422 THE GLANDULAR ORGANS. 



iron-containing products is important in view of the fact that the 

 iron which is furnished in the food can apparently be utilized only 

 by the body in the formation of haemoglobin, when introduced in 

 such form. It has hence been suggested that these nucleins after 

 resorption are temporarily stored in the liver until required by the 

 hoemopoietic organs. 



The iron which is present in the liver in molecular combination 

 with the nucleoproteids can be demonstrated only after the isolation 

 of the nucleins in question and their incineration. But in addition 

 we also find iron in combination with albumin as so-called iron- 

 albuminatej from which the metal can be split off by treating 

 with acid alcohol. The presence of this form can be directly 

 demonstrated by moistening a slice of the liver-tissue with hydro- 

 chloric acid, and then with a solution of potassium ferrocyanide or 

 potassium sulphocyanide, when a blue, viz., a red color develops. 

 As regards the origin of these iron-albuminates, the opinion prevails 

 that they are formed within the tissues of the body, and are refer- 

 able to the disintegration of red corpuscles. They are accordingly 

 also found in the spleen and the bone-marrow, and are met with 

 in increased amounts in conditions which are associated with an 

 increased destruction of red corpuscles. Large quantities are thus 

 especially noted in cases of pernicious anaemia, in acute infantile 

 gastritis, and in poisoning with arsenious hydride, where their 

 presence constitutes the phenomenon of so-called siderosis of the 

 liver. According to Vay, the average quantity of iron-albuminate 

 which can be isolated from the fresh organ under normal conditions 

 .amounts to from 0.15 to 0.3 per cent., corresponding to from 0.01 

 to 0.018 per cent, of iron. The total amount of iron which is 

 normally found in the liver-cells during adult life is subject to con- 

 siderable variation, which is more extensive in men (0.048 to 0.367 

 per cent.) than in women (0.05 to 0.092 per cent.). On an average 

 the cells of women contain less iron than the cells of men. The 

 lowest values are found between the twentieth and the twenty-fifth 

 year. 



The occurrence of especially large amounts of iron in the liver of 

 newly born animals is probably referable to the hsemapoietic activity 

 of the organ during embryonic life. 



Isolation of the Iron-containing Nucleins. To prevent any con- 

 tamination with haemoglobin, it is necessary to remove all traces of 

 blood from the liver. To this end, Bunge has suggested the follow- 

 ing method : in the living animal which has been anaesthetized with 

 morphin and chloroform a cannula is tied into the portal vein. 

 Through this a stream of a 1 per cent, solution of sodium chlo- 

 ride heated to the body temperature is introduced under moderate 

 pressure. As soon as the solution begins to flow the hepatic artery 

 and the hepatic veins are divided and the abdomen closed. A 

 minute later it is reopened, the liver is dissected out and placed 

 in a porcelain bowl, while the transfusion is continued. The bowls 



