238 OF THE BILE. 



it remains for a short period and acquires the name of 

 cystic bile.* 



378. The gall-bladder is an oblong sac, nearly pyri- 

 form, adhering to the concave surface of the liver, and 

 consisting of three coats. 



The exterior, completely covering- it, derived from 

 the peritonaeum. 



The middle, called nervous, as in the stomach, 

 intestines, and urinary bladder, the source of its firm- 

 ness and tone. 



The interior,^ somewhat like the inner coat of the 

 stomach, (359) containing a net-work of innumerable 

 blood-vessels, abounding in mucous glands, J and 

 marked by rugae, which occasionally have a beauti- 

 fully cancellated appearance. 



379. Its cervix is conical, terminates in the cystic 

 duct, is tortuous, and contains a few falciform valves. || 



380. The bile which has passed into the gall-bladder 

 is retained until, from the reclined or supine posture 

 of the body, it flows down from it. spontaneously, or 



* In cows and other brutes there are peculiar hepato-cystic ducts, which 

 convey the bile directly from the liver to the gall-bladder. Observ. anat. coll. 

 privati Amstel. P. 1. Ams. 1667. 12mo. p. 16. fig. 7. Also, Perrault, Essay* 

 tie Physique. T. i. p. 339. tab. ii. 



Some have inconsiderately allowed them also in the human subject : v. c. 

 De Haen, Ratio vied. cont. P. ii. p. 46 sq. tab. x. fig. 1. 



Also Pitschell, Anat. und chirurg. Anmerk. Dresd. 1784. 8vo. tab. i. 



Consult among many, R. Forsten, Qucest. select, physiolog. Lug'd. Batav. 

 1774. 4to. p. 22. 



f- Ruysch, Epist. problem, quint a. Tab. v. fig. 3. 



J Vicq-d'Azyr, (Eiivres. T. v. page 343. 



Casp. Fr. Wolff, Act. Acad. Scient. Petropol. 1779. P. ii. 



|| Caldesi, Osservaz. intorno alle Tartarughe. Tab. ii. fig. 10.; but especially 

 Wolff, lately recommended, 1. c. P. i. tab. vi. Also, Fr. Aug. Walter, 1. c. 

 tab. i. 



