SMALL INTESTINE. 251 



testine. We shall also see that this emulsion is not necessary 

 in order to comprehend the mechanism of absorption. 



The secretion of the pancreas appears to be nearly con- 

 tinuous, like that of the saliva; it is generally, however, very 

 inconsiderable, but greatly increases as the product of the 

 stomach enters the intestine. This is evidently a reflex act, 

 though the nervous organs of this phenomenon are not yt 

 perfectly known; it has, however, been observed that section 

 of the pneumogastric nerves checks the secretion from the 

 pancreas. When normally secreted, remains of the cells of 

 glandular pouches are found in this product : according to the 

 general law, therefore, this secretion is produced by the shed- 

 ding of the glandular elements. 1 



The influences which govern the secretion of the pancre- 

 atic fluid appear to be of the same nature as those which 

 govern the secretion of the gastric juice, and especially of 

 the pepsin of that juice. As the stomach needs the pepto- 

 gens (see p. 242, above), so the pancreas needs the pan- 

 creatogens ; thus the pancreas secretes, less by means of a 

 reflex nervous mechanism, than because at a given moment 

 it is impregnated with those substances which are fitted to 

 give rise to secretion ; that is, the blood brings to it the 

 peptones which have been already elaborated by the stom- 

 ach. The theory of the pancreatogens, established by L. 

 Corvisart, even precedes that of the peptogens, and was the 

 starting-point of the latter. 2 It has been taken up again by 

 Schiff, who has introduced into it some new ideas as to the 

 functions of the spleen in regard to digestion. Indeed, 

 while the stomach receives the peptogens directly from the 

 circulation (provided that the blood contains any), the for- 

 mation of the pancreatic juice requires the intervention of 

 the spleen. After extirpation of the spleen, or a deep wound 



1 " Does the secretory cell of animals concentrate or create the 

 direct elements which it contains V It is difficult to answer this 

 question. For instance, I have observed that during hibernation 

 the pancreatic cell in animals contains no pancreatine. The case 

 is the same with fasting animals; but directly food is received and 

 digestion begun, these cells fill with pancreatine and become active. 

 It must be admitted here, either that the pancreatine has been 

 formed in the gland by the nervous influence, or has been brought 

 into it by the blood." (Cl. Bernard, "Da la Physiologic Gene- 

 rale." Notes, 1872, p. 284.) 



' 2 L. Corvisart, " De la Fonction Digestive du Pancreas sur les 

 Aliments Azotes." (Gazette Hebdomadaire, 1860.) 



