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MANUAL OF PHYSIOLOGY. 



uble materials taken from the intestinal canal, namely, proteids, 

 sugar, salts, and probably some fats ; and it has been profoundly 

 modified by the changes taking place in the spleen. 



It is from this blood that the liver-cells manufacture the starch- 

 like substance above mentioned. This substance was discovered 

 by Claude Bernard, and called by him Glycogen, on account of 

 the great facility with which it is converted into sugar in the 



FIG. 164. 



Diagram of the Portal Vein (/>') arising in the alimentary tract and 

 spleen (*), and carrying the blood from these organs to the liver. 



presence of certain ferments which exist in the liver itself and in 

 most tissues after death. Shortly after the death of an animal 

 the tissue of the liver, and also the blood contained in the hepatic 

 veins, are extremely rich in sugar, which has been formed by the 

 fermentation of the hepatic glycogen. The quantity of sugar is 

 in proportion to the length of time that has elapsed since the 



