Diseases of the Liver. 445 



associated with destruction of its secretory parenchyma or with 

 disturbances in the entrance or exit of blood, should be followed 

 by numerous reactive efifects upon the general body. The chem- 

 ical function of the liver does not extend merely to the production 

 of bile and furnishing of glycogen, but is directed to the pro- 

 duction of a large number of enzymes having for their purpose 

 the dissolution, transformation, precipitation or complete de- 

 struction of toxic material circulating through the blood, but 

 brought to the liver especially from the intestine. The liver 

 possesses, therefore, an antitoxic function, and is a toxolytic 

 organ of the greatest importance. According to Bangger and 

 Zschokke the following enzymes have been isolated from the 

 liver or bile; maltase, glykase, a proteolytic ferment (similar to 

 trypsin), nucleinic ferment, aldehydase, Hpase, fibrin ferment, a 

 milk curdling ferment : and there have also been recognized a fer- 

 ment capable of forming ammonium and urea from the amido 

 acids, one forming glycogen from sugar or the reverse change 

 (of sugar from glycogen), another forming iron and bilirubin 

 from hemoglobin, and finally one causing the combination of 

 cholic acid with glycocol and taurin. and of phenol with ethyl- 

 sulphuric acid. A large number of alkaloids are rendered com- 

 pletely or partly inert by the liver. Schiflf proved experimentally 

 that a dose of nicotine, which is fatal if injected into a peripheral 

 vein, is Vv'ithout effect if injected through the portal vein, and 

 that an infusion of nicotine made into an emulsion with fresh 

 liver tissue loses its toxic properties, while if rubbed up with 

 muscle or nervous tissue quickly evinces its toxicity. In the 

 same way strychnine, cicutine. veratrine, caffeine, atropine, curare 

 and animal toxines. extracts from putrefied tissue, have been 

 found to be less toxic if mixed with liver tissue or injected by 

 wav of the portal vein so that they must first pass through the 

 liver. Roger has shown that the portal blood before coming to 

 the liver contains a considerable amount of toxic substances 

 apparently absorbed from the intestine: the blood of the other 

 veins of the bodv. on the contrary, showing a far less toxic quality 

 in spite of the fact ihat it carries with it various metaboHc prod- 

 ucts from the tissues. The intestine is a chemical laboratory in 

 which a great quantity of bodies of the most varied character are 

 formed from the combination of the digestive juices with the 

 food: and then, too, the myriads of bacteria which inhabit the 

 intestine give origin to products of more or less toxic nature. 



