358 Drs. S. Martin and D. Williams. [Feb. 21, 



February 21, 1889. 

 Professor G. Gr. STOKES, D.C.L., President, in the Chair. 



The Presents received were laid on the table, and thanks ordered 

 for them. 



The following Papers were read : 



I. " The Influence of Bile on the Digestion of Starch. I. Its 

 Influence on Pancreatic Digestion in the Pig." By SIDNEY 

 MARTIN, M.D. (Lond.), B.Sc., British Medical Association 

 Scholar, and Assistant Physician to the City of London 

 Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, Victoria Park, and 

 DAWSON WILLIAMS, M.D. (Lond.), Assistant Physician to 

 the East London Hospital for Children, Shadwell. Commu- 

 nicated by E. A. SCHAFER, F.R.S. (from the Physiological 

 Laboratory, University College, London). Received 

 February 1, 1889. 



The object of the research is to ascertain what influence, if any, 

 the presence of bile or its constituents has on the progress and re- 

 sult of pancreatic digestion ; it includes the investigation of any such 

 influence on the amylolytic, the proteolytic, and the emulsive fer- 

 ments. The present communication deals only with the first named ; 

 our experiments have been done chiefly with the pancreas and bile of 

 the pig, but another series in which these secretions in other animals 

 are being examined is in progress ; the effect of the presence of bile on 

 all amylolytic digestion, ex. gr. t that of saliva and that of vegetable 

 diastase, is a subject which also seems to be worthy of investigation, 

 and is now receiving our attention. In the present communication 

 we detail the result of our experiments with the bile and pancreatic 

 amylolytic ferment of one animal only the pig. 



The fluid to be digested has been made by boiling pure starch in 

 distilled water and carefully neutralising if necessary. Starch 

 2 grams, water 100 c.c., has been found a convenient strength. Pig's 

 bile has been used either in the fresh state or after careful drying at 

 a temperature not exceeding 27 C. In the later form ib was found 

 more convenient for preserving and for manipulation, as it could be 

 accurately weighed. Glycerine extract of fresh pig's pancreas, and 



