Researches into the action of mercury, podophylline, and taraxacum on the biliary secretion : being the report of the Edinburgh Committee of the British Medical Association / by John Hughes Bennett, chairman and reporter.

  • British Medical Association. Edinburgh Committee.
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Researches into the action of mercury, podophylline, and taraxacum on the biliary secretion : being the report of the Edinburgh Committee of the British Medical Association / by John Hughes Bennett, chairman and reporter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Dog 7 was a strong fall-grown retriever, weighing 27-4 kilogrammes for which, wo were indebted to Dr. Kclburne King, of Hull. The operation for biliary fistula was performed on the 24th of April, 1868. The healing ot the wound around the fistula was so slow that observations could not be begun before the 29th ot May. Table XII. p. 215, gives the results pre- vious to the administration of corrosive sublimate. During tho five days embraced by Table XII., the amount of food consumed was constant. On May 31st the bile was unfortunately lost, owing to tho apparatus having slipped. The average quantity secreted during the remaining four days was of fluid bile 127-15 grammes, of bilo solids 6-43 grammes, of bile salts 1-03 gramme. The observations were interrupted on account of repairs needed in tho apparatus. When resumed on the 5th of June, the dog was in excellent health. Table XIII. p. 217, gives the results of observations during the administration of small and gra- dually increasing doses of corrosive sublimate. During the first three days | of a grain of corrosive sublimate was injected under the skin once a day. During the next six days the same quantity was injected twice a day, and on the tenth day (June 16) the dose was increased to -j of a grain at the second injection. During these ten days the biliary secretion underwent marked variations ; the average daily quantity was 113-8 grammes of fluid bile, 5-972 grammes of bile solids, and 0-99 gramme of bile salts. These figures show that there was a slight diminution in the biliary secretion during this period. At the same time, however, the amount of food consumed had undergone a considerable decrease, but the health of the animal had not suffered, and its weight remained almost exactly the same. On June 17, the increased dose of -i- of a grain twice a day was given. Athough these doses produced no pur- gation, foetid breath, or salivation, yet the dull eye and general drooping uneasy aspect of the animal showed that the general health was deci- dedly impaired. On that day (17th) there was a great decrease in the biliary secretion. The bile solids fell to about a third, and the fluid bile to about a fourth of what it had been on the previous day. The amount of food consumed, however, had been but slightly diminished, as compared with the previous day; but a glance at the Table will suffice to show that more food was consumed on the 17th than on the 11th, 13th, and 15th. On all these days at least thrice as much fluid bile, and about twice as much bile solids had been secreted. On June 18 only 1 of a grain was given ; and after the collection of bile on that day the observations were suspended, on account of the very marked impairment of the general health occasioned by the mercury. On that day the following is the note that was taken of the condition of the animal:—“ The dog looks miserable and lifeless, his health is evidently much impaired, there is no salivation, foetid breath, nasal discharge, or purgation.” The quantity of bile secreted on the ISth, though above that of the previous day, was nevertheless very low. The consumption of food had greatly diminished ; and it should be noticed that on tho 10th the biliary secretion, instead of undergoing a still further dimi- nution, consequent on the decreased consumption of food, was, in fact, augmented. This, in our opinion, could only be attributed to the influenco of a smaller dose of the drug. The collection of the bile was in this case quite perfect on every day, with one exception (May 31), recorded in Table XII. The observations distinctly show that corrosive sublimate, given in small gradually increasing doses, did not augment the biliary Secretion. On the contrary, they point out