THE LIVER. 137 



illustrate this, we give below the results from a normal liver, and 

 also the results obtained by PERLS in fatty degeneration and fatty 

 infiltration. The results are in 1000 parts. 



Normalliver 



Fatty degeneration 810 87 97 



Fatty infiltration 620 190-240 184-145 



Among the extractive substances besides glycogen, which will 

 be treated of later, we find rather large quantities of xanthin 

 bodies. KOSSEL found in 1000 parts of the dried substance 1.97 

 p. m. guanin, 1.34 p. m. hypoxanthin, and 1.21 p. m. xanthin. 

 Adenin is also contained in the liver. In addition there have been 

 found urea and uric acid (especially in birds), and indeed in larger 

 quantities than in the blood, paralactic acid, leucin, jecorin, and, 

 in pathological cases, inosit, tyrosin, and cystin. The occurrence 

 of bile-coloring matters in the liver-cell under normal conditions is 

 doubtful ; but in retention of the bile the cells may absorb the 

 coloring matter and become colored thereby. 



Jecorin was first found by DRECHSEL in the liver of a horse, and later by 

 BALDI in the liver and spleen of other animals, in the muscles and blood 

 of the horse, and in the human brain. It contains sulphur and phosphorus, 

 but its constitution is not positively known. Jecorin dissolves in ether, but is 

 precipitated from this solution by alcohol. It reduces copper oxide, and it 

 solidities after boiling with alkalies to a gelatinous mass. It may lead to errors 

 in the investigations of organs or tissues, for it can easily be mistaken for 

 lecithin on account of its solubilities and because it contains phosphorus. 



The mineral bodies of the liver consist of phosphoric acid, 

 potassium, sodium, alkaline earths, and chlorine. The potassium 

 is in excess of the sodium. Iron is a regular constituent of the 

 liver, but in very variable amounts, 0.3-11.8 p. m. calculated for 

 the dried substance of the liver (ST. ZALESKI). A part of the 

 iron exists as phosphate, and the greater part in combination with 

 the protein bodies (ST. ZALESKI). Copper seems to be a physio- 

 logical constituent. Foreign metals, such as lead, zinc, and others, 

 are easily taken up and retained for a long time by the liver. 



v. BIBEA found in 1000 parts of the liver of a young man who 

 had suddenly died 762 p. m. water and 238 p. m. solids, consist- 

 ing of 25 p. m. fat, 152 p. m. albumin and gelatine-forming sub- 

 stance, and 61 p. m. extractive substances. 



