URINARY CALCULI IN CATTLE. 
521 
must look as the source of the compound of iron met with 
in these calculi. 
The specimens in the Museum of the Royal Veterinary 
College, taken from the bladder of a cow, and which studded 
the lining membrane of that viscus, are similar in form and 
size to those given us by M. Leblanc ; but some of them are 
rough on the surface, and others smooth, and possess a 
pearly lustre. Many of them are very small, but ail beauti- 
fully perfect. 
On the Continent, we are informed, they are very com- 
monly met with, and they have not failed to awaken 
investigation among our professional brethren there. We 
are indebted to Mr. J. Gamgee for the following observations: 
It was in the Museum of the University of Pisa, that my 
attention was first directed to these bodies, never having seen 
anything of the sort in this country. On referring to the 
Archives of the U niversity, I found a long note on the subject, 
by Civinini, which had been published in the 6 Giornale dei 
Litterati,’ vol. xcv. The professor had been much puzzled 
to account for the metallic lustre, and with Vatel,* supposed 
it to be due to the presence of some metal, such as per- 
sulphuret of iron, gold, or a coating of sulphur, iron, mercury, 
antimony, or even tin ; preparations of all of which are used 
in veterinary medicine. Professor Guiseppe Branchi, having 
analysed the calculi, found that they consisted of carbonate 
of lime and animal matter. He is also at a loss to explain the 
gold or rather brass colour of their surface, and refers to 
Brugnatellif who says “ the calculi of the bladder in animals 
are not of the same nature as those of the urinary bladder 
of man. A calculus of the pig, handed me by Professor 
Scarpa, in the year 1799* I found to be made up of 
carbonate of lime.J Of the same nature are the golden 
calculi which are frequently found in the urinary bladder 
of oxen. I have lately received four hundred, all found 
in one single bladder, some are of the size of a pin’s head. 
The largest of the size of a hazel nut. They are formed of 
extremely delicate splendent layers. One hundred renal 
calculi of an ox I have also preserved in my numerous 
collection. These are of various sizes, but scarcely do they 
manifest in some part the golden splendour of the vesical 
calculi of the same animal.” Trying to give reasons for not 
being able to explain the gilt character in question, Branchi 
* ‘Elemens de Pathologie Veterinaire, 5 chapitre i. 
f ‘ Elementi di Chimica, 5 del Prof. L. V. Brugnatelli (Ediz di Pavia, del 
1838, p. 346). 
X See ‘ Annales de Chimie,’ vol. xxxii, p. 84. 
xxvm. 
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