212 CIRCULATING FLUIDS: 



contain fewer corpuscles, but, at the same time, less albumen, 

 tlian the blood of the vena portaj. 



It is impossible to account for so large an amount of albumen 

 in the blood of the hepatic vein, if we consider the quantity of 

 bile which is secreted by the healthy liver, and attribute its 

 formation to the elements of the plasma alone ; whereas, if we 

 consider the bile to be formed at the expense of the blood- 

 corpuscles, the peculiarities in the blood of the hepatic vein are 

 at once accounted for. 



In addition to the separation of the bile, the liver effects a 

 further change in the blood by drawing from that fluid the 

 soiu'ces of its own nutrition. These two processes merge into 

 one, which may be regarded as the product of the development 

 of the hepatic cells. The formation and secretion of such a 

 complicated fluid as the bile, by the action of the hepatic cells 

 on the plasma, may be dependent on various causes. The entire 

 structure of an organ must necessarily correspond with its func- 

 tions, and with every variety of internal organization there will 

 be a corresponding variation in the secretion. The action of 

 the hepatic cells on the plasma is different from that of the 

 renal or other glandular cells, in consequence of the difference 

 of their chemical action on the blood. The nerves also seem 

 to influence the secretions. 



Further, since the plasma has been modified in its progress 

 through the liver by the solution of a large number of blood- 

 corpuscles, a corresponding new product must be evolved from 

 it by the hepatic cells. I have previously stated that the de- 

 velopment, and especially the ultimate solution of the blood- 

 corpuscles may occur in all parts of the peripheral system, if a 

 sufficient supply of oxygen be present. I have shown that a 

 large quantity of fully developed corpuscles accumulates in the 

 blood of the vena portse, in consequence of its torpid motion 

 and the want of a due supply of oxygen ; if this blood mixes 

 in the capillaries with the Avell-oxygenised blood of the hepatic 

 artery, it is not difficult to conceive that a proportionably larger 

 quantity of blood-corpuscles is thus dissolved in a given time 

 than at many other parts of the peripheral system, that the 

 plasma may thus become changed, and that the product of the 

 general action of the hepatic cells may be different. 



It is well known that the liver is one of the most active 



