CHAPTER IX. 



EXCRETORY FUNCTION OF THE LIVER. 



General properties of the bile Composition of the bile Biliary salts Tauro- 

 cholate of soda Glycocholate of soda Origin of the biliary salts Choles- 

 terine Process for the extraction of cholesterine Biliverdine Tests for 

 bile Test for biliverdine Test for the biliary salts Pettenkofer's test 

 Excretory function of the liver Origin of cholesterine Experiments 

 showing the passage of cholesterine into the blood as it circulates through 

 the brain Analyses of venous blood from the two sides of the body in 

 cases of hemiplegia Elimination of cholesterine by the liver Analyses 

 showing accumulation of cholesterine in the blood in certain cases of 

 organic disease of the liver Cholesteraemia. 



ALTHOUGH the function of the bile in intestinal digestion 

 is essential to life, we know very little of its mode of action ; 

 and we have thought proper to defer until now a full con- 

 sideration of the properties and composition of this secretion. 

 For an account of what is known of its digestive function, 

 the reader is referred to the section of volume second, treat- 

 ing of digestion. We shall show, in this connection, that the 

 liver excretes one of the most important of the effete princi- 

 ples ; but before taking up the relations of the bile as an ex- 

 cretion, it will be necessary to study its general properties 

 and composition. 



General Properties of the Bile. The secretion, as it 

 comes directly from the liver, is somewhat viscid ; but after 

 it has passed into the gall-bladder, its viscidity is much 

 greater from further admixture of mucus. 



The color of the bile is very variable within the limits 



