Disease of the Supra-renal Capsules ;

Case 10.- This appears to be the only exceptional case in our series in which any other disease was associated with that of the capsules sufficient to bring the patient to an end before the supra-renal had perfected itself. Such a case, however, cannot be made use of, as some have done, to prove that, because the disease was found accidentally, therefore its importance could not be great ; since this argument would apply with equal force to disease of every other viscus of the body. Moreover, a distinct pigmentation has occurred. It will be observed that this man had been exposed to the sun’s rays, and thus the discoloration did not receive that attention which it deserved. The same oversight occurred in another case, to which reference has already been made.

Anthony B___, æt. 28, admitted, under Dr. Addison, on August 9th, 1857, and died August 11th. He was a coachman by occupation, and about a year before his death he suddenly became hemiplegic, and has never regained the use of his limbs since. During the last few weeks of his life he had felt very ill, complaining of his head &c. He then had another paralytic attack, and for this he was brought to the hospital, where he shortly died. He is described by the reporter as being quite insensible, paralysed on the right side, and his complexion stated as being very dark.

Post-mortem examination.- The body presented the appearance of a man who had not died from any wasting disease. The skin was of an unusually dark colour, but not to an extreme degree ; the face and hands were of an olive tint ; over the last phalanges of the fingers the brown tint was very striking. Brain.- The arachnoid recently and slightly inflamed ; the ventricles contained an abundance of fluid ; at the junction of the left corpus striatum and thalamus opticus was a mass of softened structure, about the size of a hazel nut ; pituitary body healthy. Few scattered tubercles in upper lobes of both lungs. Liver, spleen and kidneys, healthy. In one testis was a small mass of scrofulous deposit. Supra-renal capsules quite disorganized, from the presence of the same adventitious material which we have seen in other cases, this being homogeneous, and of a gray, semi-transparent appearance ; scattered through this were small masses of yellow, cheesy material, which, probably, was the same substance in a state of decay ; none of the original structure of the organs could be discovered. The masses of disease corresponded in shape and size to the organs themselves, though not quite so regular in form, and slightly larger.

Case 11.- In the following case, forwarded by Mr. Valentine, of Somerset, the diagnosis was made some time before death. It will be observed that the patient, like some others, suffered from pain in the back and epigastrium ; and the same remarkable fact may be here noticed as in several others, that he was able to walk about a few days before death, and yet at that time a total destruction of the organs must have existed-

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