CONGENITALLY ABSENT GALLBLADDER

Abstract

To the Editor: —In my article Interesting Aspects of a Case of Congenitally Absent Gallbladder (The Journal, August 27) I commented on a similar case reported by Dr. Lintz. My comment was: exceptional condition found by Dr. Lintz is, in great likelihood, to be explained on the same principle as obtains in the recovery of B bile in long past cholecystectomized patients, wherein the biliary ducts often undergo gradual dilatation. In a letter which appeared inThe Journal, September 24, Dr. Lintz rejects my explanation, stating that I missed the crux of the situation, because the surgeon, as I had stated in my article, had very carefully examined for dilatation of the biliary ducts, but no dilatation of the ducts could be found. The B bile could therefore not have come from dilated ducts. I believe that I did not make my explanation entirely clear. The dilatation I referred