28 J. LeConte—Glycogenic Function of the Liver. 
the sympathetic or vaso-moter system. In muscular contrac- 
tion, on the other hand, the discharge is powerful and periodic, 
and under the influence of the voluntary or of the reflex system. 
8. It is probable also, nay almost certain, that the first de- 
composition of tissue, short of combustion, i. e. the first forma- 
tion of waste, being a descensive change, a change from a less 
stable to a more stable condition, is itself a process by which 
heat and other forms of 2 are generated. This of course 
takes place only in the ti 
My view, therefore, is vovied as follows: The liver-sugar 
formed from the sources already mentioned, 1st, commences to 
burn in the capillaries of the lungs, and 2nd, continues to burn 
in the course of the arterial circulation. ‘The combustion thus 
far produces only heat. But 8rd, the main combustion takes 
place in the capillaries, probably under the influence of nerve- 
discharge, and this part generates not only heat but other jorms 
of force characteristic of the peculiar tissue. But the fact that 
the main combustion takes place in contact with the tissues, 
has misled physiologists to believe that the tissues themselves 
are burned. 
It seems to me that Se brat do not even yet sufficiently 
appreciate the function of t ood as a reservoir. lood 
must be regarded as a reservoir not only for oxygen and car- 
bonic acid, but also and still more for jood, for fuel and for 
waste. It is now well recognized as a reservoir for oxygen and 
carbonic acid, but not sufficiently for food and waste. The 
tissue-food of ‘to-day, is not used for building to-day; but the 
blood is drafted upon for materials for this purpose and re- 
supplies itself from albuminoid food. The amyloid food of to- 
day, is not burned to-day; but the blood is drafted upon for 
fuel and re-supplies itself from the liver, while the liver in its 
turn, re supplies itself from the amyloid food.* So also waste 
tissue of to-day is not mainly burned and eliminated to-day ; 
but the blood is again drafted upon for fuel from this source 
and re-supplies itself from the liver and the liver from the 
tissues. 
Finally, it will be observed that the view which I here 
present, as to the disposal of waste, is in some respects inter- 
mediate between the view of the old physiologists under the 
guidance of Lavoisier, and the usual modern view. According 
to the old view, waste is dissolved in the blood, carried to the 
eliminating organs especially the lungs, and there burned with 
rejection of the products of combustion. The lungs is there- 
* The mt enh with which the fuel-supply i in the blood is exhausted by activity 
and restored by food, is far greater in some insects, e.g., bees, than in higher 
In se es, one hour of riggs ha rape food entirely exhausts, while 
restores in tive minutes. ae e result of the extraordinary nervous and mus- 
eular activity of these inse 
