The gentleman having noticed that his case excited considerable interest, and some difference of opinion among his medical attendants, directed that his body should be examined after death; and as this wish was seconded by his wife, a lady of superior mind and accomplishments, a post-mortem examination was accordingly made, with the following results:—
Firstly,—The pancreatic duct, as had been suspected, was found completely occluded at its outlet, and so distended by the accumulated secretion, that it readily admitted the point of the little finger. (Vide [Plate I.], g.)
Secondly,—The orifice of the common bile-duct was in like manner completely obliterated, and the duct itself immensely distended with dark thick tarry bile, which on microscopic examination, was found loaded with beautiful crystals of cholesterine. (Fig. 7.)
| FIG. 7. |
The gall-bladder was enlarged to the size of a swan's egg, and contained thick tarry fluid; but no gall-stones, or masses of inspissated bile. The hepatic duct was greatly enlarged, easily admitting the point of the finger. The cystic duct was also dilated, though in a much less degree. (Vide [Plate I.], c. d. e.)
Thirdly,—The gall-bladder, duodenum, abdominal parietes, and in fact all the abdominal viscera, were intensely stained, almost blackened, by the osmosed bile.
Fourthly,—The bile, on analysis, was found to contain in one thousand parts:—
| Water | 694·45 |
| Solids | 305·55 |
| 1000·00 | |
| ====== |
| Pigment Bile-acids Cholesterine | Organic matter | 288·99 |
| Soda Potash Iron | Inorganic salts | 16·56 |