53 



apex ; its length 2 feet 4 inches, its basal circumference about 7 

 inches. When blown up it formed a spiral turn and a half. Tlie 

 large intestines at their commencement were about 7 inches in circum- 

 ference, the decrease being gradual. The lining membrane of the 

 colon formed a series of regular longitudinal strix, gradually disap- 

 pearing as the intestine narrowed, until at length they finally disap- 

 peared. The colon in its course followed the circular sweep of the 

 cceciim to which it was attached by a riband of mesentery l^- inch 

 in breadth. 



At about two feet from its origin the colon merges into a flat layer 

 of circular folds, the intestine making four distinct gyrations ; from 

 this part to the anus the intestine measured 9 feet 3 inches. 



The circular fold above noticed is analogous to the long loose 

 fold observed in the same parts of the intestine in other Rodentia, 

 as the Coypus, and Capromys, and which is noticed in the respective 

 accounts of the dissection of those animals in the Zoological Pro- 

 ceedings. 



At a little distance above these circular folds, and throughout 

 the remainder of the intestinal canal, thefceces assumed a knotted 

 character. 



The liver formed a right and left portion ; the right portion was 

 divided into two parts, of which the innermost was the smallest ; 

 the left portion was divided into four nearly equal lobuli ; between 

 the first and second of which (reckoning from the centre) projected 

 the gall bladder, very large, and distended with bile of a dark green 

 colour ; its shape was oval, being 2^ inches long, but it was evidently 

 over-distended. On turning up the liver a large hepatic duct was seen 

 running from its base, for the length of an inch, to join the cystic duct, 

 nearly 2 inches from the origin of the latter ; the common duct thus 

 formed was 1|- inch in length, and terminated at the neck of the 

 duodenal sac 2| inches from the pyloric orifice. 



The spleen of a prismatic figure, 2^ inches long, was somewhat 

 closely adherent to the cardium ; its colour was dark. Spreading 

 in the mesenteric membrane below the stomach, and between this, 

 the spleen, and the duodenal fold, lay the pancreas, a large foliaceous 

 gland of an irregular figure. 



The vena porta was large and gorged with blood. 



The kidneys were nearly in a parallel line with each other; their 

 figure was elongated, (being 3 inches in length by one in breadth at 

 the middle,) and at their upper apex, internally, lay the renal cap- 

 sules, long cyhndrical bodies, of an ochreous colour, and extending 

 to the emulgent vessels. 



The right kidney lay much closer to the vena porta than did 

 the left ; the vena porta in fact passed over the renal capsule on the 

 right side, while the upper apex of the kidney was in contact with 

 it. The length of the renal capsules was 1^ inch, their figure vermi- 

 form. 



There was no marked line of division between the cortical and 

 medullary substances of the kidney. The urinary tubuli converged 

 into three obtuse papilla ; the pelvis was very small. 



