128 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OP 



THE PANCREAS AND ITS FUNCTION. 



The pancreas is of light red color, composed of a vast num- 

 ber of glandular bodies, each having a duct or outlet, which 

 finally unites with the biliary duct, and with it enters the 

 duodenum. The fluid secreted by the pancreas is a colorless, 

 limpid fluid ; it forms an emulsion of fat, hence it dissolves the 

 fatty matters of the food, and is an active agent in the prepara- 

 tion of chyle. That the pancreatic juice possesses the property 

 of emulsifying fat is proved from the fact that when the pan- 

 creas is destroyed, and the animal be fed on food containing 

 fatty matter, the latter passes with the faeces, just like fat in an 

 unchanged state. Mr. Gamgee says : — 



" The pancreatic juice has another important use which re- 

 mains to be spoken of; and that is, a peculiar action on nitro- 

 genized substances. If raw meat be placed in some of the 

 juice, the meat speedily softens and putrefies. The same oc- 

 curs with albumen or casein, in the raw state; but if the 

 azotized principles are previously boiled or acted upon by the 

 gastric juice, then they are absolutely dissolved by the secretion 

 of the pancreas. The pancreatic juice, therefore, serves many 

 purposes, and acts on every kind of aliment. 



" Circumstances affecting the digestive function in general 

 have a special influence on the pancreas, and modify its secre- 

 tion ; such is not the case with the salivary glands and their 

 products. The pancreatic juice may, like every other secretion, 

 be found to contain adventitious substances that have acciden- 

 tally entered the blood. Thus, iodide of potassium may be 

 eliminated from the system by the pancreas. It is not so with 

 every salt, the prussiate of potash, for example, never being 

 seen in the pancreatic juice. 



" The pancreatic secretion is formed during infra-uterine life, 

 but we are at a loss to account for its uses then. It is difficult 

 to determine what nervous influences affect its production ; a 

 dose of ether excites it, and pressure on the abdominal viscera 

 likewise tends to its increase ; the efforts of vomiting stop it." 



The pancreas is subject to several forms of disease, and oc- 



