230 ELEMENTS OF PHYSIOLOGY 



excretion of urea through the kidneys. It is obvious that 

 excess of food and lack of exercise may lead to the chok- 

 ing up of the iiver cells with food products which are 

 not required. This condition may be relieved by a spare 

 diet and by vigorous exercise. The poor, overworked liver 

 should not be blamed, however, nor the statement made 

 that "the liver is not acting." At the very time the com- 

 plaint is made, the skin and eyes may be yellow, showing 

 the presence of too great a quantity of bile, which is a 

 product of the activity of the liver. 



408. Biliousness may result from three causes: (i) The 

 first and most usual form of biliousness is not bilious- 

 ness at all, but is caused by fermentation and other 

 forms of indigestion, and by the poisonous products 

 therefrom entering the blood. (2) Stoppage of the chief 

 bile duct because of congestion, which extends to it 

 from the stomach. This congestion is caused by irri- 

 tation of undigested food ( 597). (3) The liver cells 

 and ducts may become choked up from excessive food 



( 407). 



409. Alcohol in the Liver. When alcohol is drunk, the 

 portal vein carries it directly to the liver. There the 

 alcohol greedily uses up the oxygen needed by the liver 

 cells for their vital operations. This prevents natural 

 action of the liver, for its cells have not enough oxygen to 

 do their work properly. All physicians know that a drunk- 

 ard's liver presents a greatly modified appearance. The 

 alcohol does not build up useful tissue, but if taken in 

 weaker form, such as beer and wine, it promotes an abnor- 

 mal deposit of fat in the cells. 



410. Drinking whisky and other distilled liquors causes 

 the connective tissue of the liver first to increase in amount 

 and afterward to shrivel and harden, drawing up into many 

 little knots. This condition is called " hobnailed" or "gin 

 drinkers' liver." 



