210 



Dr. Dobell on the Special Action of 



[Dec. 12, 



whether this is altered hy the length of time that has elapsed since the 

 last meal, the following experiment was made with the assistance of Mr. 

 Schweitzer and of Mr. Harris of Calne, who kindly placed his extensive 

 pig-killing establishment at our service for the purpose. 



On March 22, 1866, forty pigs were killed, and the pancreas of each 

 examined immediately after death ; the killing and examination were so 

 rapidly conducted, that the pancreas was in each case examined while warm 

 from the body ; and the killing and examination of the forty pigs in suc- 

 cession occupied less than an hour. 



The pigs were killed ten at a time. The first ten had been fed two 

 hours before they were killed, the second ten five hours, the third ten nine 

 hours, and the fourth ten had not been fed for two days. 



The pancreas in each group presented the same characters in size, 

 colour, and reaction. Each pancreas was cut through so as to lay open 

 the principal duct, but in no case was there any fluid in the duct. Litmus- 

 paper was applied to the interior of the duct and to the divided gland- 

 cells, and on being pressed sufficiently against the tissues to absorb 

 moisture, the paper was in each case reddened where it was moistened. 

 This acid reaction v/as not found in the fat and muscles of the animal. 



At my request, Dr. Collins, of Albert Terrace, Kegent's Park, examined 

 the reaction of the pancreas in a series of cases at the moment when all 

 the digestive organs were under active excitement. He gave the pigs a 

 good and relishing meal, and while they were eating it, divided the spinal 

 marrow in the neck, so as to destroy sensation in the body. The pigs 

 were then immediately cut open, the pancreas removed, and its reaction 

 examined. On August 3rd he wrote me, As you requested, I have tried 

 a series of experiments upon the pancreas, parotid, and sublingual gland;:. 

 The two latter have a decidedly acid reaction, but the pancreas I am not 

 quite so certain about ; in one batch of pigs killed in Buckinghamshire it 

 was alkaline, but in another lot in Hertfordshire it was acid." 



The reaction of the pancreas is always acid when it reaches the labora- 

 tory for experiment as quickly as possible after removal from the animal. 

 This we have proved in many hundreds of instances. 



To discover the influence of the pancreas upon fat, the fresh pancreas of 

 the pig, freed from all adhering blood and other extraneous matters, was 

 cut into small pieces, bruised, and mixed with lard ; and to this mixture 

 water was gradually added. In the bruised condition the pancreas had an 

 acid reaction. By stirring this mixture of pancreas, lard, and water, the 

 fatty character disappeared, a thick, white, creamy fluid being formed, which, 

 on standing, solidified into a firm pasty mass. This mass had also an 

 acid reaction. In order to free it from the debris of pancreas, it was 

 pressed through muslin, and a uniform smooth creaiiiy emulsion remained. 

 This emulsion rapidly putrefied, but remained a permanent emulsion until 

 putrefaction set in. 



