254 PANCREATIC DIABETES 



creas there is always seen after a time a marked impoverish- 

 ment of glycogen in the canine liver. The muscles, especially 

 the heart muscle, always retain their glycogen supply more 

 obstinately than the liver. In contrast to this loss of 

 glycogen from the large depots a striking glycogenic infil- 

 tration, according to Ehrlich, may be noted in the leucocytes ; 

 which is to be interpreted as a carbohydrate engorgement 

 of these cells caused by the enrichment of the blood serum 

 with sugar. When we consider the dominant position of 

 the liver in carbohydrate metabolism we cannot be far wrong 

 in relating the real nature of pancreatic diabetes with a 

 disturbance of the glycogen function of the liver. 



Actually what does the inability of the liver to fix 

 glycogen in pancreatic diabetes (Naunyn has coined the 

 term dyszooamylia for the condition) mean? Primarily it 

 should be noted that the dyszooamylia applies only to 

 dextrose, not to Isevulose, Minkowski having shown that 

 formation of glycogen from the latter substance may con- 

 tinue without disturbance even in the severest pancreatic 

 diabetes. According to the investigations of J. de Meyer 18 

 it would appear that the surviving liver of a dog with 

 pancreatic diabetes may be found capable of storing glyco- 

 gen provided pancreatic extract is added to the perfusing 

 fluid. However, we can by no means assert an absolute in- 

 ability of the liver to form glycogen in individuals with 

 pancreatic diabetes, as Nishi 19 (in a research under the 

 direction of 0. Lowi) has been able to show that in turtles 

 with pancreatic diabetes the formation of glycogen is the 

 same as in normal turtles when the liver is perfused with 

 Kinger's fluid containing glucose. Here, too, matters are 

 by no means simple. 



It is possible that an interpretation of the following kind 



18 J. de Meyer (Instit. Solvay, Brussels), Arch, intern, de Physiol., 9, 

 1, 1910. 



19 M. Nishi (Pharmacol. Instit., Vienna), Arch. f. exper. Pathol., 62, 

 170, 1910. 



