238 THE LIVEB 



THE LIVEK. 



The liver, the largest gland in the body, is shown at Fig. 

 94, and its form in the ox is seen below (Fig. 95.) 



Pig. 05. 



It is divided into several lobes, and receives through a 

 large vein (the vena porta) the whole of the blood returning 

 from the intestine towards the heart. 



One important function is connected with the changes in 

 the blood, enriched by the recent products of digestion, but 

 the purpose it serves in connection with the changes of food in 

 the alimentary canal is due to the gall or bile which it 

 secretes. 



THE BILE. 



Although this secretion is undoubtedly one of the most im- 

 portant in the body, and the means of obtaining it in a state 

 of purity are greater than is the case with most of the other 

 secretions, its chemical composition has only lately been 



