212 



Dr. Dobell on the Action of the Fancreas. 



[Dec. 12, 



being solely due to absorption of water, as proved by beating tbe pan- 

 creatized fat, wben tbe water separates, and the pancreatized fat is recon- 

 verted into ordinary lard. 



In all tbe foregoing respects tbe pancreatic emulsion of fat differs en- 

 tirely from all otber kinds of em-ulsion of fatty matter, wbether chemical 

 or mechanical. All other emulsions of fat are destroyed by ether, tbe fat 

 being restored at once to its original condition. 



The influence exerted by the pancreas upon fats, therefore, appears 

 to operate by breaking up the aggregation of the crystals of the fat and 

 altering its hydration. It alters the molecular condition of the fat, 

 mingling it with water in such a way that even ether cannot separate 

 the fat from the water. A permanent emulsion is thus formed ready to 

 mix with a larger quantity of water whenever it may be added. 



The pancreas, therefore, in acting upon fat, does not decompose it into 

 fatty acid and glycerine, the absence of the glycerine from the watery 

 stratum (5), and the presence of the glycerine in the pancreatized fat of the 

 ethereal stratum (a), having been demonstrated. 



Action of the jiancreas upon starch. — It is well known that, in addition 

 to the influence of the pancreas upon fat, it has the power of converting 

 starch into glycose by simple mixture. This property remains to a certain 

 extent after the pancreas has exhausted its property of acting upon fat. 

 The quantity of pancreas which before mixture with fat will convert about 

 eight parts of starch into glycose, after saturation with fat will still con- 

 vert about two parts of starch into glycose. 



Second object. — To discover a means of preserving the active principles 

 of the pancreas in a form suitable for experiment in the laboratory, and 

 for administration as a remedial agent. 



The properties of the pancreas can be extracted from the tissue of the 

 gland by means of water. This watery fluid putrefies very rapidly. It 

 has an acid reaction, a deep yellow colour, coagulates largely by boiling, 

 leaving the colour of the fluid unaltered. It may be precipitated by lead- 

 solution, and decomposed again by sulphuretted hydrogen. 



When this watery fluid is evaporated, it forms a syrupy extract, which is 

 highly hygroscopic and very difficult to dry. With great care and tr(^ble, 

 however, it may be dried. For general purposes, the drying is greatly 

 facilitated by adding a dry absorbing-powder, such as powdered malt. 

 For experimental purposes, it may be used in its pure uudried state of 

 syrupy extract, but must in that case be used fresh. In the dry state, 

 either pure or mixed with malt-dust, it may be kept good for an indefinite 

 length of time, if protected from moisture in a well-closed bottle. This 

 extract of the pancreas, containing the active principles of the pancreas in 

 the highest degree of efficiency, whether fluid or powdered, I call " pan- 

 creatine," This term is used only for convenience' sake, and must in no 

 way be understood to signify that tbe property possessed by it is single. 

 All ^tteftiptf to l^pjftte tbf i^v^rftl torpp^yijf^ pf pnnfte^i frrfo §rpftrfttg 



