IV. Influence of Eggwhite in the Duodenum upon the Elimination of Bacteria into the Gallbladder.

Abstract

Further study of the action of a fresh raw eggwhite upon the cyclic circulation of bacteria in the splanchnic area, led us to examine the gallbladder for bacteria after intraduodenal injection. The following experiments were carried out: The abdomens of 27 dogs, fasted for 24 hours, were opened under ether anesthesia and the cystic duct ligated and severed. Twenty-five cubic centimeters of a suspension of B. prodigiosus in saline solution (washings of 24 hours'growth on agar plate in 50 cc. of saline solution) was injected directly into the duodenum in 15 dogs. In the other 12 dogs the B. prodigiosus was injected with a fresh raw eggwhite, one for each dog. In 30 minutes the dogs were killed and the bile from the gallbladder was poured directly into a large flask of broth. The results were recorded 24 hours after incubating the cultures at 37°C. The results are shown in an accompanying chart where the ordinate shows percent of positive results (appearance of B. prodigiosus in gallbladder), the higher column representing the experiments where the eggwhite was used and the lower, the saline solution. The technic used in these experiments may be criticized, since the hemato-hepatogenous route of the infection of the gallbladder is generally accepted (Meyer). But one cannot also overlook the statements of some investigators, who also accept the probabilities of infection of the gallbladder through the lymph and blood vessels (Gay, Chirolanza). The opponents though (Meyer) of the latter opinion state that “technically the experiments have been poorly executed.” This technic consisted in tying off the cystic duct of rabbits and injecting typhoid bacilli intravenously, immediately following the operation. Meyer states, “in the ligating of the cystic duct the accompanying cystic artery was in all probability also tied and hemorrhagic infarction occurred from incomplete collateral circulation.”