266. CHAPTER XIII. THE SUCCENTURIATE KIDNEYS.
HEISTER. "The succenturiate kidneys, called also capsulae atrabilariae, or glandulte renales, were first described by Eustachius. They are two yellowish, compressed glands, lying on the upper part of each kidney. They have a very narrow cavity, moistened with a brownish liquor of a sweetish taste. Their figure is irregular-square, triangular, oval, and company. Their size is various, but in adults they are about the size of a large nux vomica. In the foetus they are larger, and sonic-times exceed the kidneys themselves in magnitude. The membrane that surrounds them is very thin; it closely invests their glandular substance, and connects it with the kidneys. Their blood-vessels come sometimes from the aorta and vena cava, but more frequently from the emulgent vessels. Their nerves are from the renal plexus. Their lymphatic vessels are numerous. They have no known excretory duct, and their use therefore is not certainly ascertained; but they seem to be of more service to the foetus than to the adult. (Compy. Anat., n. 220.) The Academy of Bordeaux feeling that the use of these glands was so very obscure and uncertain, several years since offered a prize to any person who could discover it; but no one, so far as we yet know, has appeared who could claim the reward. Some little the after this, however, Valsalva published, and also wrote (privately) to many people, that he had found out their real use, and had discovered certain ducts, going from them to the epididymes in males, and to the ovaria in females; and that thus these glands contribute to generation. Valsalva promised a distinct treatise on the subject; but although he lived for some years after this promise, the treatise never appeared; nor has any one been able since to find the duets. Not only then are the ducts themselves doubtful, but the size of these glands in the foetus, and their diminution in the adult, make greatly against the theory of their being of use in generation." (Comp. Anat., not. 23.)
