DISEASES OF POULTRY. 137 



ed into three quite distinct -Jobes, e^ach lobe connecting 

 with the ureter. The texture of the kidneys is much more 

 frail than in mammalia, readily yielding under the 

 pressure of the finger. The lobes are made up of lob- 

 ules having somewhat the appearance of the convolu - 

 tions of the brain. The uriniferous tubes do not 

 empty into a cavity or pelvis in the interior of the 

 kidney as with mammals, but unite upon the surface 

 of the gland to form the ureter. 



The ureters are continued along the surface of the 

 kidney towards the inner side, being here and there 

 imbedded in its substance, presenting a series of dila - 

 tations corresponding to the principal lobes, and re- 

 ceiving the branches of the uriniferous tubes as they 

 pass along. Beyond the kidneys the ureters pass behind 

 the cloaca, penetrate its walls, and, finally, end in val- 

 vular eminences in the lower part of the cloaca. 

 The urine as secreted is very thick having the color and 

 •consistency of cream, being composed almost entirely 

 of uric acid. It dries to a chalky paste in the cloaca 

 from which it is expelled with the faeces. The excre- 

 ment of birds, as is well known, is composed of two 

 distinct portions, one white and the other of variabla 

 color. The former is the secretion of the kidneys, and 

 the latter is the residue of alimentary matters which 

 has passed through the intestines. 



PARENCHYMATOUS NEPHRITIS, INFLAMMATION OF 

 THE KIDNEYS. 



A case of this disease is recorded by Megnin as hav- 

 ing occurred in a l^angshan pullet, seven months old. 

 The symptoms were evident suffering in the vicinity 

 of the kidneys. The bird remained continually lying 

 upon its abdomen, only occasionally rising with diffi- 

 culty in order to eat. Th^ postmortem examination re- 



