Observations on the Functions of the Liver: More Especially With Reference to the Formation of the Material Known as Amyloid Substance, or Animal Dextrine, and the Ultimate Destination of This

"Observations On The Functions Of The Liver: More Especially With Reference To The Formation Of The Material Known As Amyloid Substance, Or Animal Dextrine, And The Ultimate Destination Of This Substance In The Animal Economy" by Robert M'donnell. This historical medical treatise (1865) investigates the liver’s ability to form an amyloid substance resembling dextrine, and its ultimate fate in the animal economy, arguing that this material is not simply transformed into sugar during life and health. The work re-examines Bernard’s amyloid, its presence in foetal and placental tissues, and its relation to nitrogenous compounds in the blood. Through careful experimentation, including measurements of sugar in blood and analyses of liver tissue under varied conditions, the author argues that the liver functions as a dynamic blood-forming organ, reconstructing azotised components from fibrine and albumen and exporting nitrogenous substances as part of protoplasmic development. The text also surveys embryonic development, placental tissues, and the occurrence of amyloid in adult tissues under starch- and sugar-rich diets, offering a cohesive theory of amyloid’s role in physiology and pathology.