362 DIGESTION. 



and the communication between the liver and the intestine 

 reestablishing itself. These six animals died, apparently 

 of inanition, respectively, after seven, thirteen, seventeen, 

 twenty-five, sixty-fonr, and eighty days. In all, except the 

 t\vo animals that lived for sixty-four and eighty days, respec- 

 tively, there was gradual diminution in weight from the date 

 of the operation, notwithstanding that a large quantity of food 

 was taken. In the two exceptions, there was first diminution 

 in weight, then the flesh was partially regained, but it sub- 

 sequently diminished until death occurred. 1 In these six ani- 

 mals there was every reason to believe that death occurred 

 from the loss of the digestive function of the bile, and the dis- 

 turbances in nutrition w r ere very much like those produced by 

 Bernard by destruction of the pancreas. These experiments 

 were confirmed in their essential particulars by Bidder and 

 Schmidt, Nasse, and Bernard. In an observation reported by 

 Bernard, the animal died two months after the operation, 

 having presented gradual emaciation accompanied by great 

 voracity. 2 



These facts seem to show that the bile is not simply an 

 excrementitious fluid, and that its function, after it is dis- 

 charged into the intestine, is not only important, but abso- 

 lutely essential to life. The only experiment which is op- 

 posed to this view is one reported by Blondlot. 



The experiment by Blondlot was made upon a dog. The 

 fistula was established in the fundus of the gall-bladder, 

 the ductus communis having been tied and a portion ex- 

 sected, after the method employed by Schwann. Fifteen 

 days after the operation, the animal had become extremely 

 thin, but ate well, and, according to the report of the experi- 

 menter, was in perfect health. During all this time, how- 



1 SCHWANN, Experiences pour constater si la JBile joue dans I 1 Economic Ani- 

 male un Role essentiel pour la Vie. Memoire lu d la Seance de V Academic Royah 

 du 6 juillet, 1844. Nouveaux Memoircs de V Academic Royale des Sciences et Belles- 

 lettres de Bruxclles, Bruxelles, 1846, tome xviii. 



2 BERNARD, Liquides de VOrganismc, Paris, 1859, tome ii., p. 199. 



