58 
MR. BOWMAN ON THE STRUCTURE AND USE OF 
Huschke* and Muller-^- are the only modern anatomists who have entered at 
length into this question, and they both deny that there is any connection between 
the Malpighian bodies and the uriniferous ducts. The assertions of Muller, in 
particular, are so positive, and are reiterated in so pointed a manner, that nothing 
but the most clear demonstration of their erroneous nature would have induced me 
to uphold an opposite opinion;}:. 
I was led to the examination of these bodies in the course of an inquiry into the 
ultimate structure of the true glands, in which I have been engaged for the last two 
years. I had frequently injected them from the artery, but had never inspected them 
under high powers of the microscope, until they arrested my attention while exami- 
ning the structure of the uriniferous tubes. These tubes consist of an external tunic 
of transparent homogeneous tissue (which I have termed the basement membrane), 
lined by epithelium. The Malpighian bodies I saw to be a rounded mass of minute 
vessels invested by a cyst or capsule § of precisely similar appearance to the basement 
membrane of the tubes. Seeing these similar tissues in such close proximity, it was 
not easy to resist the conviction that the capsule was the basement membrane of the 
tubes expanded over the vessels, but, after many trials, I could not at that time suc- 
ceed in gaining an unequivocal view of their continuity. All that I could accom- 
plish was to perceive here and there an ambiguous approach to such an arrangement, 
sufficient to make it appear probable. 
I should perhaps have relinquished the idea thus presented to my mind, had not 
accident again drawn me to it. Having, during last summer, been made acquainted, 
through the kindness of Dr. Milne Edwards, with a new method of injection em- 
ployed with great success by M. Doyere of Paris j|, I injected some kidneys through 
the artery, by this method, in order to notice the nature of the vascular ramifications 
in the Malpighian bodies. I not only found what I sought, but the clearest evi- 
* Huschke, Ueber die Textur der Nieren. Isis, 1828, p. 561. 
t Joh. Muller, de Glandularum secernentium structura penitiori. Lipsise, 1830, lib. x. 
X Huschke says (quoted by Muller), “These corpuscles (Malpighian bodies) are without any connection 
with the uriniferous ducts. For these most distinctly terminate by free blind extremities, while the Malpighian 
bodies, everywhere scattered in the interstices of the tortuous uriniferous ducts, are only connected with the 
blood-vessels.” — Muller, loc. cit., p. 87. 
Muller says, “Attamen certissimum est, ex vasis sanguiferis, ductus uriniferos plane nunquam usquam 
repleri, massamque injectam ne quidem laceratione in tubulos uriniferos prorumpere,” op. cit., p. 98. “Fines 
ductuum uriniferorum in corpora Malpighiana desinere, certissime falsa assertio est,” p. 95. “Falsissima est 
opinio de connexu ullo quopiam inter corpora Malpighiana sanguifera, et ductuum uriniferorum fines,” p. 95. 
And other passages equally strong might be quoted. 
§ First particularly pointed out by Muller, who conceives it to be perfectly closed, except at one point 
where perforated by the vessels. 
|| This consists of two fluids which mingle in the small vessels, and cause a precipitation there. The best 
fluids are saturated solutions of bichromate of potass and of acetate of lead. They are injected in succession 
through the same vessel, whence the method is termed that by double injection. Krause published an account 
of it two years ago, but M. Doyere appears to have arrived at it after a laborious trial of numerous solutions. 
Both deserve the thanks of anatomists for so valuable an addition to the means of investigation. 
