V4 PANCREATIC JUICE, 



it is produced ? It certainly seems to be destined for 

 some important purpose, from the complicated system 

 of means used for its production, and its being mixed 

 with the chyme immediately after it has left the stom- 

 ach. 



Dr. B. That it is not merely an exerementitious or 

 refuse fluid, but is eminently serviceable in digestion in 

 some way or other, is now pretty generally admitted. 

 But as to the precise part which it accomplishes in the 

 process, we are rather in the dark. Some have thought 

 that it acts merely as a healthy stimulus to the diges- 

 tive organs; others, that it produces those chemical 

 changes on the chyme by which it is converted into 

 chyle. In support of this latter notion some experiments 

 are advanced in which the gall duct was tied, so that the 

 bile was prevented from flowing into the intestinal canal, 

 and the effect upon digestion which was about to com- 

 mence, carefully observed. In all these cases, the 

 chyme was perfectly well formed in the stomach, but the 

 second stage of digestion, or the conversion of chyme in- 

 to chyle, was instantly prevented as no chyle was found 

 in the intestinal canal, but a semi-fluid substance very 

 nearly resembling chyme. 



Emily. But is the bile the only agent of chylifica- 

 tion ? I thought you mentioned that there were several 

 jfiuids poured into the intestinal canal to assist in perform- 

 ing this process. 



Dr. B. There is one other special fluid yet to be 

 mentioned, which is secreted by an organ called the 

 pancreas. It is situated in the back and upper part of 

 the abdomen behind the stomach, and resembles in struc- 

 ture the salivary glands in the mouth. The fluid which 

 it secretes, likewise resembles the saliva and is transmit- 

 ted to the intestinal canal by its proper duct which en- 

 ters it with the duct of the liver. What its exact use is, 

 is not known ; though there can be no doubt that it is 

 highly necessary in the process of chylification, since 



