CHAPTER XVIII. 



CHEMISTRY OF THE PANCREAS AND OTHER GLANDS. 

 MUSCLE, BONE, THE HAIR AND OTHER TISSUES. 



In this chapter a number of substances will be briefly dis- 

 cussed, the chemical relations of which in some cases are un- 

 important, or sometimes, when important, not well understood. 

 In regard to the pancreas it will be recalled that in the discus- 

 sion of digestive phenomena the behavior of active enzymes in 

 the liquid secreted by the organ was rather fully considered. 

 In the so-called pancreatic juice the three most important 

 enzymes are active in the digestion of carbohydrates, fats and 

 proteins, but in addition to these functions others must be 

 mentioned. 



THE PANCREAS. 



The organ is relatively poor in solids, containing only about 

 loo parts per 1000. The solid substance consists largely of 

 nucleo proteids with but comparatively small amounts of the 

 other protein bodies. Besides producing the digestive en- 

 zymes, or their zymogens, the pancreas cells have an impor- 

 tant function to perform in connection with the oxidation of 

 sugar in the body. It has long been known that a kind of 

 diabetes results on the extirpation of the pancreas. Some- 

 thing seems to be produced there which is apparently essential 

 in the oxidation process. Experiments with animals have 

 shown that the oxidation takes place if even a small portion 

 of the organ is left. Of the nature of the active ferment here 

 or of its mode of action practically nothing is known; but it 

 has been pointed out recently by several writers that in this 

 sugar oxidation, taking place in the muscles probably, two 

 things are concerned. The pancreas may furnish one of these 

 and an enzyme formed in the muscle cells is the other. Cell- 

 free extracts from the organs taken separately have been 



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