texture, and having nearly the form and consistence of the cry- 

 stalline of a bull's-eye coagulated by heat. This nucleus was 

 surrounded by a black circle more deeply poloured than the 

 ellipses just mentioned." 



On the chemical analysis of this calculus, Professer Melandri 

 of Padua obtained the following results : 



" The central substance, or white micleus, was entirely soluble 

 in ether, crystallizable and cctmbu^tible ; when thrown upon red- 

 hot coals, it emitted t!ie smell of incense. Tiic cortical part 

 was only partially soluble in alcohol and ether. The soluble part 

 crystallized, and burned with a white flame and a smell of wax. 

 Thc' insoluble part burned with the smell of animal matter, Pro- 



K 4 fcssor 



