404 INTERNAL SECRETIONS OF PANCREAS AND SPLEEN. 



its normal result (with narrower blood-vessels at each end of 

 the glomerulus) : i.e., centrifugal pressure. 



If we now conjoin Opie's remark "the impression is pro- 

 duced that the columns of the island are in continuity with 

 cells having an acinar arrangement" and Mall's observation, 

 in his study of the microscopical anatomy of the spleen, that 

 "the ampullae and venous plexus have very porous walls which 

 permit fluids to pass through with great ease . . ." it 

 seems probable that we hold the key to the situation. Indeed, 

 what have we in the dilated glomerules of capillaries of the 

 islands of Langerhans but vascular ampullae? Centrifugal 

 pressure under the circulatory conditions mentioned can have 

 but one result: i.e., filtration of the Hood- fluids through the am- 

 pullar walls and into the ducts. 



It is, perhaps, unnecessary to point to the fact that, be- 

 sides being the only functional mechanism warranted by the 

 anatomical structures present, it also meets all the require- 

 ments of the well-founded experimental data adduced. The 

 precision with which it seems to harmonize the two seemingly 

 antagonistic features of the general function represented i.e., 

 the Schiff-Herzen spleno-pancreatic process and the Heiden- 

 hain zymogen-oxidation process is also noticeable. If we also 

 realize that all these elements of the general function now fall 

 sequentially in the normal order of their physiological use- 

 fulness, it will become apparent that we must have reached a 

 solution worthy of confidence. This may be formulated as 

 follows: 



1. The splenic ferment secreted into the splenic vein is car- 

 ried to the portal vein through the liver, thence by the hepatic vein 

 to the inferior vena cava, and after passing through the cardio- 

 pulmonary circuit is distributed throughout the entire organism. 



2. The quantity of splenic ferment distributed to the pancreas 

 is proportionate to the amount of Uood carried thereto by the pan- 

 creatic subdivisions of the splenic artery, and represents but a 

 fraction of that supplied to the general circulation. 



3. The splenic ferment distributed to the pancreas follows the 

 course of its blood-channels, and is distributed to the cellular ele- 

 ments of the organ dissolved in the blood-plasma. 



4. On reaching the cellular elements, the plasma, through its 



