OP THE ALIMENTARY CANAL 121 



of tryptic digestion of the skin around the wound, 

 such as is so trying for surgeon and patient in some 

 cases after operation for acute pancreatitis, pancreatic 

 cysts, rupture of the pancreas, or artificial anus in 

 the small intestine. One of Pawlow's dogs, suffering 

 in this way, kept on tearing down mortar from the 

 wall to lie upon, and by so doing greatly improved 

 the condition. The hint was acted upon, and after- 

 wards a bed of sand or mortar was always provided, 

 and the excoriation avoided. 



About a month after the operation, most of the 

 animals became very weak and refused food, and 

 several died. Yet there had been no loss of weight, 

 there was no peritonitis, and merely ligating the 

 pancreatic duct produced no such symptoms ; 

 indeed, no special harm resulted. Pawlow concluded 

 that the loss of juice must be the cause of the trouble, 

 so a diet of milk and bread, which excites the smallest 

 flow of secretion, was substituted for meat, which 

 excites the greatest flow, and alkaHes were given 

 regularly by mouth. By these means the dangerous 

 symptoms were entirely averted. 



Both the above experiences may help us in 

 dealing with some special difiiculties in surgical cases 

 after operations on the pancreas. For the sand or 

 mortar, bags containing some drying powder would 

 probably be substituted. 



THE BILE. 



We may dismiss the recent researches on the bile 

 in a very few words, as their clinical bearing is not 

 yet apparent. 



