J. LeConte—Glycogenie function of the Liver. 103 
albuminoid food in excess of what is required for tissue-building ; 
and 8. All wasie tissues. But since in the mature animal waste 
nated: partly as the nitrogenous matter of the bile, but mostly 
as urea by the kidneys. There are also the same three sources 
of vital force and vital heat, viz: 1. Combustion of amyloi 
f 2. Combustion of the combustible portion of albumin- 
oid food-excess. And 8. Combustion of the combustible por- 
tion of waste tissues. And, for the reason already assigned, this 
is exactly equivalent to combustion of the combustible portion 
of the whole food. Therefore, the sole object of the glycogenic 
are led to anticipate that the failure of this function must 
entirely sap the vitality of the system. That such is a fact we 
shall presently see. 
There are several important conclusions to be drawn from 
the above to which I would next call attention. i 
1. The real function of the liver in this connection is not 
glycogenie or sugar-making as usually supposed, but glyco- 
genic or glycogen-making. Glycogen-making is a true vital 
changes are descensive only. These two opposite processes 1D 
the liver are fully recognized by Claude Bernard, although for 
convenience both processes are called glycogenic. 
