118 "'^71 Proceedings of the Boy cd Physical Society. 



roses of the abdomen proper, as well as in contact with 

 the fibrous membrane which stretched across the mesial 

 plane, and united the anterior ends of the two pelvic or 

 innominate bones. In general outline the bladder was 

 fusiform and flattened. Its greatest length was rather more 

 than 10 cm. and its greatest width 3 cm. The anterior end 

 was sharply pointed, and from the apex so formed a solid 

 rounded cord-like structure — the obliterated urachus (allan- 

 tois) — could be distinctly traced forwards for a distance of 

 4 cm. towards the' umbilicus, occupying the ventral mesial 

 line, and situated between the linea alba and the parietal 

 peritoneum. Although this structure contained no lumen, 

 yet a pit seen in the mucous lining at the anterior pointed 

 end of the bladder indicated the original position of the 

 tubular prolongation. On each side of the bladder, the 

 hypogastric artery was seen approaching under cover of the 

 lateral false ligament, and distributing its vesical branches 

 prior to being continued forwards as the obliterated umbilical 

 artery. The wall of the bladder varied in thickness, measur- 

 ing 4 mm. immediately opposite the pelvic inlet, but being 

 thinner both at its apical and basal ends. The mucous 

 membrane lining the abdominal portion of the vesica was 

 thrown into well-marked longitudinal rugse, whereas in the 

 pelvic portion, and especially upon its ventral or pubic 

 aspect, as well as in relation to the area bounded by the 

 common orifice of the ureters and the outlet of the bladder, 

 the mucous lining was smooth. The outlet of the bladder 

 was situated upon the ventral aspect of the base. It opened 

 into the urethra, which was visible for a short distance 

 (3 mm.) as a rounded tube, prior to its disappearance within 

 the substance of the prostate gland. 



The large size of the kidneys, taken in conjunction with 

 the small size of the urinary bladder, forms a very interesting 

 subject for consideration. In the first place, it is evident 

 that the small size of the bladder must result in its being 

 quickly filled, and therefore the act of micturition must be 

 comparatively frequent. It can scarcely be owing to the 

 bodily configuration of the animal that its physiological 

 economy necessitates such an arrangement. It seems more 



