4.16 THE SUPRARENAL CAPSULES. [sect. 194. 



uot yet ascertained (see my Micr. Anat.II., 2, p. 384). It is pro- 

 bable, that a more accurate chemical examination of the organ 

 might furnish more precise conclusions. Already we learn from 

 Vulpian of a substance obtained from the cortical substance, which 

 has a beautiful rose colour in its watery solution, and turns green 

 on the addition of the persalts of iron. According to this author, 

 hippuric and taurocholic acids also are to be found ; and Virchoiv, 

 besides confirming these statements, has established the presence 

 of leucin and lecithin (myelin Vireh.) in large quantities. 



For the investigation of the suprarenal capsules, those of the larger mam- 

 malian animals should first be chosen, and then those of man. The cortex 

 is easy to investigate when its elements contain little fat ; and fine perpen- 

 dicular sections of the body may be studied either in the fresh organ, or in 

 one that has been hardened in alcohol and chromic acid, and rendered clear 

 by acetic acid. The medullary substance breaks down very readily even in 

 animals, so that its elements are not at all, or are only partially visible in 

 their normal condition, still they may occasionally be very beautifully seen 

 without further trouble in the recent organs, as well as in chromic acid pre- 

 parations. The nerves are extremely easily found on fine sections of the 

 capsule in animals, after the addition of caustic soda ; and when the section 

 is made exactly at their place of entrance, their passage through the cortex 

 can be readily brought into view. In order to examine the vessels, injections 

 must be made (best in the sheep or sucking pig), which readily succeed, both 

 from the arteries and the veins, as these latter are not furnished with 

 valves. 



Literature. — Nagel, Diss, sistens ren. succ. mammal, descript., Berol, 1838; 

 and Mi)LL. Ar-chiv., 1836. C. Bergmann, Diss* dc glandulis suprarenal, c. tab., 

 Gott., 1839. A. Eckeb, Der feinere Bau der Nebewhieren bcim Menschen ui 

 den 4 Wirbeltkierclassen, Braunschweig, 1846 ; and Art. Blutgcfdssdrusen, 

 in Wagn. Handiv. d. Phtfs.,vol. iv., 1849. H. Frey, Art. Suprarenal Capsules, 

 in Todd's Cyclop, of Anat., Oct., 1849. Leydig, in Beitr. Z. Anat. de Rochcn, 

 etc., 1852; and in Anat. Unt. v. Fisehcn und Sept., 1853. B.Werner, De 

 Caps. Supraren., Dorp., 1857, Diss. Vulpian, in Gaz. Med., 1856, p. 676 ; and 

 1857, p. 84. Gaz. Held., 1857, p. 665. K. Virchow, Zur Chemie der Neben- 

 nieren, in Archie, xii., 1857, p. 481. G. Harley, The Histology of the Supra- 

 renal Capsules, Lancet, 5th and 12th June, 1858. 



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