204 REPORT-—1868. 
The above scries of observations was undertaken with a view to ascertain 
the average amount of bile secreted daily previous to the administration of 
mercury to the animal. It was thought necessary to collect the bile for six 
consecutive days before calculating its average daily amount; for, as is evident 
from the Table, the secretion was very inconstaut. Thus on June 15th the 
quantity secreted was only about a half of what it was upon the 11th. 
In the above Table three days (the 13th, 14th, and 16th) have been 
omitted, owing to a portion of the bile having been lest. ‘This resulted from 
slipping of the apparatus. Despite every care in its adjustment, it was some- 
times so shifted by the movements of the animal that the canula was dragged 
out of the fistula, and the bile consequently lost. 
The average daily amount of bile secreted during the six days was 119-76 
grammes of fluid bile, 7-622 grammes of bile solids, and 1:259 gramme of 
bile salts*. The daily amount of food consumed during the whole period was 
uniform. This was due to the fact that for some days previous to the com- 
mencement of the bile-collections the dog was offered an excess of food; the 
amount consumed was estimated, and this amount was given on subsequent 
days, and always entirely eaten by the animal. With a view to assimilate 
all the Tables, a column for water is introduced, although in this case none 
was given, 
In this and all the following Tables, the amount of fiuid bile, bile solids, and 
salts secreted is estimated with regard to cach kilogramme-weight of the 
animal, and each 100 grammes of dry food consumed by it. In columns 5 and 
6 of the foregoing Table these estimates are made on the days when the maxi- 
mum and minimum quantities of bile were secreted; and the avérage quantities 
given at the foot of these columns are, in this and all the subsequent Tables, 
estimated from the average quantities of columns 2, 3, and 4. Columns 5 and 
6 have a special physiological interest, and will be afterwards referred to at 
length. For the present the attention of the reader need not be directed to 
column 5, for the experience of the Committee has shown that there is no 
relation between the amount of bile secreted and the weight of the animal ; 
the relation between the amount of food consumed and the quantity of bile 
secreted is not a very close one either (as the foregoing Table is sufficient to 
show), yet in some cases it seems to be such as to render necessary its being 
taken into account when the influence of any agent upon the biliary secretion 
is under consideration +. 
During all the observations on this animal, however, the same amount of 
food was taken daily; therefore any variation in the biliary secretion cannot 
be ascribed to variation in the dict, so that the relation between the sccre- 
tion of bile and amount of food may in this case for the present be disre- 
garded. 
On the 19th of June it was found necessary to discontinue the observations, 
as the pressure of the apparatus had caused ulceration of the skin over the 
sternum, and the fistula had assumed a very irritable appearance. The 
wound having healed, and the fistula become more healthy, the observations 
were resumed on the 28th of June, and continued for other six consecutive 
days. 
The results are given in the following Table :— 
* By the term bile sa/¢s in this and all subsequent Tables is meant the inorganic solids 
of the bile left after its incineration. 
t To give completeness to the Tables the absolute amount of dry food taken daily or on 
some particular day, together with the amount consumed per kilogramme of dog, has been 
given. 
