124 
DR. LEE ON THE FUNCTIONS OF 
coating* the inner surface of the duodenum ; and its properties were, if possible, 
still more decidedly albuminous than those of the intestines. 
I have been led to conclude from these facts, that the function of the foetal 
liver is not, as has generally been supposed, that of separating from the blood 
an exerementitious fluid injurious to the oeconomy of the child ; at least that 
such is not its only use, but that it also performs some other important 
office destined to assist in the nutrition of the foetus. 
It would be superfluous here to enumerate the various opinions which have 
been entertained by physiologists on the subject of the nutrition of the foetus 
in utero ; but that of Hippocrates as adopted by Harvey in his great work de 
Generatione Animalium, requires to be noticed. He observes, “ Quinetiain 
certum est, intra pulli ingluviem (talisque prorsus in omnium embryonum 
ventriculus cernitur) substantiam quandam, colore, sapore, et consistentia 
dicto jam liquori persimilem reperiri ; eandemque, in ventriculo aliquantulum 
coctam, lac coagulatum referre ; quam etiam, chyli specie, in primis intestinis 
deprehendimus, inferiora autem intestina excrementis stercoraceis referta sunt. 
Similiter in viviparorum in foetibus intestina crassiora consimili excremento 
replentur, quali eadem, cum lacte vescuntur, abundare cernimus. In ovibus 
etiam, aliisque bisulcis, manifesta sunt scybala. 
“ Quid dubitemus igitur affirmare foetum in utero sugere ; et in eo fieri chy- 
lificationem, cum ejus manifesta adsint turn principia, turn rejectamenta?” 
The fallacy of the opinion of Harvey, and of later physiologists with regard 
to the source of the nutritious fluid found in the intestinal canal of the foetus, 
is demonstrated by the fact, that acephalous children*, and those born with 
the oesophagus impervious, have not only been perfectly nourished, but in their 
* Meckel’s Manuel d’Anatomie Generale, &c. Tom. iii. p. 792. 
The translators of Meckel’s work, Messrs. Jouruan and Breschet, have stated the opinion of 
Geoefroy St. Hilaire on this subject in the following note : — “ Geoffroy St. Hilaire (Monstruosites 
Humaines, p. 279.) ayant rencontre dans le canal intestinal d’un anomocephale de veritables matieres 
fecales moulees meme, et reunies en crottins dans l’intestin post-csecal, s’est trouve conduit par ce 
phenomene a examiner la nutrition propre du foetus. II pense que le mucus secrete dans les voies 
alimentaires, et qui est trop abondantpour ne jouer que le role de fluide lubrifacteur, est l’aliment sur 
lequel agit d’abord la digestion ; que pris d’abord par l’appareil digestif, ensuite par les voies chy- 
liferes, il est la source du fluide nutritif, qui afflue ainsi sans cesse dans l’appareil circulatoire, et qui, 
a chaque passage, eprouve une animalization graduclle. Consideree de la sorte, la nutrition du foetus 
