[ 6 3 9 ] 
of matter do not appear to have deflrroyed any of the 
vital functions, fo it feems reafonable to believe that 
the immediate caufe of his death was a general inflam- 
mation and conlequential fphaceius in l'ome of the ab- 
dominal contents. 
Inftances of abfceffes formed in the kidneys from 
the lodgment of calculi are not unfrequent; but then 
the papillae of the kidneys being irritated and inflamed 
by the ftone, and in confequence thereof the fecretory 
tubes diffolved into matter, the fecretion is thereby 
deftroyed and a fuppreflion of urine always takes 
place in regard to that kidney. 
Two cafes are indeed mentioned, the one by 
euftachius, the other in the Mifceilanea curiofa, 
where the kidneys, in one of the iubjeCts, are 
faid to have been found putrid, in the other, fe- 
miputrid, and no calculus in either. Such cafes as 
thefe are very uncommon, and bear fome refem- 
blance to the cafe before us ; in which it is very re- 
markable, that though matter was intimately diftri- 
buted through every part of the kidneys, yet the tr.i- 
buli forming the urinary organs of fecretion remained 
found, and properly qualifyed to perform their fun- 
ctions, even till death; as appeared by the urine 
being drawn off every twelve hours, till near the 
time of the patients deceafe, and the bladder being 
found diftended with urine upon opening the body. 
Whereas in the cafe recorded in the Mifceilanea curi- 
ofa, after a total fuppreflion of urine, the bladder was 
found fmall and contracted, no urine having been 
excreted from the kidneys into it. 
That the matter did not in the prefent cafe infi- 
nuate into, or in any manner difturb, the urinaiy 
4 N fecrepon 
