Chapter II: Absorption, Assimilation, and the Processes of Metabolism 39

TOPICS: Physiological peculiarities in absorption. Chemical changes
in epithelial walls of intestine. Two pathways for absorbed
material. Function of the liver as a regulator of carbohydrate.
Absorption of proteid products. Assimilation of food products.
Anabolism. Katabolism. Metabolism. Processes of metabolism. Older
views regarding oxidation. Discoveries of Lavoisier. The views of
Liebig. Theory of luxus consumption. Oxidation in the body not simple
combustion. Oxygen not the cause of the decompositions. Oxidation not
confined to any one place. Intracellular enzymes. Living cells the
guiding power in katabolism. Some intermediary products of tissue
metabolism. Chemical structure of different proteids. Decomposition
products of nucleoproteids. Relation to uric acid. Action of specific
intracellular enzymes. Creatin and creatinin. Relation to urea.
Proteid katabolism a series of progressive chemical decompositions.
Intracellular enzymes as the active agents.