Diabetes: its pathological physiology / by John J.R. Macleod.

  • John James Rickard Macleod
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Diabetes: its pathological physiology / by John J.R. Macleod. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    DIABETES: ITS PATHOLOGICAL PHYSIOLOGY CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY—THE SUGAR OF NORMAL URINE Biochemical research, strives towards the attainment of a knowledge of the various chemical processes that are associ- ated with the life of plants and animals. In order that these processes may be understood not only must the exact chemical nature of the substances that are present in each of the organs and tissues be known, but also the conditions which determine the transformation of each substance into others that are more or less related to it. Provided with this chemical knowledge, an endeavour can then be made to find out how far similar chemical changes occur in the animal body, and in which organs and tissues and by what agencies these changes are effected. To investigate such problems, it is necessary for us, first of all, to examine the excreta for the presence of products derived from the substance in question, since from the results so obtained conclusions can often be drawn as to the general nature of the chemical change involved in the metabolism of this particular substance. We must then study the effect which is produced on the metab- olism of the substance by the removal of some organ or tissue, so that we may find out what share this has in effecting the general change. We may further control the conclusions thus arrived at by investigating the changes that occur when certain organs are excised from the body and kept alive by artificially perfusing them with defibrinated blood to which the substance has been added. Such investigations constitute the subject of metabolism. The removal of the influence of certain parts of the body may be caused experimentally, or result from