PROGRESS OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ART. 
203 
The composition of the pancreatic juice has been deter- 
mined in the horse, dog, and sheep. The proportions of 
albumen it contains vary according to different authors. This 
evidently depends on the time the fluid has been collected, 
and on the degree of activity of the secretion; on the animal 
whence it is obtained ; and, lastly, on the more or less normal 
condition of the pancreas, which is the most sensitive gland 
of the body. 
According to Colin, the pancreatic secretion is intended, 
1st, to convert starchy matters into dextrine and grape sugar; 
2dly, to emulsionate fats. The first of these properties was dis- 
covered by Messrs. Bouchardat and Sandras, the second by 
Eberle and Bernard. It appears that the albumen of the 
juice is the active principle on which its peculiar properties 
depend. 
A mixture of bile and pancreatic juice is capable of emul- 
sionating and acidifying fats in proportion to the quantity ot 
the last-mentioned secretion contained in the mixture. The 
product of the glands of Brunner, if mingled with it, does not 
increase its activity. There is yet a question to solve, ac- 
cording to Colin ; and that is, whether the pancreatic juice 
be indispensable to the absorption of fat, and to the general 
digestive process. 
Turning again to Bernard’s c Le 9 ons de Physiologie Expe- 
rimental/ there are yet five Lectures to analyse on gastric 
and intestinal digestion, and on the final object of the 
digestive function. In speaking of the saliva, we have seen 
that, as a general rule, food is only triturated and moistened 
in the mouth ; it thus enters the stomach without having 
suffered appreciable chemical modification. In the stomach 
the chemical changes really begin. 
Gastric Juice. — The gastric juice is a clear, colourless, 
transparent liquid, with acid reaction, and containing, ac- 
cording to Tiedemann and Gmelin : 
1 . Hydrochloric Acid. 
2. Acetic ,, 
3. Butyric „ only in the horse’s stomach. 
4. Salivary matter, recognised by being soluble in water, insoluble in 
alcohol. It has been seen in the horse and dog. 
5. Osmazone. 
6. Chlorides. 
7. Alkaline Sulphates. 
Alkaline carbonates and phosphates were never found by 
the above-mentioned authorities. The alkali is in great part 
soda, and the ashes likewise contained a little carbonate and 
