278 



THE SO-CALLED ' CIRCULATION OF BILE.' [BOOK II. 



and Miiller, and Hoppe-Seyler). It would also appear that a second 

 increase in the rate of secretion occurs at a later period ; here, again, 

 the statements of observers differ greatly. The only thorough set of 

 observations on this matter were made by Hoppe-Seyler 1 in the 

 case of a dog with permanent biliary fistula ; the bile was col- 

 lected and weighed at frequent intervals (every half-hour, with 

 occasional breaks), and the amount of its various constituents de- 

 termined, by the most accurate methods, in each sample. These 

 observations possess such unique value that the Author has ex- 

 hibited the results, so far as the total quantity of bile and the 

 amount of sodium taurocholate are concerned, in the curves shewn 

 in Fig. 17 (p. 279). 



Influence of the Nature of the Diet on the Secretion of Bile. 



All that is accurately known on this subject may be summed u 

 in a few words. It would appear that the flow of bile is somewhat 

 influenced by the character of the diet, being most abundant when 

 animals are fed on meat mixed with fat, somewhat less when fed on 

 meat without fat, and diminishing materially if the amount of fat be 

 excessive (Kiihne). But little, if any, importance can be attached to 

 the conclusions arrived at on this matter by Bidder and Schmidt, 

 who fed cats on particular diets for some days before establishing 

 temporary fistulae and, from the amount of the bile and bile-solids 

 secreted, ventured to formulate conclusions as to the influence of 

 variations in diet on the biliary secretion. 



Influence of the Absorption of Bile from the Intestine on the 

 quantity of Bile secreted. 



All observers who have established temporary biliary fistulae h 

 remarked that the quantities of bile secreted sink very materially 

 after the operation, and Bidder and Schmidt observed that the solid 

 constituents of the bile diminished even more than the total quan- 

 tities of bile ; in other words, that during the successive hours fol- 

 lowing the establishment of temporary biliary fistulas the bile became 

 gradually less abundant, and more watery. 



In 1868, Schiff 2 pointed out that the'quantity of bile secreted by 

 dogs with biliary fistula? diminished when the bile was withdrawn 

 entirely from the alimentary canal, whilst it increased within 12 

 minutes or a quarter of an hour, when the bile was allowed again 

 to flow into the intestine. 



Schiff afterwards 3 employed two methods of investigation. In 

 the first he established a permanent biliary fistula by the method 

 described at page 267, the common bile duct being, as usual, 



1 Hoppe-Seyler, Physiologische Chcmie, p. 308. 



2 Schiff, Giornale di scienze naturali ed economiche, Palermo, Vol. iv. (1868), 

 quoted by Schiff in his paper in Pfluger's Archiv, Vol. m. (1870). p. 598. 



3 Schiff, Bericht iiber einige Versuchsreihen angestellt in physiol. Laboratorium 

 des Instituts zu Florenz. I. Gallenbildung, abhangig von der Aufsaugung der Gallen- 

 stoffe,' Pfluger's Archiv, Vol. in. (1870, pp. 598613). 



