22 
Proceedings of Poycd Society of Edinburgh. [sess* 
On the Relationship of the Liver to Fats. By D. Noel 
Paton, M.D., F.R.C.P.E., Superintendent of the Research 
Laboratory of the Royal College of Physicians , Edinburgh. 
(Abstract of a paper appearing in extenso in the Journal of Physiology , 
February 1896.) 
(Read December 2, 1895.) 
The liver is on the direct channel of absorption of carbohydrates 
and proteids, and its connection with the metabolism of these 
substances has been fully demonstrated. 
It is not on the channel of absorption of fats, and its relationship 
to the metabolism of fats has never been systematically investi- 
gated. 
The object of the present research is to elucidate this question. 
The first part of the paper is concerned with an investigation 
into the methods of estimating the fats. It is shown that after 
complete extraction with ether, by treating the residue with 
hydrochloric acid and heat, a further amount of material may be 
extracted by ether, but that it is impossible to say how far this is 
composed of the fatty acids previously combined with bases as 
soaps, and how far from the decomposition of nuclein bodies. 
The present research, therefore, is concerned simply with the fats 
extracted by ether. 
It is next shown that the ether extract is no fair measure of the 
amount of fats present, since it contains on an average only 57 per 
cent, of fatty acids. In estimating the amount of fats, it is neces- 
sary to determine the fatty acids, and not merely the ether extract. 
The fatty acids amount to between 2 and 3 per cent, of the liver 
substance. 
In the liver the proportion of palmitic and stearic acids to oleic 
acid is shown to be markedly higher than in the fats of the rest of 
the body. Hence the liver fat has a high melting-point. 
As regards the nature of the compounds of these fatty acids, it 
is found that one of the most important is lecithin. About one- 
half of the acids is usually combined in this substance. About 
2 ’3 per cent, of the liver, or 10 per cent, of its dry solids, is com- 
