210 
SACCHARINE FUNCTION OF THE LIVER. 
stance to which Bernard gave the name Glucogen: that 
this peculiar substance was transformed into sugar; and that 
the sugar in its turn disappeared in the capillaries of the 
different organs and tissues of the body. 
In the summer of 1858, however, Dr. Pavy read a paper 
on the “ Alleged Sugar-forming Function of the Liver,” 
before the Royal Society, the object of which was to prove 
that the presence of sugar in the animal economy is “ due 
to a post-mortem occurrencethat as long as life con¬ 
tinues, glucogen only is to be found, and not until after 
death does the transformation of this substance into sugar 
begin. 
The question of the saccharine function of the liver being 
a subject to which I have more or less directed my attention 
since 1853, when I communicated to the Societe cle Biologie 
de Paris an account of an experimental procedure whereby 
diabetes can be produced artificially in animals, the above- 
mentioned paper was to me one of peculiar interest. The 
conclusions of the author were so much opposed to the results 
of my own experiments, as well as those of other observers, 
that I felt anxious to test them. 
Accordingly, having received the kind offer of Professor 
Sharpey’s co-operation, 1 undertook a series of experiments, 
the results of which I beg the honour of communicating to 
the Royal Societ} r . 
As the experiments performed were merely a repetition of 
some of those made by previous inquirers, I shall not enter 
into detail further than is necessary to explain the precau¬ 
tions adopted with the view to avoid error. And, looking at 
the object in view, it will readily be understood why in the 
present instance the tests employed for the detection of the 
sugar were limited to caustic potash with and without sul¬ 
phate of copper. The mode of proceeding was as follows :— 
In testing the blood, a quantity of distilled water, equal to 
about four times that of the blood used, was boiled in a 
capsule. To the water, when boiling, were added a few 
drops of acetic acid, and afterwards the blood was very gra¬ 
dually introduced. In order that the albumen might be 
thoroughly coagulated, a drop or two more of acetic acid 
were added, care being taken to avoid an excess. When 
the albumen was completely coagulated, which was known 
by its separating and floating in the clear liquid, the whole 
w T as thrown on a filter. The clear filtered liquid was then 
tested. The same process was followed when operating on 
the liver. 
The first point to be ascertained was whether, under 
