154 FOURTEENTH LECTURE. 



reliable result was at last secured here by means of trouble- 

 some injections* (Gerlach, Budge, Andrejevic, MacGillavry). 



The finer ramified system of the biliary passages may, it is 

 true, be still readily recognized (Fig. 144, 1). They run with 

 the branches of the portal vein (b\ in the intervening spaces 

 of adjacent hepatic lobules. From them arise fine branches 

 which circumvolute the branch of the portal vein (V). 



They are continuous inwards with a marvelously delicate 

 net-work of finest canals, the so-called biliary capillaries (d). 

 The diameter of the latter is 0.0025 to 0.0018 mm. (rabbit). 

 They surround the individual liver cells (3, b) with elegant 

 cubical meshes (a), so that the cellular element comes into 

 contact at one point or another of its surface with these finest 

 tubules. We thus have, in addition to the two coarse net- 

 works of the cellular trabecular and capillary vessels, this 

 third, finest one, of the biliary capillaries. 



They are also not wanting in the other classes of vertebrate 

 animals. There is, nevertheless, considerable variation (Her- 

 ing, Eberth). 



We now encounter the question : do the biliary capillaries 

 possess a proper wall, or are they only the finest lacunar 

 canals? Furthermore, what is their more exact relation to 

 the hepatic cells ? 



I have not doubted that there was a special, although 

 extremely thin wall, from the instant that I began to study 

 the biliary capillaries of the rabbit. One sees here, not only 

 the artificially injected, but also the adjacent empty tubules 

 (often to a considerable extent), regularly demarcated by 

 sharp, straight lines. A lacunar system between contractile 

 cells would otherwise scarcely present the regularity of the 

 biliary net-work. We therefore coincide with Eberth and 

 Koelliker in the assumption of a wall. The same is also 

 shown bv the cat's liver. 



* These may be made from the biliary passages in the fresh animal cadaver. 

 This was the earlier procedure. An injection may also be made into the vein of 

 the living animal of indigo sulphate of soda, which is soon (as in the kidney) 

 secreted by the liver (Chrzonszczewsky). 



■AJ 



A 1 *^ ^ . .a. rau 



