37G 
ON CALCULI, SiC, 
* The poor animal having now for some time continued to lose 
flesh considerably, and there being no probability of amendment, 
I determined to finish the business by a post-mortem examina¬ 
tion. I opened the jugular, and destroyed her by blowing air 
into the vein. 
‘As the symptoms indicated, the urinary apparatus was at fault: 
the rest of the viscera were healthy. 
‘ On removing the intestines, the first thing that struck me was, 
the disproportionate size of the kidneys ; and what rendered this 
disproportion still greater was, that disease had produced con¬ 
trary effects upon them. The kidney of the left side was greatly 
enlarged, while that of the other side was reduced far below its 
ordinary dimension. On cutting into the right kidney, I found 
in its pelvis a calculus which weighed an ounce and a half, and 
throughout the tubular substance of the gland there were several 
other small calculi, weighing from a scruple to a drachm. 
^ To give to a person who had not seen the case a clear idea of 
the marks of disease which the kidney presented, is very difficult. 
Most of the tubuli uriniferi were enlarged into cysts, containing 
a mixture of sand, urine, and pus. The tubuli which were not 
enlarged (but these were few) contained the same. I cannot de¬ 
scribe the parenchymatous substance of the kidney otherwise 
than by saying, that it was rotten, and crumbled down between 
the fingers. The left kidney, which was the enlarged one, was 
not so much changed in its internal structure as the other ; but 
still the same mixture of sand, urine, and pus, was found in it as 
in the other, but not any calculi of consequence. In one part of 
it there was a collection of very thick pus, without any mixture, 
to the extent of about two ounces. 
‘ I am convinced, from what I saw, that the mare could not 
have lived long, and that she would have died in consequence of 
downright emaciation. I am also convinced that the whole 
complaint was situated in the kidneys, and that it commenced 
there ; that it was impossible to cure it; and that applications to 
the urinary bladder were absolutely futile. 
‘ How far the disease of the kidney might be owing to diathesis 
or constitutional causes, I will not pretend to say ; though I am 
rather inclined to think that the formation of sand, or calculi, is 
in consequence of the operation of causes of a general or consti¬ 
tutional nature. The presence of calculi in the kidney is the 
local development of a general tendency. 
* If the present case be anywise gratifying to you, my purpose 
is served, and I am, 8vc. 
‘ Adam Pope.’ 
