13.2 SCROFULOUS ABSCESSES IN THE KIDNEYS. 
organs contained in these cavities a large amount of a 
liglitisli-gray coloured and curdy matter, which in some of 
the calices was in a more fluid condition than in others, hut 
in none of them had it any urinous smell. 
I next made a section through each kidney, which deve¬ 
loped a very unusual appearance of their structure. The 
cortical part was moderately firm, and of a pale-straw colour, 
but the tubular portion—which in the healthy organ is light 
in colour, excepting at the base of the cones—was of a dark- 
pink hue. No striae, taking a course in the long axis of the 
cones, as is faintly seen in the healthy organ, indicating the 
presence of tubes, could be detected in this instance. 
On examining the structure of the organs with the micro¬ 
scope, I failed to detect in the cortical portion either blood¬ 
vessels or even the convoluted commencements of the tubuli 
uriniferi. In the tubular portion, which, as before stated, was 
of a dark-pink colour, only a few tubes could be detected, and 
these were very much enlarged, and so fully crammed with 
epithelial cells as to be rendered impervious. The curdy matter 
in their interior, as far as I could make out, was chiefly com¬ 
posed of pus-cells, some large and irregularly shaped nu¬ 
cleated cells, and a quantity of granular matter. I also 
noticed a few fat-vesicles, and some free oil-particles; and at 
the inner edge of the tubular portion I detected a few octo- 
hedral crystals, which I considered to be oxalate of lime. 
Not being quite satisfied with my own examination, and 
with a view of being the better enabled to speak of the true 
character of the disease, I sent a portion of one of the kid¬ 
neys to Dr. Gr. Harley, Professor at University College, who 
wrote me in reply. 
After the receipt of Dr. Harley's note, a mutual friend, 
who was with him at the time he examined the specimen, 
called on me, and more fully informed me of the views the 
doctor had taken in reference to the nature of the disease. 
He also brought me some sections of both the cortical and 
tubular portions of the kidney, which he had himself pre¬ 
pared for Dr. Harley's examination. They were better spe¬ 
cimens than I had been able to prepare; and although I 
did not detect in them anything which I had not previously 
seen, yet the abnormal products and the changes in the 
structure of the organ were much clearer and better 
defined. 
In the last number of the Veterinarian I suggested the 
advisability of paying more attention to the character of the 
urine of our patients than has hitherto been done. In the 
case in question, had the urine been examined, I have no 
