On the ultimate secreting structure, and on the laws of its function / by John Goodsir.

  • Goodsir, John, 1814-1867.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the ultimate secreting structure, and on the laws of its function / by John Goodsir. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    cis Algirse vasis sanguiferis, 1840, in which he describes, in the kidney of that mollusk, cells, the nuclei of which pass out by the duct of the gland. It does not appear, however, that Erdl had discovered the uric acid within the cell. I have now stated all that is known at present of this subject. No one, as far as I am aware, has proved that secretion takes place within the nucleated cell, or has pointed out the intimate nature of the changes which go on in a se- creting organ, during the performance of its function. It is the object of the pre- sent communication to supply this deficiency in physiological science. If the membrane, which lines the secreting portion of the internal surface of the ink-bag of Loligo sagittata (Lamark) be carefully freed from adhering secre- tion by washing, it will be found to consist almost entirely of nucleated cells, of a dark brown or black colour. These cells are spherical or ovoidal, and measure from 1.000th to 2.000th of an inch in their longer diameters. Their nuclei con- sist of cells, grouped together in a mass. Between these composite nuclei, and the walls of their containing cells, is a fluid of a dark brown colour. This fluid resembles, in every respect, the secretion of the ink-bag itself. It renders each cell prominent and turgid, and is the cause of its dark colour. The dilated terminal extremities of the ducts in the liver of Helix aspersa (Muller) contain a mass of cells. If one of these cells be isolated, and examined, it presents a nucleus, consisting of one or more cells. Between the nucleus and the wall of the containing cell, is a fluid of an amber tint, and floating in this fluid are a few oil globules. This fluid differs in no respect from the bile, as found in the ducts of the gland. The cells measure from 1.000th to 2.000th of an inch. If a portion of the ramified glandular organ, which opens into the fundus of the stomach of Ur aster rubens (Agassiz) be examined, its internal surface is found to be lined with cells; between the nucleus of each of which, and the wall of the cell itself, a dark brown fluid is situated. The organ secretes a fluid, supposed to be of the nature of bile. The cells measure from 4.000th to 5.000th of an inch. The dark brown ramified ceeca of the same animal exhibit on their internal surfaces an arrangement of nucleated cells, the cavities of which contain a brown fluid. These cseca are also supposed to perform, or to assist in the performance of the function of the liver. The liver of Modiola vulgaris (Fleming) contains masses of spherical cells, measuring about 3.000th inch in diameter. Between the nucleus and the wall of each of these cells, a light brown fluid is situated, bearing a close resemblance to the bile in the gastro-hepatic pouches. The nucleated cells, which are arranged around the gastro-hepatic pouches of the Pecten opeixularis, are about 2.000th of an inch in diameter, irregular in shape, and distended, with a fluid resembling the bile. The hepatic organ, which is situated in the loop of intestine of Pirena Pru-