14 Chittenden and Lambert — Experiments on the 



added to each, to make the fluid contain 2 per cent. HCl. The acid 

 fluids were then heated on water-baths for 15 hours, in order to con- 

 vert all carbohydrate matter into dextrose. The fluids were then 

 neutralized, evaporated and finally tested for dextrose with Feh- 

 ling's solution, by Allihn's gravimetric method. Both solutions failed 

 to give any reducing action whatever, thus showing a total lack of 

 carbohydrate matter in the liver. This is in strong contrast to the 

 normal condition of a rabbit's liver, which contains an abundance of 

 carbohydrate matter, both sugar and glycogen; on an average 10"35 

 per cent, of total carbohydrates, as determined by methods similar 

 to the one just described.* Glycogenic function is then destroyed by 

 uranium, the same as in phosphorus poisoning, but unlike the action 

 of phosphorus there is apparently no fatty degeneration of the organs. 



The liver here experimented with was small for the size of the rab- 

 bit, a large white buck. It was also noticeable, as in many of the 

 other rabbits experimented on, that while the stomach was full of 

 food, sometimes even distended by it, there was nothing at all in the 

 intestines below the pylorus until the ca3cum was reached, which was 

 again lull, and the intestines below were either almost free fi'om 

 faeces or else contained only the pin-head variety. The food in the 

 stomach was wholly undigested. As has been already pointed out, a 

 small ])ercentage of a soluble uranium salt is sufficient to completely 

 stop gastric and pancreatic digestion. This being the case it is quite 

 probable that the emaciation, etc., so noticeable in uranium poison- 

 ing, is the direct result of the action of the salt on the digestive func- 

 tions. Nothing being digested there would be no matter for absorp- 

 tion, and hence no sugar-forming material for the liver. All the 

 carbohydrate matter stored up would in a little time be completely 

 consumed and as the portal blood could bring no new nutritive mat- 

 ter, the liver would naturally diminish in size and the animal become 

 emaciated and eveniually die from that cause alone, even if the uran- 

 ium gave no other direct cause of death. In this connection we also 

 need to recall the general increased metabolism of both nitrogenous 

 and non-nitrogenous matter, under the influence of uranium. 



The uranium salt may also act specifically on the liver cells, afiect- 

 ing their metabolic power, preventing any storage of carbohydrate 

 matter or moi'e probably causing a degeneration of the cells, by 

 which they may be led to give up to the blood in abnormal abund- 

 ance all the carbohydrate matter previously stored up. This possible 



* Post-mortem formation of sugar in the liver. Studies from Laboratory of Physio- 

 logical Chemistry, Yale Uuiversity, vol. I, p. 171. 



