Selected monographs.

Date:: 1888

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Selected monographs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

95/440 (page 79)

the nutrition or destruction of this epithelium in particular. The other epithelial cells, especially those of the uriniferous tubules, of the proper glandular elements, are either not mentioned at all, or else they are expressly alluded to as altogether unconcerned in the production of albuminuria. It is well known that some of the secretions proper, that is, the sole products of really secreting glandular epithe- lium, are albuminous, while others are free from that con- stituent. The products of the former, which are the more numerous class, owe their albumen to the constant metamor- phosis and separation of the cells which mix with the secre- tion ; the other glands yield a product which is non-albumi- nous, because according to the general and almost sacred theory, their epithelium does not decay under normal con- ditions, and their products consist only of definite matters which they take up from the vessels or prepare within them- selves, but not of albumen. Whether these epithelial cells really continue without any change during the whole period of life, or whether they undergo an imperceptible metamor- phosis, similar to that which is constantly taking place in the organism as a whole, are questions with which we are not concerned at present. It is enough for our purpose that the normal function of its epithelial cells is assigned as the reason for the absence of albumen in the secretion of the liver, the most prominent of the second class of glands, and likewise in the secretions of the perspiratory and lachrymal glands, supposing it to be the case that these latter secre- tions in their pure state are really non-albuminous. If the urine be regarded simply as a true non-albuminous glandular secretion, the epithelium must be credited with the function of preventing the escape of albumen from the blood ; but if my view be adopted, and the urine be regarded as a mixture of a transudation with a glandular secretion (see p. 33), the latter at least being the produce of the epithelium of the uriniferous tubules must for the same' reason be considered to be non-albuminous, whatever view may be entertained as to the presence or absence of albumen in the transudation from the glomerular vessels. The conclusion is forced upon us that, when their nutrition and functions are disturbed, or when the epithelial cells of the uriniferous tubules are in a