THE LIVER. 423 



are changed until perfectly clear saline solution flows from the veins. 

 To attain this end, the transfusion need be carried on for only a few 

 minutes. If successfully performed, the liver should present a uni- 

 formly light-brown color, and a portion of the minced organ when 

 placed in distilled water should leave this entirely uncolored. The 

 gall-bladder is now removed, the organ pressed between filter-paper, 

 finely hashed, and enveloped in muslin. It is then thoroughly 

 kneaded under water. The connective tissue and vessels are thus 

 separated from the cellular elements and remain behind. The cells 

 are thoroughly extracted with water and with dilute saline solution, 

 by decantation, until all soluble substances have been removed. 

 They are then digested with gastric juice. The non-digested residue 

 is extracted with acidulated alcohol and subsequently with ether, to 

 remove pigments, cholesterin, and fats. It is then treated with 

 weak ammonia- water, which dissolves the iron-containing nucleins. 

 From this solution they are precipitated with absolute alcohol when 

 added in excess. The resulting material constitutes the hepatin of 

 Zaleski. The other iron-containing nuclein is apparently present 

 in the liver as a nucleo-albumin, and is found in this form in the 

 saline extract of the cells. To demonstrate its presence, the previ- 

 ous extraction with saline solution is omitted. If the residue of 

 nucleins, which remains after digestion with gastric juice, is then 

 placed in a solution of ammonium sulphide, a greenish color gradu- 

 ally develops which ultimately turns black, owing to the forma- 

 tion of sulphide of iron. The hepatin itself does not give this 

 reaction. Neither substance gives up its iron, even when treated 

 with acidulated alcohol l for days, thus differing from the iron albu- 

 minate, which behaves in this manner exactly like inorganic prep- 

 arations of iron. 



Isolation of the Iron-containing Albuminates. In this case it is 

 not necessary previously to wash out the blood. The organ is 

 minced without further preparation, and is placed in from three to 

 four times its volume of water. The mixture is slowly heated, 

 boiled for about fifteen minutes, and filtered on cooling. The filtrate 

 is carefully precipitated with a 10 per cent, solution of tartaric acid. 

 The resulting flocculent material, which presents a brown color, is 

 collected on a filter, washed with a weak solution of tartaric acid, 

 then with 50 per cent, alcohol, and finally with absolute alcohol. It 

 contains about 6 per cent, of iron. It is soluble in solutions of the 

 alkalies, and does not react with ammonium sulphide at once. After 

 a few minutes, however, the solution becomes darker and gradually 

 turns black. On treating with acid alcohol (see above) the iron is 

 split off, and can be directly demonstrated by testing with potassium 

 ferrocyanide or potassium sulphocyanide. Schmiedeberg has termed 

 the substance in question ferratin, and regards it as a ferri-albuminic 

 acid. 



1 The acidulated alcohol contains 10 volumes of a 25 per cent, solution of hydro- 

 chloric acid and 90 volumes of 96 per cent, alcohol (Bunge's fluid). 



