Royal Society. 55 



mucous membrane, or even a plain surface — in its simplest form a 

 follicle ; but in the organs to be described it is a highly complicated 

 apparatus, composed of many parts, each possessing a peculiar func- 

 tion. It is an unvarying characteristic of these structures that the 

 elements of which they are composed always bear the same relation 

 to each other in position. An accompanying diagram exhibited the 

 type of a perfect gland, constituted of five elements and an ap- 

 pendage. 



1. The secreting element Red. 



2. The excretory element Blue. 



3. Th(e receptacle element Yellow. 



4. The cervix with its glandular appendage .... Purple. 



5. Tlie efferent duct Green. 



Sketches of the several glands of the human body accompanied the 

 paper, coloured in the same manner, so that the corresponding parts 

 might be seen at a glance. The elements are seldom wanting 

 though sometimes scarcely discernible in their rudimentary condi- 

 tion, and retained apparently only in conformity to typical law. 



There is great difference in degree of development of the elements. 

 The secreting part of the liver is of large size compared to the ducts, 

 whilst that of the generative organ in the female, namel3r, the ovarium, 

 is comparatively minute. Tlie appendage of the cervix is very large 

 in the biliferous ajjparatus, but scarcely discoverable in the stomach 

 and sigmoid flexure. The excretory duct in the digestive organ, 

 represented by a contraction across the middle of the stomach, is of 

 enormous length in the seminiferous gland, as the vas deferens. 



The po])ular terms being inexact or without meaning, it was 

 proposed to substitute for the ordinary names of the secreting 

 organs designations more aj>tly descriptive of their functions and 

 more in accordance with the principles of scientific nomenclature, as 

 follows : — 



The uriniferous gland. 

 The seminiferous gland. 

 The biliferous gland. 

 The pncumatiferous gland. 

 The intestinal gland. 

 The ovuliferous gland. 

 The lactiferous gland ; and 

 The digestive gland. 



The kidney, or uriniferous gland, presents an almost typical re- 

 gularity of dcvcloi)ment. The secreting element or cortical jjortion 

 IB composed of small convoluted tubes covered witli a net-work of 

 blood-vessels. 



The excretory duct or medullary structure arises from the cor- 

 tical j)art l)y numerous straight tubuli, which terminate in a duct 

 for the conveyance of the urine into 



The receptacle or bladder. This organ has a cervix lined with 



