Influence of Removal of the Large Intestine, &c., on Metabolism. 77 



" The Influence of Eemoval of the Large Intestine and increasing 

 Quantities of Fat in the Diet on general Metabolism in Dogs." 

 By VAUGHAN HARLEY, M.D., Professor of Pathological Che- 

 mistry, University College, London. Communicated by Prof. 

 VICTOR HORSLEY, F.RS. Received July 25, 1898. 



(Abstract, published during the Vacation.) 



In this research it was intended, by comparing the results obtained 

 in dogs on a given diet with the same animals after the removal of the 

 large intestine, to study more carefully the functions and any influence 

 the absence of the large intestine might have on general metabolism. 



In one dog a little more than the middle third of the large intestine 

 was removed, while in the other two dogs the total length of the large 

 intestine, together with the caecum, was extirpated. The dogs were fed 

 after recovering from the operation on meat and biscuit, to which vary- 

 ing quantities of fat were added. The meat employed was preserved 

 by sterilising minced meat in separate weighed out portions sufficient 

 for each day. 



In all the experiments the nitrogen and fat in the diet were analysed, 

 and in two dogs quantitative analyses were made of the carbohydrates 

 in the diet and faeces. It was found on the above diet that no carbo- 

 hydrates were obtainable in the faeces either in normal dogs or in those 

 in which the large intestine had been removed, so that it can be con- 

 cluded that the large intestine has no action on the carbohydrate 

 absorption, and in subsequent experiments it was not investigated. 



The first step was to investigate the effect of an increasing quantity 

 of fat on a staple diet in normal animals, so as to compare that with 

 the results obtained after the removal of the large intestine. 



In dog 1 (Table III) it is seen on the same carbohydrate and proteid 

 diet when the quantity of fat is increased from 12 -04 grams to 32 '04 

 grams, the average quantity of urine fell from 118 c.c. to 89 c.c., and this 

 decrease in quantity was accompanied by a slight increase in the specific 

 gravity of 1058 to 1060. In consequence of the proteid sparing action 

 of the fat the quantity of nitrogen eliminated fell from 4'457 grams to 

 3-575 grams. On increasing the diet still further to 62'04 grams, the 

 quantity of urine was only 70 c.c., the specific gravity remaining 1060, 

 the nitrogen being slightly decreased in quantity to 3*362 grams. 



As far as the faeces are concerned, their daily quantity increased from 

 18-61 grams to 20'42 grams and 22'70 grams. Together with the 

 increased quantity of the fseces the nitrogen daily eliminated also 

 increased in quantity from 0'351 gram to 0-412 gram and 0'469 gram. 

 As one would naturally expect, with the increased quantity of fat in 

 the diet, the fat in the faeces increased from 0'733 gram to 0'971 g-m 



VOL. LXIV. G 



