OF THE BILE. 239 



is squeezed * out by the pressure of the neighbouring 

 jejunum, or ileum, or of the colon when distended by 

 faeces. 



The presence of stimuli in the duodenum may derive 

 the bile in that direction. 



The great contractility of the gall-bladder, proved 

 by opening living animals and by pathological pheno- 

 mena, although it is not true irritability (301), pro- 

 bly assists the discharge of bile, especially when this 

 fluid has, by retention, become very stimulating. 



381. For the cystic bile, though very analogous to 

 the hepatic, (377) becomes more concentrated, viscid, 

 and bitter, by stagnation in the gall-bladder; the cause 

 of which is, in all probability, the absorption of its 

 inore watery parts by the lymphatic vessels, f 



382. Our attention must now be turned to the bile 

 itself — a very important fluid, respecting the nature 

 and use of which there has been for these thirty years 

 more controversy than about any other fluid. 



The cystic bile, being more perfect and better calcu- 

 lated for examination, will supply our observations. 



383. Bile taken from a fresh adult subject, is rather 

 viscid, of a brownish green colour, % inodorous, and, 

 if compared with that of brutes, scarcely bitter. 



384. Its constituent parts obtained by chemical ana- 

 lysis, are, besides a large proportion of water, albu- 



* Caldani, Institut. Physiolog: p. 364 sq. Patnv. 1778. 8vo. 

 t Revcrhorst, 1. c. tab. ii. fig. 4. 



Ruysch, 1. c. tab. v. fig. 4. 



Werner and Feller, 1. c. tab. ii. fig. 5. 



Mascagni, tab. xviii. - 



* On the variety of eolour in the bile, consult Bonlenave, Analyst de U 

 Bilr, m the Mini. Print-nth, &c. T. vii. p. Gil, 617. 



