208 CIRCULATING FLUIDS : 



The large proportion of fat is chiefly attributable to the 

 fluids that are produced during the act of digestion^ and which 

 are conveyed into the portal vein. In examining this blood 

 under the microscope, I have seen that it is rich in fat globules. 

 The deep yellow (or sometimes even brown) tinge of the fat is 

 produced by hsemapheein, which is very soluble in fat and cannot 

 easily be extracted from it. 



The fatty acids do not seem to undergo any change in the 

 liver, for we find them, as well as the cholesterin of the blood, 

 again in the bile. The cholesterin is particularly abundant, 

 and is probably one of the products of the function of the liver. 



Properties of the blood of the hepatic vein ; — its comparison 

 ivith the blood of the vena porta. 



I am not aware of any analyses of the blood of the hepatic 

 vein having been made previously to my own. 



Very important conclusions might doubtless be drawn re- 

 specting the constitution of the bile, by contrasting the analyses 

 of the blood of the vena portae with that of the hepatic vein, 

 if it were not that we had to take into consideration with the 

 former the blood of the hepatic artery with which it mixes in 

 the capillaiy system of the liver. 



As the contents of the hepatic vein are discharged into the 

 vena cava inferior, immediately as it leaves the organ, it is no 

 easy matter to obtain any considerable quantity of the blood in 

 a pure and unmixed state. 



Professor Gurlt has kindly assisted me in collecting specimens 

 of this blood from horses. 



The blood of the hepatic vein diff'ers, in several respects, from 

 any of the forms of blood that have been hitherto considered. 



It appears to be darker than the blood of the vena portse, 

 (when contrasted with it,) but becomes of a somewhat brighter 

 colour by continued stii'ring. 



The separation of the fibrin is more difficult and tedious than 

 from the blood of the vena portse, and this constituent, when 

 deposited on the rod, is possessed of very little consistence, 

 is soft, gelatinous, and difficult to wash, a portion of it falling 

 to pieces and being distributed through the water. The 

 blood, after the removal of the fibrin by whipping, continues 

 to manifest a tendency to gelatinize; the blood-corpuscles de- 



