386 THE LIVER. 



MARXER l have recently in an important work given the theory of internal 

 secretion a strong support, if their work is substantiated. These investi- 

 gators have not only given further proof of the antagonism between 

 the adrenals and the pancreas, but they have obtained a preparation 

 from the pancreas, in a manner not described in detail, which causes 

 in dogs as well as in man a diminution in the elimination of sugar (and 

 acetone bodies) in diabetes, and an improvement in the general condition. 



This internal secretion of the pancreas has in recent times been sup- 

 posed to be connected with the so-called islands of LANGERHANS; but no 

 positive results have been obtained in this connection. Nor are we 

 acquainted with the kind of active substance here formed. 



The glycolytic property of the blood as shown by LEPINE was con- 

 sidered for a time to be due to a glycolytic enzyme formed in the pancreas, 

 and pancreas diabetes used to be explained by the fact that the action 

 of this enzyme was removed when the gland was extirpated. This 

 glycolysis is not sufficient, even if it is derived from the pancreas, to 

 explain the transformation of the large quantity of sugar in the body, 

 and for the destruction of sugar we are also obliged to accept a glycolysis 

 in the organs and tissues. Opinions in regard to this glycolysis- differ 

 in certain points. According to one view (SPITZER and others) special 

 oxidases are active in the glycolysis, while another (STOKLASA) considers 

 the glycolysis as analogous to alcoholic fermentation, where we have 

 processes brought on by special tissue zymases. 



The prevailing opinions hold that (Chapter IV) alcoholic fermenta- 

 tion takes plage in two steps. In the first step lactic acid is produced 

 from the sugar and in the second the lactic acid splits into carbon 

 dioxide and alcohol. According to STOKLASA 2 and his collaborators 

 a decomposition of sugar occurs in the animal tissues in a similar 

 manner by the analogous action of enzymes. Many objections have 

 been advanced from various quarters against these investigations, which 

 seem to indicate that in these cases the experimenters were dealing with 

 the action of micro-organisms. 3 According to HAMMARSTEN the claims 

 of STOKLASA and his collaborators are not disproved, and we cannot 

 dispute the possibility that in the animal tissues as well as in the 

 plant 4 tissues in anaerobic respiration, an alcoholic fermentation may 



1 Deutsch. med. Wochenschr., 1908. 



2 Hofmeister's Beitrage, 3, Centralbl. f. Physiol., 16, 17, 18; Ber. d. d. chem. 

 Gesellsch., 38; also with Czerny, ibid., 36; with Jelinek, Simacgk and Vitek, Pfluger's 

 Arch., 101. 



3 See the works of O. Cohnheim, Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 39, 42, 43; Batelli, 

 Compt. rend., 137; Portier, Compt. rend. soc. biol., 57. 



4 See Palladin, Zeitschr. f . physiol. Chem., 55 and 56. 



