PANCREATIC JUICE 2IQ 



was able to collect from a dog of medium size eighty to one hundred 

 grains (5.2 to 6.5 grams) in an hour. There is no accurate basis 

 for an estimate of the quantity secreted in the twenty-four hours in 

 the human subject or of the quantity necessary for the digestion of a 

 given quantity of food. 



Unlike the gastric juice, the pancreatic juice, under ordinary con- 

 ditions of heat and moisture, rapidly undergoes decomposition, and 

 in warm and stormy weather the alteration is marked in a few hours ; 

 but at a temperature of 50 to 70 Fahr. (10 to 21 C.), it occupies 

 two or three days. As it decomposes, the liquid acquires an offensive 

 putrefactive odor, and its coagulability diminishes until finally it is not 

 affected by heat. The alkalinity, however, increases in intensity, and 

 when neutralized with an acid, there is a considerable evolution of 

 carbon dioxide. 



Pawlow found that an abundant pancreatic secretion was excited 

 by acids ; and it is probable that the acid contents of the stomach, 

 passing into the duodenum, act as a powerful stimulus to the gland. 

 He also showed that dogs with a permanent fistula suffered from 

 erosion of the parts with which the secretion came in contact. This 

 trouble, however, was obviated by having the animals rest on a bed of 

 sand or sawdust, which absorbed the liquid as it was discharged. 



The secretion from the pancreas was collected by Pawlow by attach- 

 ing over the opening in the abdomen the large end of a funnel. The 

 liquid thus obtained had a powerful action on proteids, starch, cane- 

 sugar and fats. Like the gastric juice, the pancreatic secretion pre- 

 sented marked differences in activity after feeding with different articles. 

 Its proteolytic action was strongest after feeding with milk and less 

 with meat and bread ; its amylolytic action was strongest with bread- 

 feeding and less with meat and milk ; and its fat-splitting action was 

 strongest after milk-feeding, less with bread, and intermediate with meat. 



In addition to the great increase in the activity of the pancreatic 

 secretion produced by the presence of the intestinal juice, it is supposed 

 that the spleen secretes a kinase which is carried to the pancreas, 

 unites with trypsinogen and forms tripsin. It can not be thought, 

 however, that this union is essential to the production of an active 

 trypsin ; for this enzyme is formed in animals from wl^ich the spleen 

 has been removed, perhaps by the action of intestinal secretions con- 

 taining enterokinase. The activity of the pancreatic secretion, par- 

 ticularly in the acidification of fats, is much increased by the addition 

 of bile. This well-known fact was confirmed by Pawlow. Added to 

 its other action, the pancreatic juice curdles milk, by virtue of a milk- 

 clotting ferment. 



