Physiology of the carbohydrates : an epicriticism / by F. W. Pavy.

Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Physiology of the carbohydrates : an epicriticism / by F. W. Pavy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    accord with truth ? In order that the reader may- judge I will quote what I say, placing in italics that which Dr. Patou has thought it a becoming action to omit. “ Weighty objections have been raised by various authorities to the experiments and conclusions ofLepine, looked at upon their own merits. There is, however, the further point, which has not been considered by others, that if, as follows from what has been adduced in this ivork, sugar does not reach the general circula- tion as the glycogenic doctrine implies, the raison d’etre of a glycolytic ferment in the blood does not exist, and the question about glycolysis in the blood is devoid of the physiological significance that would otherwise belong to it.” Continuing from the quotation given Dr. Paton’s words run, “ Far from this being the case, the recent discovery of the fact that after removal of the pancreas this glycolytic action of the blood diminishes, and the fact that extirpation of the pancreas causes, glycaemia and diabetes, renders these observations of Lepine and Barral of the greatest practical import- ance. Why sugar should be thus destroyed we know not; but the evidence in favour of its destruction appears satisfactory. Possibly in this ferment we have a means of getting rid of any sugar which has been allowed to pass from the liver in excess of that required by the tissue.” What does this amount to ? First, the assertion that certain observations relating to glycolysis in the blood are rendered of the greatest “ practical ” im-