ABSORPTION OF FATS, 459 



offers no explanation of the mode in which the fat granules get into 

 the epithelial cells; he considers that the bile must essentially assist 

 in the process, partially by aiding the emulsification of the fats, and 

 partially by making the surface of the epithelium capable of being 

 wetted by the fats, which naturally facilitates the absorption. He 

 is further of opinion that the fat globules are passed on out of 

 the columnar epithelial cells by means of the contractions of the 

 cell protoplasm ; and that these on their further path to the lacteal, 

 apart from the small part eaten up by the leucocytes, pass in a 

 free condition through the intercellular spaces, and are first broken up 

 into the very fine granules characteristic of chyle when passing into 

 the lacteal. 



The effects of absence of the pancreatic juice or bile on the 

 absorption of fats. The results on record as to the absorption of fat, 

 when the action of the pancreatic juice is removed by excision of the 

 pancreas, ligature of the pancreatic ducts, or establishment of a pan- 

 creatic fistula, vary considerably ; although there is a concurrence of 

 opinion amongst recent observers l that the absorption of fat is 

 hindered to a greater or lesser extent by the absence of the secretion. 

 Minkowski 2 and Abelmann 3 found that no fat, except that of milk, was 

 absorbed after complete removal of the pancreas, and this was only 

 absorbed to the extent of 28 to 53 per cent. ; the failure of absorption 

 was not due to absence of fatty acids, for 80 per cent, of the ether 

 extract of the fseces was found to be free fatty acid. 



Minkowski believes that the absorption of the milk fat is due to this emul- 

 sion being able to withstand an acid reaction, but the absorption of other fats, 

 when pancreas is given with the fat, points rather to some specific function 

 of the pancreatic juice, for this pancreatic tissue could not materially alter the 

 reaction of the intestine ; besides, fat absorption takes place normally from 

 the dog's intestine in presence of an acid reaction. Sandmeyer 4 found in 

 dogs in which the pancreas had been partially extirpated, that the amount of 

 fat absorption was very variable ; occasionally no fat at all was absorbed, 

 and at other times, with the same animal, 30 and even 78 per cent, of the fat 

 was absorbed. 



Teichmann 5 found by microscopic examination that fat absorption in the 

 rabbit was not influenced to any marked extent by ligature of the pancreatic 

 duct. Fr. Miiller 6 observed a considerable amount of fat absorption in a patient 

 with a pancreatic fistula. Vaughan Harley 7 extirpated the pancreas completely 

 in dogs, killed the animals a varying number of hours after feeding on milk, 



1 On the other hand, Cohn (Bull. Acad. de med., Paris, 1856) found that the absorp- 

 tion of fat was not affected when the pancreatic juice was allowed to escape from a fistula. 

 Cash (Arcli.f. Anat. u. Physiol., Leipzig, 1880, S. 323) ligatured both pancreatic ducts in the 

 dog, and found that fat was still absorbed. Schiff (Jahresb. u. d. Fortschr. d. Thier- 

 Cliem., Wiesbaden, 1872, Bd. ii. S. 222) shut out the pancreatic secretion by injecting 

 paraffin into the duct, and found that fat to the amount of 120 to 150 grms. per diem was 

 still absorbed. 



2 Von Mering and MinkoAvski, Arch. f. exper. Path. u. Pharmakol., Leipzig, 1890, Bd. 

 xxvi. S. 371. 



3 Inaug. Diss., Dorpat, 1890 ; Minkowski, Berl. klin. Wchtischr., 1890, S. 333. 



4 Ztschr.f. BioL, Mtinchen, 1895, Bd. xxxi. S. 12. See also Rosenberg, Arch. f. Anat. 

 u. Physiol. , Leipzig, 1896, Physiol. Abth., S. 535. 



5 " Mikroskop. Beitr. z. Lehre von der Fettresorption," Diss., Breslau, 1891. 



6 Ztschr.f. Tclin. Med., Berlin, 1887, Bd. xii. S. 45. Defective fat absorption, however, 

 undoubtedly accompanies disease of the pancreas, or occlusion of its duct in most cases ; see 

 Bright, Mcd.-Chir. Trans., London, 1832; Ziehl, Deutsche med. Wchnschr., Leipzig, 1883, 

 S. 538 ; le Nobel, Deutschcs Arch. f. klin. Med., Leipzig, 1888, Bd. xliii. S. 285. 



7 Journ. Physiol., Cambridge and London, 1895, vol. xviii. p. 1. 



