EXTRACTS AND ABSTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 171 



assertion, that the tips of the hair are capable of being more or less 

 perfectly reproduced ; and lastly, by examining the development of the 

 hairs in the embryos of the dog and calf, he has ascertained that his 

 observations on the pig hold good with reference to other animals. 

 Heft. 4. Transl. in Lond. and E din. Med. Journ. 1841, 



[From the Annales des Sciences Naturelles, 1841.] 



Lallemand on detecting Spermatic Animalcules. M. Lallemand enters 

 at some length into the pathological conditions connected with the 

 evolution of spermatic animalcules in man, and points out the mode by 

 which they may be detected under a variety of circumstances, a few 

 abstract notices of which we subjoin : After every discharge of the 

 fluid, there remains always sufficient in the urethra for microscopic ex- 

 amination, a single drop of which affords myriads of animalcules in 

 active motion ; and as the fluid evaporates from between the plates of 

 glass, the addition of water of the temperature of the body, renders 

 their movements more free. M. L. also finds that the animalcules are 

 always found in a living state in the urethra, some time after the act of 

 coition ; and recommends that the first drop of urine should be collected 

 on a piece of glass, in order to view them in the best manner, as the 

 warmth and dilution of the secretion by the urine, favour much the 

 rapidity of their motions. The fluid so obtained is frequently mixed 

 with mucus, prostratic fluid, and portions of epithelium. This test has 

 been found of considerable importance to the physician, 



Out of thirty-three subjects which M. L. examined after death, he 

 only met with two cases in which he could detect the spermatic animal- 

 cules in the gland ; the one died subsequent to a fall on the previous 

 day, and the other of acute gastro-enteritis. 



The microscope affords a very ready method of determining the nature 

 of secretions from the urethra, though they become dried on linen. 

 If a spot be supposed to be that of semen, and if it contained at the 

 time of its emission spermatic animalcules, by moistening the same with 

 water they are found to regain their former or original state, even after 

 some years, and to possess the aspect and odour characteristic of the 

 secretion. They may also be detected in urine, when the semen is 

 voided with that fluid ; in such cases they are to be found at the 

 bottom of the vessel in which their presence is supposed, and if any 

 mucus be present, on the surface of that substance. 



[Those of our readers who may be further interested in this sub- 

 ject, are referred to the original memoir of M. Lallemand, as given 

 in full in the January and February numbers for the present year.] 



Glilge's method of detecting Urea in the Blood, after the removal of the 

 Kidneys. By the aid of the microscope, this observer can detect the 

 presence of urea in the blood ; for, says he, " Urea in its pure and crys- 

 tallized state, forms fine needle-shaped, shining, or very slender quadri- 

 lateral prisms. After the kidneys were removed from rabbits, I ex- 



