212 



THE FLUIDS. 



however, shown by Fig. 370, and explained in the section upon 

 the liver. 



Fig. 118. 



Fig. 119. 



Diagram of the arrangement of the cellular parenchyma 

 (6 &) of the human liver, with reference to the radicals of 

 the interlobular ducts (a a), and the vascular spaces (c c). 



Isolated cells of the liver. a. 

 Nucleus. 6. Nucleolus. c. Oil-parti- 

 cles. 



The sugar formed by the 

 liver is not an element of 

 the bile (p. 70). It is found 

 in the "parenchyma" of 

 the liver, and is greatly 

 increased in diabetes. 



Function. Several dis- 

 tinct functions have been 

 ascribed to the bile: 



1. It neutralizes the acids of the gastric fluid, when the contents 

 of the stomach enter the duodenum. The latter always react acid ; 

 but it is to the quickly decomposing acids of the bile that the acidity 

 is due. It also precipitates the substances dissolved by the gastric 

 fluid, and hardens those softened by it. (Bernard.) 



2. It prevents the putrefactive decomposition of the contents of 

 the intestine; holding them, as it were, in statu quo till the pan- 

 creatic fluid exerts its peculiar action upon them. 



3. The power attributed to bile in dissolving fat has been over- 

 rated ; though it cannot be wholly denied. It is a well known fact 

 that bile removes greasy stains ; and it has been shown that fat 

 passes much more easily through membranes saturated with bile 

 than through those moistened with water. It is also found that 

 2J times less fat is absorbed from the intestine when the access of 

 bile is prevented. The influence of bile, therefore, in aid of the 

 absorption of fat is undoubted. 



4. Finally, bile aids in securing a regularity of defecation, from 

 its stimulating effects upon the muscular coat of the alimentary canal. 



Pathological States of the Bile. 



Albumen is found in the bile in the embryonic state, some- 

 times in fatty liver, in Bright's disease, and in cases of abscess of 



