368 DIGESTION. 



urally.be expected, these observations have been quite con- 

 tradictory. Brodie found no white chyle in the lacteals 

 after the duct had been tied, 1 while Magendie, in two simi- 

 lar experiments, found that the chyle was formed without 

 the aid of the bile. 2 Of others who have repeated these ex- 

 periments, some have confirmed the observations of Brodie, 

 and some, those of Magendie. 



The results of experiments upon the digestive function 

 of the bile have not been very definite ; but those which have 

 been most satisfactory have followed the establishment of a 

 fistulous opening into the gall-bladder, the flow of bile at 

 the same time being completely shut off from the intestine. 

 In all experiments of this kind in which fatal inflammation 

 did not follow the operation, death has taken place from inan- 

 ition, notwithstanding an increase in the quantity of food 

 taken. Schwann has shown that this result is not due simply 

 to the loss of the solid matter discharged in the bile, which is 

 small in proportion to the total daily loss of weight. 3 It un- 

 doubtedly proceeds from disordered nutrition, which has its 

 starting point in disordered digestion. 



We have now to study the modifications in digestion and 

 nutrition which are the result of simply diverting the bile 

 from the intestine. With that view we followed carefully 

 these changes in the animal with a biliary fistula, that was 

 under our own observation. This experiment confirmed, in 

 all important particulars, those of Schwann and of Bidder 

 and Schmidt. It is given here somewhat in detail, for inas- 

 much as no inflammation followed the operation and noth- 

 ing occurred to complicate the effects of the diversion of the 

 bile from the intestine, we regarded the experiment as re- 

 markably successful. 



1 BRODIE, Experiences sur V Usage de la Bile dans la Digestion. Journal de 

 Physiologic, Paris, 1 823, tome iii., p. 93. 



2 MAGENDIE, Precis Elementaire de Physiologic, Paris, 1836, tome ii., p. 118. 



3 Loc. cit. 



