Bile

(bil) [bills, the bile]. The substance secreted by the liver. It is mucilaginous, golden-brown, and is composed of biliary salts, cholesterin, mucus, and certain pigments. The principal salts are the sodium salts of taurocholic acid (C9fiH45NS07), and glycocholic bile is intensely acid (C96H43]S’06). The taste bitter, its reaction of feebly alkaline, and its density from 1026 to 1032. It exercises a diastatic action on starch, emulsifies fats, and precipitates soluble peptone; it is also the natural antiseptic of the intestines, and has an action on the intestinal mucous membrane through which absorption is favored. Its composition varies, but according to Hoppe-Seyler, in 100 parts bile there. are of — Organic matter, 8.32 Parts. llorga ‘nicmauer,: \’. ‘. \ \’.} 91-68 Mucus 1.29 Taurocholate of sodium,. 0.87 Glycocholate of sodium,. 3.03 Saponified fat, 1.39 Cholesterin, 0.35 Lecithin, 0.53 Fat, 0.73 B. Pigments, the coloring-matters of the bile. 146