THE VASCULAR GLAND. 469 



acceptance, and the accuracy of the histological data on which 

 they are grounded has been questioned, yet I hope to shew in 

 the sequel not only that Leydig's statements are in the main 

 true, but that development proves his conclusions to have been 

 well founded. 



Stannius alludes 1 to both these bodies, and though he does 

 not contribute much to Leydig's previous statements, yet he 

 accepts Leydig's position with reference to the relation of the 

 sympathetic and suprarenal bodies 2 . 



The general text-books of Histology, Kolliker's work, and 

 Eberth's article in Strieker's Histology, do not give much in- 

 formation on this subject; but Eberth, without apparently having 

 examined the point, questions the accuracy of Leydig's state- 

 ments with reference to the anatomical relations of the sympa- 

 thetic ganglia and suprarenal bodies. 



The last author who has dealt with this subject is Professor 

 Semper 8 . He records observations both on the anatomy and 

 development of these organs. His anatomical observations are 

 in the main confirmatory of those of Leydig, but he shews still 

 more clearly than did Leydig the segmental arrangement of the 

 suprarenal bodies. He definitely regards the interrenal and 

 suprarenal bodies as parts of the same system, and states that 

 in many forms they are continuous (p. 228) : 



" Hier freilich gehen sie bei manchen Formen...in einen 

 Korper iiber, welcher zwischen den Enden d. beiden Nieren 

 liegend dicht an der einfachen Caudalvene sitzt." 



With reference to their development he says : " They arise 

 then also completely independently of the kidneys, as isolated 

 segmentally arranged groups of mesoderm cells between the con- 

 volutions of the segmental organs ; only anteriorly do they stretch 

 beyond them, and extend quite up to the pericardium." 



To Semper's statements I shall return, but now pass on to 

 my own observations. The paired suprarenal bodies are dealt 

 with first. 



1 Vergleichende Anatomie, II. Auflage. 



2 Stannius' description is not quite intelligible, but appears to point to the ex- 

 istence of a third kind of body connected with the kidney. From my own observations 

 (vide above), I am inclined to regard it as probable that such a third body exists. 



:i " Urogenitalsystem d. Plagiostomen." Arb. zool. zoot. fnst. z. lViirzburg,Vo\.\\. 



