THE LIVER. 143 



from the glycogen of the liver. As proof thereof, in the so-called 

 " Zuckerstich " (lesion of a certain part of the fourth ventricle of 

 the brain) no glycosuria is produced in animals with glycogen-free 

 livers (fasting animals), while in livers containing glycogen it is 

 found rapidly disappearing with the formation of sugar after this 

 operation (HERMANN and DOCK, LUCHSINGER). VON MERINGS 

 has shown by experiments that we may have a glycosuria formed 

 independently of the glycogen of the liver. This investigator has 

 shown by experiments on dogs that in animals which have been 

 starving for some time, so that the liver, as well as the muscles, is 

 free from glycogen, a very considerable glycosuria is produced on 

 administering the glucoside phloridzin. The elimination of sugar is 

 considerably greater by this means than that produced by the de- 

 composition of the glucoside itself. VON MERINGS has been able 

 to produce diabetes by this glucoside in geese which have had their 

 livers removed ; and LANGENDORFF has also produced the same in 

 frogs whose livers had been extirpated. In the so-called phloridzin 

 diabetes the sugar is not formed from the glycogen of the liver, but 

 to all appearances from the albumin (or proteids). 



The Bile and its Formation. 



By the employment of a biliary fistula, an operation which was 

 first performed in 1844 by SCHWANN, it is possible to study the 

 secretion of the bile. This secretion takes place at a very low 

 pressure; therefore an apparently unimportant hindrance in the 

 outflow of the bile, namely, a stoppage of mucus in the exit or the 

 secretion of large quantities of viscous bile, may cause stagnation 

 and absorption of the bile by means of the lymphatic vessels (ab. 

 sorption icterus). 



The quantity of bile secreted during a specified time, say 24 

 hours, is rather difficult to determine with accuracy. The approxi- 

 mate amount for the dog, as determined by BIDDER and SCHMIDT, 

 is about 20 grms., with, in round numbers, 1 grm. of solids per kilo of 

 the weight of the body. For human beings KANKE has calculated 

 an average of 14 grms., with 0.44 grms. solids. The amount is de- 

 pendent upon the nutrition. In fasting the quantity decreases, 

 but increases after taking food. The statements are contradictory in 



