THE BILE. 239 



satisfactorily investigated, and its physiology is still almost 

 ignored. The bile is obtained in a state of purity from the 

 gall-bladder of an animal recently killed, or by means of a 

 biliary fistula from the living animals. The dog is usually 

 selected for this operation, for the reasons we mentioned 

 when speaking of gastric fistulse, viz., the small risk of peri- 

 toneal inflammation. An incision three or four inches long, 

 is made in the linea alba, commencing at the xyphoid car- 

 tilage, and the peritoneum having been carefully divided, 

 the liver is raised, when the gall-bladder comes into view. 

 This, seized with a pair of forceps, and drawn to the surface, 

 the cystic and hepatic ducts are seen joining to form the 

 common bile duct (ductus coinmunis choledocus) which is 

 easily seen entering the duodenum. Two ligatures are then 

 passed around this duct, one being placed as near the gut as 

 possible, the other near the origin of the duct. The portion 

 between the two ligatures is cut out. 



The gall-bladder is now fixed to the anterior part of the 

 wound by means of metallic sutures, and then opened suffi- 

 ciently to admit the little finger. The rest of the wound is 

 closed by metallic sutures the quilled suture is perhaps the 

 best. Care must be taken to bring the wound in the muscles 

 together before sewing up that of the skin. After the opera- 

 tion a wide roller is passed around the belly of the dog, a 

 hole being made in it to allow the escape of the bile. If 

 matters proceed satisfactorily, the wound in the abdominal 

 wall heals, except where the opening in the gall-bladder be- 

 comes adherent. Through this all the bile secreted by the 

 liver leaves the body, and may be collected by a suitable ap- 

 paratus. The bile is a slightly viscid liquid, generally of a 

 greenish colour, possessing an intensely bitter taste, and a 

 somewhat fragrant odour. Its specific gravity is, according 

 to Lehman, about 1/02. Its reaction is either neutral or very 



