PANCREATIC JUICE. 



243 



invariably changed into glucose. Cane-sugar was not transformed into glu- 

 cose but appeared in the fasces as cane-sugar; and this is important with 

 reference both to the want of action of the intestinal juice upon cane-sugar 

 and the fact that cane-sugar, as such, is not absorbed in quantity by the in- 

 testinal mucous membrane. 



Coagulated albumen and cooked meats were always more or less digested 

 by the intestinal juice. This fact coincides with the observations of Bidder 

 and Schmidt in their experiments upon dogs and cats. 



The observations which were made on fats, melted butter and cod-liver 

 oil showed that the pure intestinal juice had little or no action upon them. 

 These substances always appeared in the fasces unchanged. When, however, 

 fatter matters were taken into the stomach, they were discharged from the 

 upper opening in the intestine, in the form of a very fine emulsion, and could 

 not be recognized as fat. 



It is evident from these facts, that the intestinal juice is important in 

 digestion, more as a fluid which aids the general process as it takes place in 

 the small intestine than as one having a peculiar action upon any distinct 

 class or classes of alimentary substances. It undoubtedly assists in complet- 

 ing the digestion of the albuminoids and in transforming starch into sugar. 

 Although, in the latter process, its action is very marked, the same property 

 belongs to the saliva and the pancreatic juice. Intimately mingled as it 

 always is during digestion with the bile and the pancreatic juice as well as 

 with various aliment- 

 ary substances, the in- 

 testinal juice should 

 be studied as it acts 

 upon the food in con- 

 nection with the other 

 fluids found in the 

 small intestine. 



PANCREATIC JUICE. 



The pancreas is sit- 

 uated transversely in 

 the upper part of the 

 abdominal cavity and 

 is closely applied to 

 its posterior wall. Its 

 form is elongated, pre- 

 senting an enlarged, 

 thick portion, called 

 the head, which is at- 

 tached to the duodenum, a body, and a pointed extremity, which latter is in 

 close relation to the hilum of the spleen. Its average weight is four to five 

 ounces (114-4 to 141*7 grammes); its length is about seven inches (17'78 

 centimetres) ; its greatest breadth, about an inch and a half (3*81 centime- 



FIG. 74. Gall-bladder, ductus choledochus and pancreas (Le Bon), 

 a, gall-bladder ; b, hepatic duct ; c. opening of the second duct of the 

 pancreas ; d, opening of the main pancreatic duct and the bile-duct ; 

 e, e, duodenum ; /, ductus choledochus ; p, pancreas. 



