148 THE LIVER! ITS FUNCTIONS; [BOOK I. 



Into the liver is brought the blood which has 

 been sent from the heart to circulate and nourish 

 the whole system (except a portion which the 

 kidneys attract) ; a service that is performed by 

 means of a great blood-vessel they call vena porta, 

 that passes along the right side of the spine. In 

 size very large, and always filled in health, a sight 

 of this vessel shows how busily employed the liver 

 must be, in separating from so great a quantity of 

 blood the bitter qualities it has obtained by having 

 passed through the animal's system, and imbibed 

 whatever might there lurk of the offensive, the 

 diseased, or the infectious. It proves, also, that any 

 disease with which it may be attacked, must be pro- 

 portionably violent in its progress, and tedious to 

 cure, inasmuch as both will depend upon the state 

 every other viscus and secretory organ may be in. 

 through which the blood happens to have passed. 

 Are the kidneys, or either of them, inflamed ? the 

 blood which has recently passed through them 

 comes to the liver to get rid of its noisomeness, in 

 the form of bile. Is an abscess to be dispersed, 

 and the acrid matter driven from the part to be 

 taken up by the lymphatics ? (see section 29.), at 

 the liver it is strained off, and here must be imparted 

 a portion of its baleful qualities in the form of bile. 

 It follows of course, that whatever medicine is 

 directed towards the liver must go thither by means 

 of the circulation, i. e. through the absorbents : 

 for schirrous liver this is best accomplished by the 

 lymphatics; for inflamed, or rather enlarged liver, 



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