ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
649 
In this way, possibly, its fatty degeneration may be explained — - 
from the accumulation of the elements of fat — carbon and 
hydrogen — in it. Also its condition in the first stages of rot 
in sheep, and many of the other changes to which this gland is 
obnoxious. That the deposit of fat is in some way or other 
connected with bile is proved by the fact, that if it be prevented 
from flowing into the intestines, animals soon become emaciated, 
and die of marasmus. 
The power of neutralization which it possesses depends on 
soda, this base being in association with a peculiar animal acid, 
the choleic. As soon as this action takes place, the chymous 
mass is split up into two portions — chyle and excremenfitious 
matter. The first of these — the truly nutrient principle — is 
taken up by the lacteals, conveyed into the receptaculum chyli, 
and subsequently, on being passed through the lungs, and acted 
on by atmospheric air, it becomes the newly-formed blood. 
Thus has been shewn how, by a beautiful series of changes, 
in which, doubtlessly, chemical laws obtain, the amylaceous, sac- 
charine, fatty, and albuminous parts of vegetables are converted 
into that fluid upon which the life of the animal depends, and 
from which all other parts of the body are formed. A few elemen- 
tary substances were pre-existent in the air, the earth, or the 
water: these were taken up by vegetables and assimilated, 
whence resulted certain compound bodies, designated proximate 
principles. On these the herbivora feed; these, in their turn, 
become food for the carnivora; and, therefore, the animal 
organism generates not a single principle, nor need it do so. 
Referring to the derangements that occur in digestion, the 
Lecturer went on to say, that from the non-assimilation of cer- 
tain constituents of the food, when given in excess, or from its 
innutritious nature, or from an animal being a foul feeder, 
intestinal concretions have their origin. While from the changes 
induced in vegetable substances, when the function of digestion 
becomes impaired or is interfered with, we have flatulent colic 
or tympanitis; the treatment of which would depend upon 
the length of time the fermentative action had been going on. 
The early stages call for the use of the compounds of ammonia, 
the later those of chlorine. Mow-burnt hay was stated to be 
often productive of disease of the urinary organs by gene- 
rating the acetates in the system, these being carried to the 
kidneys for elimination ; since in the urine the soluble salts of 
the effete materials are found, while the insoluble matters are 
expelled with the egesta. 
It has been calculated, that from twelve to sixteen hours elapse 
before the refuse of alimentary substances passes ofF as egesta ; 
it therefore follows, that digestion is going on all this time. 
VOL. XXIV. 4 T 
