676 CHARLES W. HOOPER 



The formation of carbohydrate from fat is demonstrated in the germina- 

 tion of fatty seeds, where starch and cellulose are formed from fat (see 

 von Sachs, 1887). Cremer (1902) and Liithje (1904) have furnished 

 proof that glycerin may be converted into glycogen. They observed that 

 when glycerin was administered to depancreatized dogs, glycosuria in- 

 creased approximately in proportion to the dose. Corroborative evidence is 

 also furnished by the very low respiratory quotient during hibernation. The 

 experiments of Dubois (1896), Pembrey (1903) and Weinland and Riehl 

 (a) (b) (1907-08) suggest that a conversion of fat into glycogen takes 

 place, and that the glycogen is used up as combustion material during the 

 process of awakening. However, Krogh (1916), who has reviewed the sub- 

 ject thoroughly, states that there is no satisfactory evidence of glycogen 

 formation during hibernation, but that such a formation takes place can- 

 not be denied. Furthermore, Mandel and Lusk (1903) found no increase 

 in the urinary sugar in a dog with phlorhizin diabetes when given 100 gm. 

 of fat; and Lusk (a,) (1908) also observed that active muscular work, 

 which undoubtedly increases the fat decomposition, does not change the 

 D : N ratio in phlorhizinized dogs, 



Other arguments in favor of the formation of a part of the glycogen 

 in the body from decomposition of proteins, or possibly from fat, can be 

 substantiated by clinical experience with human beings suffering from 

 diabetes (see Allen (&), 1916-17). In the acute form of^diabetes in man, 

 there is a complete loss of power to oxidize the carbohydrate material of the 

 food and it is excreted unchanged in the urine, which is evidence that the 

 organism under these conditions must exist at the expense of the protein 

 and fat. 



In view of the voluminous researches on diabetes mellitus, it would be 

 impracticable even to attempt a review of the literature dealing with the 

 various hypotheses in which the liver plays a prominent part (see Allen, 

 (a), 1913). All the evidence militates strongly against the liver as the only 

 organ concerned in the metabolic disturbance in diabetes. It is probable 

 that the hyperglycemia and glycosuria, which represent the main symp- 

 toms of this disease, depend on a lowered glycolysis in which the diabetic 

 organism has lost its normal capacity for burning the sugar as it is formed. 

 Nevertheless, the great importance of the liver as a. storehouse of glyco- 

 gen, as a regulator of the sugar of the blood and its numerous other activi- 

 ties in general metabolic processes should not be cast aside without due con- 

 sideration in the study of this most baffling disease. 



Carbohydrate Metabolism After Eck Fistula. Many investigators 

 have studied the carbohydrate metabolism in Eck fistula dogs. Glycosuria 

 has never been observed. De Filippi (a) (1} (c) (1907-08) carefully 

 studied this question in special relation to the theory of Claude Bernard on 

 the glycogenetic function of the liver. The tolerance for levulose was mark- 

 edly reduced, but that of dextrose only slightly. Such a dog may show the 



