VOL. XIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 567 



into the intestine, arises from the top of the bladder; so gently descending passes 

 through that part which Charas takes for the pancreas (d) ; but which the an- 

 cients called the spleen, and so enters the beginning of the large intestine. 



Now I shall describe the kidneys. But I must first observe the fat which was 

 very plentiful, and is said by Nardus Anton. Recchus,* to be used by the phy- 

 sicians of Mexico with good success, in the sciatica and all pains of the limbs, 

 and for discussing preternatural tumors. The membrane it adhered to, I take 

 for the omentum ; which encompassed all parts contained in this lower belly ; 

 and was joined to both sides of the ribs, so running to the rectum, and form- 

 ing a bag that enveloped the parts here, but was free, and not conjoined towards 

 the belly. Ttie lower belly I call it to distinguish it from the rest of the trunk, 

 for the whole was but one continued cavity ; there being no partition of it by 

 any diaphragm ; and I have represented the parts contained here, in my 2d 

 figure, as the others are in the 1 st ; but proportionably much larger, as appears 

 by the descriptions. 



The two kidneys were about 7 inches long, and about -^ inch broad each; 

 though one continued body, yet plainly distinguishable into several smaller 

 kidneys, as I remember in one I numbered 1 5, but also very curiously contrived, 

 and with so much beauty, that I want words to express what the pencil could 

 not imitate, much less can be represented in a print. I shall therefore in my 

 description, the better to help out and illustrate my meaning, have a constant 

 reference to the figures ; which being anxious to make as well as might be, I 

 «pent so much time, that I had not an opportunity of satisfying my curiosity in 

 all respects (the parts drying) as I desired; but I observed, as likewise several 

 others who viewed them, when first taken out of the body, that the whole seemed 

 a delicate compages of vessels, and the intermixture of those of the blood with 

 those other white ones, that are the secretory, composed most regularly 

 formed bodies. In my figures, that on the left side (fig. 2,) represents the upper 

 surface of the kidney, which appears first in the dissection; the other, the lower 

 side which lies to the back; in both there are two large blood vessels running 

 down each side ; one marked (n, n, n, fig. 2.) the other, where the vas deferens 

 runs ; but is not here represented ; and from these arise several lesser branches 

 (o, o, o, fig. 2.) at set distances, which curiously spreading themselves form 

 as it were ramifications of trees. As many as there were of these emulgent 

 vessels (for so I take them to be) so many kidneys were in each ; the interstices 

 (p, p, p, fig- 2.) of these blood vessels were filled up with other white ones; 

 which I doubt not are for the secretion of the urine, and on this side appeared 



* Rerum Med. Novae Hispan. Hist, lib, 9. c. 17. p. 328.— Orig. 



