Till BIOCHEMICAL PROl 



[nteresting observations have been collected on the amount of the 

 tion from a fistula both in man and in the lower animals. In man it 

 commonly stated that aboul 500 c.c. of bile ai ted daily, the 



amount varying considerably during the different hours ■ day. 



secretion of bile is greatly reduced by hemorrhage. It _ eater on a 

 meat diet than on one of carbohydrates. It is reduced durh rva- 



tion, but continues to be secreted up to the momenl of death. 



I-'i \< tione op Bile 



One of the main functions of the bile salts is that they greatly 

 not only in the digestion, 1 nit also in the absorption i When bile 



is excluded from the intestine, the \'<r,-^ are Loaded with fatty ac 

 which have been split <>ff partly by the now less i •• Lipase and 



partly by the action of bacteria. The fatty acid thus Lib< in the 



absence of bile salts is qoI absorbed, because the bile salts the 



carriers of fatty acids into the epithelial cells and lacteals. They com- 

 bine with the fatty acids, probably by forming some chemical compoui 

 in which they cany them into the endothelial cells where the compounds 

 become disrupted, the fatty acid combining with glycerine to again form 

 neutral fat and the bile salts being carried to the liver and n 

 The influence of bile salts in assisting the action of Lipase is probably 

 due to a lowering of the surface tension, thus bringing water and fat 



into closer union. This accelerating influence has also 1 o demons! 



when synthetic bile salts have Keen used, showing clearly that it is really 

 these and no1 any other constituent of the bile that are responsible 

 its i derating influence. 



Bile also functionates as a regulator of intestinal putrefaction. This 

 it does apparently because of its slight laxative properties, by which 

 the intestinal contents are expelled before the bacteria ha 

 any greal extent in them. Bile itself is a favorable culture medium 

 certain bacteria, bo that it can have no antiseptic action. 

 in the action of trypsin and amylopsin depends very largely up 

 alkali which it contains. 



\ o excr icU bile is important, because it p the 



power of dissolving cholesterol. Toxins and metallic po 



kinds are also excreted in it. 



Although not directly concerned with the digestive function, it will 

 convenient to say something here concerning thi chemical nature and 

 derivation of the various biliar stituei 



