70 PETER'S BODIES AND THE- BILE. 



intestine, with alkaline bodies ; and hence the physiological action may 

 differ in the two positions, though the structure and primary function 

 may be the same. 



4th. The secretion of Peyer's glands. These may be described as cir- 

 Secretion from cular spots, of a whitish color, and about the tenth of an inch 

 Peyer's glands. j n diameter, constituting glandular patches full of cell germs, 

 but without any excretory duct opening into the intestine. It is sup- 

 posed that they discharge their contents by rupturing at a certain stage 

 of their development. The solitary and agminate glands appear to be- 

 Ftg. 22. long to the same physiological group. 



The two conditions of the Peyerian glands 

 are shown in Fig. 22, the right one being 

 empty, its contents having been discharged, 

 the left one still full. By some it is denied 

 that these bodies are connected with intes- 

 tinal digestion. The facts that vascular 

 loops pass into their granular contents, and 

 Peyenan glands. that the lacfeals bear a definite relation to 



them, seem to indicate that they are rather portions of the absorbent 

 mechanism. 



5th. The bile. Of this it is not now necessary to give a detailed 

 description, since that will occur more appropriately in treat- 

 ing of the functions of the liver. For the present purpose, it 

 is sufficient to state that bile is a greenish-yellow liquid, of bitter taste 

 and alkaline reaction. It is soluble in water, changes with rapidity 

 under the influence of the air, or even spontaneously. Its specific grav- 

 ity is about 1.028. An ultimate analysis of its organic material shows 

 C 76 , H 66 , O 22 , N 2 , with sulphur. Its aspect is therefore that of a hydro- 

 carbon, and it stands in strong contrast with the nitrogenized bodies. 

 It is a significant fact that, even in the lower tribes of life, it is uniformly 

 discharged into the upper part of the intestine. Bidder and Schmidt 

 estimate the diurnal quantity of bile at 54 ounces, containing 5 per 

 cent, of solid matter ; they also give the following table of the diurnal 

 amounts of the various digestive fluids secreted by a man of the stand- 

 ard weight, 140 pounds : 



Diurnal Amount of Digestive Secretions. 



Saliva 3.30 Ibs., containing solid matter 1. per cent. 



Bile 3.30 " " " " 5. " 



Gastric Juice 14.08 " " " " 3. " 



Pancreatic Juice ... .44 " " " " .1 " 



Intestinal Juices ... .44 " " " " 1.5 " 



The bile does not appear to exert any agency in effecting the digestion 

 of either nitrogenized or amylaceous bodies. The period of its max- 



