Observations on the functions of the liver : more especially with reference to the formation of the material known as amyloid substance, or animal dextrine, and the ultimate destination of this substance in the animal economy / by Robert M'Donnell, M.D.

  • McDonnell, Robert, 1828-1889.
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the functions of the liver : more especially with reference to the formation of the material known as amyloid substance, or animal dextrine, and the ultimate destination of this substance in the animal economy / by Robert M'Donnell, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    function in certain diseased states, would cause a rapid increase of the fibrine in the blood ; moreover, we have an explanation of the source from which some of the ingredients of the bile may be derived, and a very probable explajjation of the source from wliich the sulphur of the bile may come. But what of the nitrogen 1 Is it to be found in anythuag like proportionate quantity in the bile 1 When it is recollected how conflicting are the statements of physiologists with regard to the amount of bile secreted, and of physiological chemists as to its chemical composition, the diffi- culty will be obvious of forming any very precise estimate as to the quantity of nitrogen thrown out by this secretion. It is, however, quite certain, that it is very inconsiderable in quantity- It is probably quite over the mark to suppose that the dry residue of fresh bile would yield so much as five per cent, of nitrogen ; yet, assummg this, if we take a large anunal secreting enough of bile in twenty-four hours to give two ounces of sohd residue, the nitrogen of tliis would not amount to fifty grains. With a view to determine the amount of nitrogen separated from the blood by the liver, my friend and colleague. Dr. E. W. Da^^, has been good enough to examine for me the fresh bile collected from the gall bladders of sheep. He finds that 100 parts by weight of such bile, evaporated to dryness, give seven parts by weight of dry sohd matter; 100 parts by weight of this per- fectly dry sohd matter, contain only 3-90 parts of nitrogen : 100 parts by weight, therefore, of fluid bile, contain not more 0- 273 parts of nitrogen. The specific gravity of the bile which I obtained for the fore- going examination was 1023, which is a little below that usually given for this fluid ; it consequently contained somewhat less soluble matter than usual. This, however, does not materially alter the general result, which comes to this, that a fluid ounce of sheep's bile, weighing 466-5 grains, contams no more than 1- 273 gr. of nitrogen. However opinions, then, may differ as to the number of ounces of bile secreted in twenty-four hours, at all events the entire quantity of nitrogen thus separated from the blood is but small. , . We are justified, therefore, in the assumption, that the nitrogen leaving the liver in biliary secretion, accounts for but .-eiy^ small part of that which enters the liver by the hepatic il V(